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The Department of Humanities and Social Sciences covers many topics, such as literature, communications, world history, philosophy, psychology, and more. In many cases, courses are deliberately geared to the interests and pursuits of DigiPen students and often serve as a source of inspiration for student game projects. The department’s faculty bring an extensive humanities background in English, literature, the law, and an appetite for and thorough understanding of today’s rich media landscape.

Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty Directory


Department Faculty

Shanthina Ravindran

Department Chair
Principal Lecturer

Shanthina received her Bachelor of Laws at the University of London followed by a Master of Education-English Language degree at the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Before joining DigiPen (Singapore) as a full-time lecturer, Shanthina taught part-time at the Institute as well as at other educational institutions, including the National University of Singapore and National Institute of Education. She currently teaches composition, graphic novels, research reasoning, argument, and intellectual property law.

Shanthina also lists reading and writing as her chief pleasures outside of the workplace. When it comes to her teaching philosophy, she tries to live by the following quote from William Arthur Ward:

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”

Shanthina Ravindran teaches the following degrees: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Game Design, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Interactive Media and Game Development, Bachelor of Arts in Game Design, Bachelor of Arts in User Experience and Game Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Art and Animation.

Lim Boon Tien

Senior Lecturer

Lim Boon Tien holds a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University in Canada, a Master of Education in Educational Studies from the University of Sheffield in the UK, and a Master of Education in Research Methods from The University of Western Australia.

Lim has had opportunities to explore diverse interests throughout his career. He has held different jobs within the service, hospitality, and tourism sectors in organizations such as Starwood Hotels & Resorts and the National Heritage Board. He has also taught at institutes of higher learning such as Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Institute of Technology.

At DigiPen (Singapore), Lim teaches courses related to English, communications, and history. He believes that such subjects help students appreciate the depth of the human condition, the richness of cultural heritage, and the impact of historical events on society. His teaching philosophy is inspired by John Henry Newman’s exposition of what constitutes university education — that university students should be exposed to a wide range of subjects and disciplines beyond technical skills and practical knowledge.

Lim Boon Tien teaches the following degrees: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Game Design, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Interactive Media and Game Development, Bachelor of Arts in Game Design, Bachelor of Arts in User Experience and Game Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Art and Animation.

Kirby Chua

Adjunct Lecturer

Kirby Chua has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Santo Tomas and a Master of Arts in Psychology from Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines.

Kirby is the director of Grace Counselling Centre and has an interest in counseling and psychotherapy (clinical psychology) along with personality and abnormal psychology.

As an adjunct lecturer at DigiPen (Singapore), Kirby teaches topics related to psychology. He enjoys interacting with his students and learning from them.

Kirby Chua teaches the following degrees: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Interactive Media and Game Development, Bachelor of Arts in User Experience and Game Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Art and Animation.

Sufian Jumahri

Adjunct Lecturer

Sufian Jumahri holds a Bachelor of Communication Studies from Nanyang Technological University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from the National Institute of Education.

Sufian brings over 20 years of professional experience to the classroom, including almost 10 years as an educator with the Ministry of Education (MOE). For his dedication and commitment to success, he won the Outstanding Contribution Award three times starting in 2013, then in 2015, and finally in 2018. Prior to teaching, Sufian started his career in the media industry which included a stint at CNN International.

Sufian currently has teaching appointments in Singapore Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, and DigiPen (Singapore) where he empowers his students with life skills in topics like effective communication and career preparation. His hopes to inspire people of all ages to become lifelong learners.

Sufian Jumahri teaches the following degrees: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Game Design, Bachelor of Arts in Game Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Art and Animation.

Francis Hau

Adjunct Lecturer

Francis Hau holds a Master of Business Administration from Imperial College London.

Francis currently teaches marketing, communication, and career development modules at Nanyang Business School, DigiPen (Singapore), and Management Development Institute of Singapore. Prior to teaching, Francis held various roles in marketing and business development at multinational companies such as Creative Technology and Alcatel-Lucent. He enjoys sharing his corporate experiences and bringing in practical examples to the lectures he conducts.

Francis is a strong practitioner of lifelong learning. He is a firm believer that knowledge can be acquired from all sources so that it can be passed on to other learners.

Francis Hau teaches the following degrees: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Game Design, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Interactive Media and Game Development, Bachelor of Arts in User Experience and Game Design.

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