NUS Business School's new Dean sets out plan for an AI-native school

AI beyond new modules

Prof Teo has spent more than three decades at NUS Business School. He says the foundation once provided by finance, economics and management is no longer enough, as the business environment increasingly demands knowledge of areas such as technology, data science, sustainability and AI.

His answer is to go further than adding courses. "We want to build an AI-native business school, going beyond just launching new modules and programmes in AI," he said, according to NUS News.

Central to the plan is the university's X+AI education strategy, which embeds AI into existing disciplines to reflect changing professional practices. At the Business School, the approach is being implemented across its nine business majors, so students can see how AI is applied in their chosen fields.

Prof Teo also argues that as AI makes specialised knowledge more accessible, broad-based education will matter more. He welcomes students' growing interest in second majors and minors. "What we need are people who can tell a good solution from a bad solution, and a good recommendation from a bad recommendation," he said.

For faculty, he is encouraging greater use of AI in teaching. One project aims to develop multi-agent simulations that could change how case studies are taught.

Closer ties with industry and alumni

The second priority is a more externally engaged School. Prof Teo wants faculty to collaborate with companies on real-world business challenges and bring those insights back into teaching and research. NUS News shows a memorandum of understanding signing between senior leaders from L'Oréal Groupe and the Business School at the Kent Ridge Campus.

The push also responds to a shift in the job market. As AI increasingly takes on entry-level work, graduates have fewer chances to gain experience through foundational tasks. Universities, the article says, therefore have a role in helping students build these skills before they graduate.

Prof Teo wants to draw on the School's network of more than 50,000 alumni worldwide, which he sees as a differentiating factor. The School also uses industry practitioners as adjunct faculty, who bring real business problems into the classroom. "I want the School to work more closely with alumni and companies to solve important problems. I believe this will benefit both our faculty and students," he said.

He hopes to expand field service projects, which give students the chance to work with companies, gain practical experience and develop the judgement and skills needed for more complex responsibilities.

Turning research into practical use

The third priority is helping faculty translate research into practical solutions for business challenges and government policy. Prof Teo points to the School's strengths as a research-intensive institution and wants to deepen connections between academic work and industry.

"The most interesting business challenges often inspire the best research. We want to create a virtuous cycle where academic discoveries improve practice, and real-world problems drive new discoveries," he said.

He believes AI will give researchers new ways to tackle complex problems and will also change how research is valued. Because AI makes it easier to build on existing knowledge, he expects more emphasis on how findings are applied and who benefits from them. "A breakthrough in optimisation or AI should not remain confined to an academic paper. It could help companies and policymakers make better decisions," he said.

What it means for students and faculty

For students, the plan points to AI being built into their major rather than offered only as a separate subject, along with more field projects and contact with companies and alumni. For faculty, it means more AI in teaching and a stronger expectation that research connects with practice.

Prof Teo describes the common purpose as helping students and faculty realise their potential. "I want to build bridges to companies, and I want to build people up," he said. In a few years, he hopes to have collected a list of student success stories showing what the School has helped them achieve. The source gives no timelines, budgets or specific new programmes beyond the projects mentioned.