[GEN2061X] Support Healthy AgeingSG

IMPORTANT

Course duration. This is a year-long service-learning course offered in both Semesters 1 and 2 of the Academic Year. 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. 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.
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 GEN2061X is from Semester 1 of the Academic Year to the end of Special Term 2 of that Academic Year; for GEN2061Y, from Semester 2 of the Academic Year to the end of Semester 1 of the following 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.

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).

Learn more about the service-learning experience at:

Shermaine Ang, 1,000 NUS students befriend seniors as part of course to encourage volunteerism, The Straits Times (17 Nov 2023)
Amanda Yeap, Undergrads form meaningful connections, pick up language skills as they befriend seniors in graded volunteer work course, TODAY (25 Nov 2023)
Service-learning in action: NUS students befriend seniors and champion healthy ageing under year-long community engagement courses, NUS News (15 Dec 2023)
Mediacorp, “We must protect the elderly at all cost! On elderly and volunteerism.” Hush Podcast (13 Mar 2024)

Through this course, students will:

Understand fundamental concepts of volunteerism: motivation & benefits, roles & impact, and ethical & good volunteering
Evaluate and apply general skills related to communications and collaboration, including empathy, active listening, conflict management, and self-awareness
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
Evaluate and apply the suitability of various national schemes to support seniors in healthcare; financial assistance; caregiving, home improvement & mobility; and retirement & care planning
Synthesise reflexive learning to develop character and empathy, fostering personal effectiveness

NIL

4 Units. As this course spreads over up to a year, it will count 2 Units in the first semester and the other 2 Units in the following semester. Thus, students can always register for these courses on top of their usual planned workload of 20 Units or so, without breaching workload cap per semester.

Grading. Graded. Students will be assigned an In-Progress (IP) grade in the first semester and will receive their final grade upon the completion of the course.

Delivery and Assessment. There are no final exams. Students are required to watch pre-recorded online lectures, attend three face-to-face tutorials, and carry out service work. They will be assessed through submitting a service portfolio. In addition, students will go through about 15 hours of AIC SGA training.

Please click here for FAQ (frequently asked questions).

For further enquiries, please contact the GEN2061 team:

Course Lead

Dr Anne Chong (pvoacsl@nus.edu.sg)

Course Tutors

Ms Nursafiqah Saad (saf.saad@nus.edu.sg)

Ms Loo Chuan Jie (chuanjie@nus.edu.sg)

See you in Support Healthy AgeingSG!