The students at the National University of Singapore have a long history of active involvement in community service, both locally as well as overseas. Some of these activities have been organised by the NUS Civil Engineering Sub-Club, the NUS Students' Rotaract Club, Raleigh Singapore and the National Youth Council. The university intends to further encourage this involvement in community service by introducing Societal Engagement and Service Learning (SESL).

SESL draws on the tradition of service learning that is already well-established in many American universities. It encourages students to identify and respond to a need that orginates in the local or global community. But crucially, it also provides a structure that helps to strengthen their academic learning whilst also inculcating in them a strong sense of social responsibility. The pedagogical principle underlying SESL is one of experiential learning, where students come to appreciate first-hand the synergistic relationship between enriching their intellectual capacities while simultaneously engaging in practical action.

As a leading educational institution, NUS is committed to producing graduates with diverse mental capacities and a deep ethical awareness. The SESL initiative is one concrete demonstration of NUS' commitment to preparing the next generation for a life of intellectual engagement, responsible citizenship, effective leadership and purposeful service.