New Frontiers: Science and Science Education in “Emerging” Countries

Abstract

Singapore, a city‐state with limited natural resources, has invested heavily in the development of its human capital with the goal of building a sustainable knowledge‐based economy. This has required a highly educated workforce that acquires and applies knowledge to generate innovative technology and products for the 21st century. In addition to the outstanding undergraduate education available at local universities, Singapore is also blessed with a very high standard of healthcare, making it a magnet for medical tourism in South‐East Asia. In 2005, the collaboration between National University of Singapore (NUS) and Duke University led to the formation of Duke‐NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore, whose principal focus is to train physician‐scientists that can aid and attract the growing R&D efforts of major international pharmaceutical companies in Asia. In delivering on its research and education goals, Duke‐NUS has adopted a novel Team‐LEAD curriculum that places significant emphasis on students to learn and teach each other as well as provides a forum for discussion and debate not often seen in medical schools in Asia. One goal of this education system is to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship while exploring the full potential or educational capabilities of our students. The excitement of embarking on a new educational venture in Asia and the challenges of training clinician scientists for the new information age will be discussed.