Summary
Dr. Md Saidul Islam has taught at four universities across two continents: York University in Canada, the College of William & Mary in the United States, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and Nankai University in China, delivering a wide range of courses related to development, environment, and sustainability. He has developed and taught core, elective, general education (GER), and postgraduate courses, and has supervised four PhD students. His recent Student Feedback on Teaching (SFT) scores have consistently exceeded both School and Faculty averages.
In 2014, he was nominated for the Nanyang Education Award by the Division of Sociology. Dr. Islam holds a Certificate in Teaching for Higher Education (Part 1) from the Centre for Educational Development at Singapore's National Institute of Education, a 50-hour intensive program. Demonstrating pedagogical innovation, he has produced an edited volume and submitted a grant proposal focused on sustainability education. He has also been invited to conduct teacher training workshops in Singapore, Malaysia, Turkey, Bangladesh, and other countries.
Dr. Md Saidul Islam's teaching philosophy centers on encouraging students to become critical readers, thinkers, and writers. His goal is not only to promote deep intellectual engagement with a diverse range of texts but also to help students become more discerning readers and persuasive writers in understanding and analyzing the world around them. To achieve this, he applies the following 5 core pedagogical tools for teaching:
Over the past 15 years, Dr. Md Saidul Islam has taught both Sociology and interdisciplinary courses at four globally recognized universities: York University in Canada, home to one of the country's largest Sociology programs; the College of William and Mary in the United States, ranked among the top six public universities and the second oldest after Harvard; Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, ranked 13th globally by QS; and Nankai University in China, one of the nation's top ten public universities.
Dr. Islam has independently developed all the courses he teaches. When he joined NTU in 2009, the Division of Sociology was in its formative stage. He played a pivotal role in its growth by designing and introducing key undergraduate courses such as Environmental Sociology, Economy and Society, and Development and Social Change, helping transform the division into a more mature and comprehensive program. As NTU increasingly prioritized sustainability, he responded by creating a general education requirement (GER) course titled Environmental Sustainability, as well as a new seminar course, Cultural Politics of Development and the Environment. At the graduate level, he also developed and taught courses such as Global Sociology and Globalization and Sustainability.
Dr. Md Saidul Islam's teaching history is as follows:
| Institution | Course Name | Course Level |
|---|---|---|
| Nankai | HS0301: Social and Environmental Sustainability | Under-grad |
| NTU | CC6309: Globalization and Sustainability | Post-grad |
| HS7205: Global Sociology | Post-grad | |
| HS7888: Directed Readings: Environment and Society | Post-grad | |
| HS7889: Independent Study: Food, Environment, and Resilience | Post-grad | |
| HS7889: Independent Study: Democracy, Religion and Human Rights | Post-grad | |
| HS0301: Environmental Sustainability | GER, Undergrad | |
| HU9001: Introduction to Environmental and Urban Studies | Core, Minor in Environmental and Urban Studies | |
| HS3015: Development and Social Change | Elective, Sociology | |
| HS2023: Environmental Sociology | Elective, Sociology | |
| HS4027: Cultural Politics of Development and the Environment | Seminar, Sociology | |
| HS2003: Economy and Society | Core, Sociology | |
| WM | SOCL313: Globalization and International Development | Core, Sociology |
| SOCL308: Environmental Sociology | Core, Sociology | |
| SOCL204: Social Problems | Core, Sociology | |
| York | SOCI1010: Sociological Perspectives (Full course; 6 Credit Hours) | Core, Sociology |
| SOSC1910: Third World Countries and Underdevelopment | Interdisciplinary, Social Sciences |
Divisional Courses: At NTU, Dr. Md Saidul Islam developed several key courses for the Division of Sociology, including HS2003: Economy and Society, HS2023: Environmental Sociology, HS3015: Development and Social Change, and HS4027: Cultural Politics of Development and the Environment.
Minor Program: Within the School of Social Sciences, he played a pivotal role in establishing the Minor in Environmental and Urban Studies. As part of this initiative, he co-developed and co-teaches the interdisciplinary course HU9001: Introduction to Environmental and Urban Studies.
Graduate Course: Dr. Islam earlier designed the graduate course HS7205: Global Sociology, which examines the intersection of development, environment, neoliberalism, and sustainability. The course has become widely cited within the American and Canadian Sociological Associations. He later developed CC6309: Globalization and Sustainability, which he currently teaches.
GER [General Education Requirement] Course: In alignment with NTU’s strategic focus on “Sustainable Earth,” he created the interdisciplinary GER course HS0301: Environmental Sustainability. It is now one of the most popular university-wide courses, regularly enrolling over a hundred students from across disciplines.
Post-doc Fellow: 2 (Dr. Adha Shaleh, under ACE grant, 2022-23; Dr. Alicia Gutting Wallenberg-NTU Postdoctoral Fellow (2025-2026))
Visiting Scholar: 2 (Assoc Prof Faryaz Ocakli, Skidmore College (2024), NY; Hafijur Rahman, Tokat Gazimustafapasha University, Turkey (2025))
Feb-Aug 2026
Mental Smog: Uncovering the Long-Term Mental Health Consequences of Air Pollution in China and Bangladesh using AI
Siddik M A Bakkar [exchange PhD student from the School of the Environment, Nanjing University, China]
The Survival Ecology: The Indigenous Food and Medicinal Practices and Their Sustainability Framework in the Attappady Tribal Region, Kerala, India
Karalamkunnath Ashif Shaheer [Supervisor]
Chinese Medicine in the Anthropocene: The Case of Oyster Shells in Taiwan
Carlino Olga [Co-Supervisor]
Faith, Patriarchy, and Violence: A Sociological Examination of Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence Among South Asian Muslim Women in London
Sidra Naveed [Co-Supervisor]
The Singapore Green Plan 2030: Examining the costs and benefits that come with the 'Energy Reset' initiative
Darren Foo [Co-supervisor, On-going]
December 2023
Soil and Water Loss Control in China from the Perspective of Sociology
Lai Huisu [exchange PhD student from Hohai University, 2022-2023; Graduated]
2025
Migrants' Lived Experience of Urbanization in a Small Chinese City
Zhao Haoyu [Interim Supervisor, graduated]
March 2018
Climate Change, Resilience and Sustainability: The Case of Shrimp Aquaculture in Bangladesh
Shaikh M. Kais [Supervisor; Graduated]
April 2017
God in Politics: Islam, Islamism, and Democracy in Bangladesh
M. Nazrul Islam [Supervisor; Graduated]
April 2017
The Role of Grassroots Organizations in the Mitigation and Adaptation of Climate Change in Singapore
Huang Zhiyong Andy, NIE [Co-supervisor; Graduated]
2018
The History and Science of Ornamental Aquaculture: A Study of The Koi Carp in Singapore
Tan Delfinn Sweimay [Co-supervisor; Graduated]
A study of how Singaporean Muslims negotiate their resource worldviews and practices in the context of a neoliberal society and Islamic environmental ethic
Muhammad Adib Amali Bin Rohaizat [Supervisor]
3-5 students every year since 2010; examples from the last 5 years:
When Success Breeds Envy: Crab Mentality in Different Communities
Wong Zhenyu Isaac, Chong Min-E, Ng Shi Lin
Music and the City: Street performances and their impacts on Singaporean society
Hani Nadirah, Lau Yee Hey, Yip Lai Yee
Examining activism movements in Singapore: what determines a movement's success in Singapore?
Wong Yew Xuan, Tan Tze Sheng Clarence
Sustainable Waste Management: A Comparative Analysis of Household Recycling Practices in Singapore and Sweden
Tan Yan Xin Jolene
War on drugs or war on the people? How Singapore's drug control regime affects drug users
Elijah Tay
Organisational Control and Worker's Productivity: How much control is too much?
Muhammad Syahmi Bin Rohaizan
Sustainability Reporting Frameworks as a Form of Corporate-Initiated Ecological Modernization: How Corporations Can Optimize Sustainability Reporting Frameworks For Urban Carbon Mitigation?
Akash Shahi (co-supervising with Asian School of the Environment)
To all the spaces I've loved: Urban Redevelopment in Singapore
Nurul Alexandria Tan
Fishing in the Dark: Filling in Knowledge Gaps Within Singapore's Fishery Sector– An Interview-Based Approach
Gavin Yang (co-supervising with Asian School of the Environment)
Can Our Dollar Bills be Green?: A Study on the Formation and Negotiation of Identities around Green Consumerism in Singapore
Goh Ling Xuan Charlene and Nadia Tan Xin Wei
Green Governmentality: Planting the Seeds of an Environmentally Conscious Population through Green Initiatives
Nurul Hannah Binte Norhisham and Nur Aishah Binte Mohamed Zulkifli
The Gamble of the Gig Economy: The Accentuated Precarity of Platform Workers from Low-income Backgrounds in Singapore
Darryl Chin Wei Chie
The Second R of Singapore's Environmental Narrative: Discourses Surrounding 'Reuse' for Electrical and Electronic Equipment
Manfred Tham Meng Kit
Out of Sight, Out of Mind: The Invisible Society of Waste
Ng Xin Hui and Kuan Shu Wen
Do parks enhance our city landscape and lifestyle: A tale of two parks
Shalyn Chia Ai Jia
Cost of convenience: Is environmental behavior affected in relations to the convenience factor of online food delivery services?
Lee Zhi Ling Melisa
A Sociology of Comfort Food in Singapore
Tan Gee Kit
URECA (Undergraduate Research Experience on CAmpus) [Research projects assisted by the top students of the university]
2025-2026
Affective Dimensions of Sustainability Communication: Urban Green Narratives in Singapore
Wan Nur Zafirah Binte Wan Zaini
2025-2026
Climate Justice from Below
Natalie Loh Liang Ting
2021-2022
Environmental Pragmatism Within Park Policies in Singapore
Haikal Afiq Bin Mohd Rizal
2021-2022
Economic development without democracy: The China paradox
Yoo Jin Yi
2019-2020
Best Social policies in Southeast Asia
Tay Mei Ling
2019-2020
Environmentalism of the South
Teng Kuan Yung; Received the NTU President Research Scholar (with Merit) for the project.
2019-2020
Urban Parks in Singapore
Uvaranjini D/O Mathiazakan
2019-2020
Food waste in Singapore
Grace Chua Jia En
2015-2016
Climate Change and food in/security
Wong Ting Andrea; Published in a refereed journal.
2015-2016
Food movements: sovereignty, justice, security
Toh Yi Hui
2015-2016
Capitalism with human face
Chua Yuhan; Published as book chapter.
2015-2016
Climate Politics as a 'Green Governmentality'?
Shaik Muhammad Khairun Nabil; Presented in an International Conference.
2010-2011
Environmental Issues and Challenges in Singapore.
Lai Zhi Xian Daniel
2011-2012
From 'sustainability' to 'green' discourse: The political economy of the environment.
Nurul Amillin Hussain; Brought a Tier-1 Grant.
2011-2012
Climate Change and the Disaster Vulnerability in Asia.
Lim Si Hui
2010-2012
Global Climate Politics.
Dalmia Devanshu Vijay; Published in a refereed journal.
2012-2013
Food safety and food security in Singapore: Issues and challenges.
S. Nigel; Brought a Tier-1 grant.
2012-2013
Bio-technology, Patenting of Life, and the Future of Food.
Poh Yang Ann
2013-2014
Slash-and-burn culture in Indonesia
Yap Hui Pei; Published in a peer-reviewed journal.
2025-2026
Dr. Hafijur Rahman
Tokat Gazimustafapasha University, Turkey
Jan-June, 2024
Dr. Feryaz Ocakli
Skidmore College, New York, Fullbright Scholar
2017-2018
Aaron Guo
University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2017, Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, The Wharton School, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Fulbright Fellowship in Singapore
Sep 2011 to Feb 2012
Nur Zahidah Bte Haji Sulaiman
Student, School of Applied Science, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore
Sep 2011 to Feb 2012
Ong Hui Yun
Student, School of Applied Science, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore
2017
Yang Shan Fanny Chan and Christine Ng Huixian
Raffles Girls' School (Secondary), "Perceptions of the Public Towards Food Security in Relation to the Labelling of GM Food Products in Singapore", Humanities and Social Sciences Research Programme (Ministry of Education Singapore)
December 2024
Psychosocial Health of Waterlogged Farmers in Bangladesh
Md. Ripul Kabir (PhD Thesis, Institute of Bangladesh Studies, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh)
September 2024
Enhancing Sustainable Palm Oil Production: A Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Jurisdictional Approach in Sabah and Central Kalimantan
Eugene Mark Min Hui (PhD Thesis, RSIS, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)
February 2024
Theorizing Neoliberal Anti-Work Politics through Career Negotiations in Singapore
Vanessa Swinn Yap Xi Wen (MA Thesis, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)
February 2024
Exploring Minority Students' Leadership Self-Efficacy in Sri Lankan Public Universities
Naren Deepan Selvaratnam (PhD Thesis, Management and Science University, Malaysia)
2023
The Role of Islamic Political Parties in Establishing Democracy in Bangladesh (1971–2018)
Md Zillur Rahman (PhD Thesis, International Islamic University Malaysia)
October 2023
Role of Social Capital in Climate Change Adaptation: A Study on Vulnerable People of the Haor Area in Bangladesh
Md Amdadul Haque (PhD Thesis, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh)
2022
China's Rural Land Transfer in an Era of Precarity: Land Institutions, Translocal Livelihoods and Agrarian Capital
Chen Xingyan (PhD Oral Defense, Sociology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)
2022
The Rise of Indian Hegemony and the Security of Small States in South Asia: A Post-1947 Study
Mahmudur Rahman (International Islamic University Malaysia)
2021
Leadership Dissertation for the Doctor of Business Leadership
Nazrul I. Pramanik (DBL, Torrens University Australia)
2019
Nation in Action: Making Chinese in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture
Chen Shiwei (PhD Oral Defense, Sociology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)
2017
Enviro-toons: What Do Parents Think about Them?
Jeannette Goh Hui En (MA Thesis, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)
2017
Socio-Economic Determinants and Women's Role in Household Food Security in the Rural Areas of Punjab, Pakistan
Madiha Naz (PhD Dissertation, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan)
2016
Rural–Urban Migrants' Social Mobility in China's Reform Era
Yuling Wu (PhD Dissertation, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)
2012
The Role of Community-Based Organizations in Communicating Sustainability through Sustainable Agriculture: Selected Case Studies
Nur Nafhatun (PhD Dissertation, University of Malaya, Malaysia)
2011
Ethnicity in Everyday Life: A Case Study of Bajau in Sabah, Malaysia
Izzah Binte Mohd Mokhti (MA Thesis, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)
| Year | Teaching Award / Recognition |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Award of Teaching Assignment by Boston Consulting Group to its consultants in the Asia-Pacific (modules: Geopolitics of Climate Change, and Climate Justice) |
| 2014-2024 | Invited To Train Teachers in Singapore (NIE), Malaysia, Turkey, Philippines, And Bangladesh |
| 2014 | Nanyang Education Award (nominated) |
| 2014 | General Paper Lecture endorsed by the Ministry of Education, Singapore |
| 2013-2016 | 4 URECA papers got published in peer-reviewed journals |
| 2011-2017 | 3 FYPs got the best paper award |
| 2011 | NTUSS Teaching Award 2011, NTU Sociological Society (NTUSS), Awarded for significant contributions to teaching and pedagogy in the Division of Sociology at NTU. |
| 2009 | Certificate in Teaching for Higher Education. Centre for Educational Development, National Institute of Education, Singapore (50 hours Intensive Program), 30 November- 5 December 2009. |