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IMPORTANT

  • Course duration. This is a year-long service-learning course offered in both Semesters 1 and 2 of the Academic Year. GEN2061Y is offered in Semester 2 of the Academic Year; it runs till the end of Semester 1 of the following Academic Year, when grades are awarded. GEN2061X is offered in Semester 1 of the Academic Year; it runs till the end of Special Term 2 of that Academic Year, when grades are awarded.

  • Service work period. Over the course of a year, you will embark on your journey as a Silver Generation Ambassador (SGA), engaging seniors through door-to-door outreach. The service work period for GEN2061Y is from Semester 2 of the Academic Year to the end of Semester 1 of the following Academic Year; for GEN2061X, from Semester 1 of the Academic Year to the end of Special Term 2 of that Academic Year.

  • Service work commitment. The service work period is year-long. However, you can complete the service work component whenever you meet the required number of service hours. Thus, you can enrol in this course even if you may likely take a semester-long break or be away during the Special Terms for Student Exchange Programme (SEP), overseas internship, Leave of Absence (LoA), etc., and return to complete the course in the following semester.

  • Service work requirement. Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident only, with valid SingPass account

  • Note to graduating students. If you intend to graduate at the end of AY2024/25 and wish to read GEN2061, the latest you can enrol is Semester 1 of that Academic Year, in GEN2061X. Graduating students can opt to complete course requirements by Semester 2 of that Academic Year. Grades will then be awarded at the end of Semester 2, which means your degree will be conferred in end-June, and you will join the Commencement ceremony in the same year.

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titleCourse Description

Silver Generation Ambassadors (SGA) play a key role in promoting healthy ageing amongst seniors in Singapore by conducting preventive health visits to them in their homes. In this course, students will learn key concepts in volunteerism, and essential skills, such as communications, conflict management, outreach, persuasion, and motivation, to support their work as SGA. Students will engage seniors in assigned precinct, promote national support schemes and programmes, and encourage seniors to adopt good management practices for own health and well-being. This course is a collaboration with the Silver Generation Office (SGO), under the purview of Agency for Integrated Care (AIC).

GEN2061 Course Trailer (F).mp4

Learn more about the service-learning experience at:

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titleLearning Outcomes

Through this course, students will:

  1. Understand fundamental concepts of volunteerism: motivation & benefits, roles & impact, and ethical & good volunteering

  2. Evaluate and apply general skills related to communications and collaboration, including empathy, active listening, conflict management, and self-awareness

  3. Evaluate and apply engagement and persuasion skills in the SGO BELIEF framework (Break ice, Explore situation, Listen with empathy, Inform to educate, Evaluate & assure, Follow-up), and the Transtheoretical Model of health behavioural changes

  4. Evaluate and apply the suitability of various national schemes to support seniors in healthcare; financial assistance; caregiving, home improvement & mobility; and retirement & care planning

  5. Synthesise reflexive learning to develop character and empathy, fostering personal effectiveness

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titleService Work

Service work prerequisites

  • Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident of Singapore, with valid SingPass account

  • Ability to speak basic Malay, Tamil, or Chinese dialects is a bonus but not a requirement

Commitment

60-80h of service work spread over one year. This comprises of scheduled door-to-door outreach to seniors at assigned service areas in 4-hourly sessions in pairs, and trainings conducted by AIC. You are free to arrange your service work schedule in coordination with your fellow SGA, and in some cases, your field supervisor.

Your tutor will specify a target direct service hours typically of 40‒60 45‒65 h. This forms your minimum service obligation. To meet this obligation, you have to log your direct contact hours on the Fieldwork Management System (FMS). In most cases, your total service hours will likely be less than 80 h.

Roles and Responsibilities

Students are responsible to:

  • Conduct scheduled door-to-door outreach to seniors in pairs

  • Build trust and rapport with seniors

  • Promote and communicate healthy lifestyle and good management practices for health and well-being through available governmental health and social support schemes, such as active ageing programmes, befriending services, care & support services, and digital tools & skills

  • Make notes of visits for SGO staff to follow-up with seniors

 Service Work Locations (To be updated for AY24/25 Semester 2)

Students may book their preferred service work location via DCR. The service areas and timings will be available in due course. Booking will be granted on a first come, first served basis.

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titleCourse Structure

First Semester

Week

Event

0 - 1

Service Work Registration

  • Students will book their preferred service work location via the Dynamic Course Registration (DCR) System in EduRec (https://myedurec.nus.edu.sg). 

  • Booking will be granted on a first come, first serve basis. Students will be prompted by email and uNivUS notification upon successful course registration

  • Submit training registration form provided by Tutor

1 - 2

Silver Generation Ambassadors (SGA) Online Registration

Students will be contacted by AIC staff and register as SGAs online

Tutorial Registration

Students will register for a tutorial group via CourseReg, and can refer to NUSMods for details.

1 - 4

NUS Online Lectures

Students will complete pre-recorded online lectures to equip themselves with an understanding of the social landscape they are engaging and relevant skills for service work.

NUS Tutorials 1 & 2

Students will attend face-to-face tutorials in Weeks 3 and 4 on campus. Each tutorial is 2h in duration. The finalised service work locations will be announced by then.

1-7

Agency Training 

Students register for their preferred AIC training dates (TBC) for PHV via DCR. In the event that students are unable to attend due to valid reasons, students are to approach their AIC supervisor for alternate dates.

Agency training schedule:

Component                                                        

Duration**        

                                      

Introduction (Zoom session)                  

TBC

Government schemes (E-learning)

Complete before starting OJTPreventive Health Visit (PHV) training                 

Venue TBC, 8h

TBC

Induction & Role-play, Venue TBC

TBC

On-Job-Training (OJT)TBC

**The 60-80 service effort includes preparation time, 18 about 15 hours agency training and direct service work, spread out over up to one year.  

6 -13

Service Work

Students will pair up for outreach done in 4-hour blocks. The first few sessions will be mentored by a SGO staff or senior volunteer. NUS tutors may conduct an on-site check in with students.

Second Semester

Week

Event

1

Submission of mid-service reflection

Students will submit a reflection paper on their service experience thus far after clocking 30% of actual service hours (~14hours, including OJT)

1-9

Service Work

Students will continue with their service sessions, which may extend into the Special Terms.

9

NUS Tutorial 3

Students will attend a final tutorial on campus to share and reflect on their experiences, and wrap up the course.

13

Submission of Service Portfolio

Students will submit a service portfolio covering their entire service period.

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