SINGAPORE: 21-year-old David Hartanto Widjaja, who stabbed his professor and then jumped to his death, had his scholarship terminated in February. Nanyang Techonogical University (NTU) confirmed this with Channel NewsAsia but declined to reveal details.
Separately, David's family flew in from Indonesia, to cremate his body on Tuesday.
The Widjaja family was visibly upset when they arrived at the Singapore General Hospital's mortuary.
Yayan GH Mulyana, First Secretary, Indonesian Embassy, said: "The family this morning had a chance to look at David's body accompanied by embassy and also colleagues from NTU."
It's still unclear what led to the attack and tragic end.
But what is known is that David, described as a bright young man, had lost his scholarship and his grades had been slipping lately.
Several students have been affected by the incident.
Associate Professor Lok Tat Seng, Dean of Students, Nanyang Technological University, said: "Many of our students who knew the student were distraught. The Indonesian community is a very tight-knit community within the university and you would expect them to be distraught. We and our counsellors are here to comfort all of them."
NTU said the injured Associate Professor Chan Kap Luk is recovering well and is in good spirits in hospital. He may be discharged as early as Wednesday.
NTU added that immediate trauma counselling is open to all affected students and staff. It's understood that at least a hundred students have seen counsellors.
The university had also arranged for David's friends to meet with his family on Monday night.
A check with Singapore's other universities showed there are systems in place to identify and counsel students at risk.
Foreign students tell Channel NewsAsia that stress often presents itself in loneliness and pressure over academic affairs.
Said 19-year-old Indonesian student Andy Giarto: "Most of the international students live alone in Singapore. And unlike the Singaporean students who can talk to their relatives, international students find it difficult because they are live far away from their family.”
37-year-old student Johan Alsson, from Sweden added: "Usually in education systems, you have one exam. Bu here it's like seven weeks of pressure all the time. As soon as you're done with some work, the next one comes along.”
At the Singapore Management University (SMU), trained students form peer helper teams acting as the eyes and ears on the ground.
SMU said that it is the first university here to formalise such a student support system.
It runs a semester-long Facilitation and Counselling Class where students are equipped with basic counselling skills.
At any time, the school said it has about 60 students in its Peer Helper Team.
This is on top of the university's five full-time counsellors.
Timothy Hsi, university counsellor, SMU, said: "There are just so few administrators and counsellors and so many students on the ground. So there's no way any of us can possibly meet all of them. So the best way is for us to engage students because they are the ones on the ground."
At the National University of Singapore (NUS), professional psychiatrists and doctors are roped in for serious cases.
NUS provost, Prof Tan Eng Chye said there are many layers supporting the 10 counsellors.
These include case managers appointed to the university's bigger faculties, who are trained to identify students, faculty or staff in distress.
Students are also roped in to man helplines.
The university plans to up its number of counsellors and take this support system into cyberspace.
Prof Tan said there are plans to offer counselling support services on the university's Second Life site, a 3-D virtual world with some 25,000 registered users.
But still, experts point out there is no fool-proof system to detect troubled students.
Professor Tan Eng Chye, President (Academic Affairs) & Provost, NUS, said: "There is a big proportion of students who need help but who do not want to be helped. Even though some of our faculty members are pretty well-trained to notice and detect these students at risk and offer help, some of them may actually reject it."
The incident has also generated a lot of interest online.
Indonesian newspapers carried reports of the stabbing and the blogsphere is abuzz with chatter.
Many netizens expressed shock over the incident saying that a case like this is unexpected in Singapore.
The incident has also generated a number of responses from Indonesian students who've studied or are studying in Singapore, describing the education system here as being in a high-pressured environment.
Many netizens have also expressed their condolences to David and sympathies for Prof Chan wishing him a speedy recovery. - CNA
Separately, David's family flew in from Indonesia, to cremate his body on Tuesday.
The Widjaja family was visibly upset when they arrived at the Singapore General Hospital's mortuary.
Yayan GH Mulyana, First Secretary, Indonesian Embassy, said: "The family this morning had a chance to look at David's body accompanied by embassy and also colleagues from NTU."
It's still unclear what led to the attack and tragic end.
But what is known is that David, described as a bright young man, had lost his scholarship and his grades had been slipping lately.
Several students have been affected by the incident.
Associate Professor Lok Tat Seng, Dean of Students, Nanyang Technological University, said: "Many of our students who knew the student were distraught. The Indonesian community is a very tight-knit community within the university and you would expect them to be distraught. We and our counsellors are here to comfort all of them."
NTU said the injured Associate Professor Chan Kap Luk is recovering well and is in good spirits in hospital. He may be discharged as early as Wednesday.
NTU added that immediate trauma counselling is open to all affected students and staff. It's understood that at least a hundred students have seen counsellors.
The university had also arranged for David's friends to meet with his family on Monday night.
A check with Singapore's other universities showed there are systems in place to identify and counsel students at risk.
Foreign students tell Channel NewsAsia that stress often presents itself in loneliness and pressure over academic affairs.
Said 19-year-old Indonesian student Andy Giarto: "Most of the international students live alone in Singapore. And unlike the Singaporean students who can talk to their relatives, international students find it difficult because they are live far away from their family.”
37-year-old student Johan Alsson, from Sweden added: "Usually in education systems, you have one exam. Bu here it's like seven weeks of pressure all the time. As soon as you're done with some work, the next one comes along.”
At the Singapore Management University (SMU), trained students form peer helper teams acting as the eyes and ears on the ground.
SMU said that it is the first university here to formalise such a student support system.
It runs a semester-long Facilitation and Counselling Class where students are equipped with basic counselling skills.
At any time, the school said it has about 60 students in its Peer Helper Team.
This is on top of the university's five full-time counsellors.
Timothy Hsi, university counsellor, SMU, said: "There are just so few administrators and counsellors and so many students on the ground. So there's no way any of us can possibly meet all of them. So the best way is for us to engage students because they are the ones on the ground."
At the National University of Singapore (NUS), professional psychiatrists and doctors are roped in for serious cases.
NUS provost, Prof Tan Eng Chye said there are many layers supporting the 10 counsellors.
These include case managers appointed to the university's bigger faculties, who are trained to identify students, faculty or staff in distress.
Students are also roped in to man helplines.
The university plans to up its number of counsellors and take this support system into cyberspace.
Prof Tan said there are plans to offer counselling support services on the university's Second Life site, a 3-D virtual world with some 25,000 registered users.
But still, experts point out there is no fool-proof system to detect troubled students.
Professor Tan Eng Chye, President (Academic Affairs) & Provost, NUS, said: "There is a big proportion of students who need help but who do not want to be helped. Even though some of our faculty members are pretty well-trained to notice and detect these students at risk and offer help, some of them may actually reject it."
The incident has also generated a lot of interest online.
Indonesian newspapers carried reports of the stabbing and the blogsphere is abuzz with chatter.
Many netizens expressed shock over the incident saying that a case like this is unexpected in Singapore.
The incident has also generated a number of responses from Indonesian students who've studied or are studying in Singapore, describing the education system here as being in a high-pressured environment.
Many netizens have also expressed their condolences to David and sympathies for Prof Chan wishing him a speedy recovery. - CNA
