Degrees for poly grads

May 20, 2009

Degrees for poly grads

A new institute will manage foreign tie-ups to offer courses locally

By Sandra Davie, Senior Writer
		Polytechnic graduates who cannot get into the three universities here usually go abroad to pursue a degree - at great expense - or join the job market. -- ST PHOTO: ALBERT SIM

POLYTECHNIC graduates who cannot get into the three universities here usually go abroad to pursue a degree - at great expense - or join the job market.

But from 2011, more of them will be able to obtain degrees here, through tie-ups with reputable foreign universities, as well as by enrolling in Singapore's fourth university.

Leading the charge will be a new Singapore Institute of Applied Technology, set up to plan, manage and implement these joint degree programmes.

Six such programmes here have been running since 2007, with 300 poly graduates pursuing two-year degrees in disciplines ranging from optometry to naval architecture.

The Education Ministry wants this expanded so that by 2015, some 2,000 students yearly will enrol as full-time students and another 1,500 will take up the courses on a part-time basis.

With this, the proportion of poly graduates who will move up the education ladder will rise from the current 15 per cent to 20 per cent of the cohort.

Taking into account those who enrol in university via the A-level route, it means 30 per cent of a Primary One cohort will emerge from the education system with a degree.

The new plans were referred to in President SR Nathan's opening address to Parliament on Monday. Yesterday, Education Minister Ng Eng Hen put the meat on the proposals.

He made it clear that the foreign universities will not be run-of-the-mill schools.

For a start, he announced that the new university, which will start taking in students in 2011, has partnered with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from the United States. MIT is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 universities in the world and No. 1 for engineering.

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Singapore to develop 3 new tertiary institutes of excellence

Singapore to develop 3 new tertiary institutes of excellence
Posted: 19 May 2009 1158 hrs

	Photos 1 of 1 University student conducts research
	Related News • New university, institute to be set up to boost higher education • President Nathan says Singapore's well-prepared for financial crisis • President Nathan says govt's immediate priority is to see S'pore through crisis

SINGAPORE: Singapore is looking into developing three new institutes of excellence in the tertiary education sector – the Singapore Institute of Applied Technology, a new university in partnership with the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a new medical school.

Education Minister Ng Eng Hen revealed these plans at a news conference on Tuesday.

Dr Ng said the Singapore Institute of Applied Technology will be set up as a distinct entity within the Education Ministry, which will be responsible for planning, managing and implementing degree programmes offered by foreign universities, in partnership with Singapore’s five polytechnics.

The new institute will work with the foreign universities to offer degree courses from 2011. These courses will be mostly conducted in the polytechnic campuses and the foreign universities will award the degrees in their own names.

There will be places for 2,000 full-time students and 1,500 part-time students yearly by 2015. The duration of full-time courses is likely to be two years, while part-time courses can be expected to take up to four years to complete.

Senior Minister of State for Education S Iswaran will act as adviser to the taskforce appointed to look into expanding upgrading opportunities for polytechnic graduates.

As for Singapore's new university in Changi, which will open its doors to students in 2011, it will have the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as its partner.

The university will focus mainly on the disciplines of science, engineering, information systems and architecture, and aims to be a high-quality research-intensive university.

A core team of experienced professors from MIT will play the lead role in developing the curriculum and in teaching undergraduate students. It will have an undergraduate population of about 4,000 students and a significant number of postgraduate students.

As for the setting up of a new medical school in Singapore, the Education Ministry and Health Ministry have asked the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) to submit a proposal on it.

The university has formed an advisory panel, chaired by NTU president Dr Su Guaning, to advise it on the matter.


- CNA/so

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MIT to partner 4th university

May 19, 2009

MIT to partner 4th uni

By Amelia Tan
		The university will be kept small with an undergraduate population of about 4,000 to maintain the high standards of education which MIT is known for. -- ST PHOTO: TERENCE TAN

THE Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT) has been confirmed as a partner for the fourth university which will open in 2011.The university will be kept small with an undergraduate population of about 4,000 to maintain the high standards of education which MIT is known for, said Education Minister Ng Eng Hen at a press conference on Tuesday to announce changes in tertiary education here.

RELATED LINKS New Peaks of Excellence in the Tertiary Landscape

But he said the intake may grow depending on the quality of applicants.

Previous reports said the new university will take in about 2,000 to 2,500 students per year, before hitting between 10,000 and 12,000 undergraduates eventually.

Asked why the enrolment size has been scaled down, Dr Ng said: 'I would say in our discussions with our partners, it was clear that there would have to be some trade-off between quality and quantity. You can't realistically take students of varying calibre, as some of them will struggle in the courses.'

He added: 'I'm not precluding a larger university. I also bear in mind that our top students are spreading themselve out in NUS, NTU and SMU.'

Dr Ng said he did not think all students would be drawn to the new university.

'And I want to assure the other universities that it will not happen,' he said. 'The issue is really on quality that is consistent with our choice of partners and the way we position this university.'

A second partner - a Chinese university - will be announced at the end of the year, said Dr Ng.

Classes will start in 2011 at a still-undisclosed temporary location. It will move to its permanent home in Upper Changi in 2013 on land which was set aside for the aborted University of New South Wales Asia project. It will also occupy two sites across the road with a total land area of 23ha.

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New university, institute to be set up to boost higher education

New university, institute to be set up to boost higher education
Posted: 18 May 2009 2217 hrs

	Photos 1 of 1 > " onclick="Next();" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_next.gif" type="image" width="18" height="15">
	Related News • President Nathan says Singapore's well-prepared for financial crisis • President Nathan says govt's immediate priority is to see S'pore through crisis

SINGAPORE: Singapore will set up a new institute to offer a more direct route for polytechnic graduates to get degrees. The institute will partner foreign universities that offer degree courses.

President S R Nathan said this in his opening address to the new session of Parliament on Monday.

Singapore will also set up a new university, in close partnership with one leading university each from the US and China.

"These two new institutions will open up more opportunities for students to upgrade themselves," said Mr Nathan when he touched on the need to strengthen Singapore's higher education to meet growing aspirations and to train the skilled professional and creative manpower the country will need.

He said: "Our aim is to have 30% of our students admitted to state-supported universities."

"Whether it is to promote economic growth, narrow the income gap or bond the next generation, education is key. Education is our best investment in Singapore's future.

"Our education system is designed to give each and every child the best opportunity to stretch his abilities. All our schools maintain high standards, and prepare our young to seize their own opportunities in a complex, dynamic and uncertain world.

"We will do better, by building more peaks of excellence, and establishing new pathways and programmes to cater to students with different aptitudes, interests and learning styles."

Meanwhile, Senior Minister of State for National Development & Education, Grace Fu, said: "It will be a very unique proposition for our students. I think it will be a great opportunity because in the future, I think it will be a combination of technology from the US plus the exposure to China that will be a very attractive proposition for students who are thinking of being exposed to the world."

Other Members of Parliament added that President Nathan's speech raised concerns that were timely with the current economic and social climate in Singapore.

They agree with Mr Nathan on issues such as education enhancements, economic restructuring and leadership renewal.

MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, Inderjit Singh, said: "This does signal that we may change some of the things that we do. In my mind, one of the things that can change is the size of GRCs. Perhaps it's time we reduce the GRCs. This is what the public like to see done."

MP for Hong Kah GRC, Zaqy Mohamad, said: "This downturn has also showed how we are dependent on the US economy. So going forward do we still go ahead with the same strategy? I think it's a good call for us to relook the way we develop our economy and in our policies in that sense."

You can view the transcript of the President's speech here.


- CNA/ir

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