MOE studying ways to expand university sector
UPDATED
The Ministry of Education is taking steps to ensure Singaporean students have more opportunities and pathways to obtain a university education in the years ahead.
It will be convening a committee, chaired by Minister of State for defence and education Lawrence Wong, to review university education pathways beyond 2015.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong highlighted the need to further develop and expand the university sector beyond 2015 at the National Day Rally.
Meanwhile, another 2,000 university places would be added for Singaporean students over the next four years while foreign enrolment at universities will be capped at the present 18 per cent of local university intake, said PM Lee.
Education Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Tuesday that half the spots will come from the Singapore Institute of Technology, which offers degree programmes with foreign universities, reported Channel NewsAsia.
The other places will be provided through degree programmes offered by the new Singapore University of Technology and Design, as well as institutions such as the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and the upcoming Liberal Arts College.
By capping the number of foreign students in Singapore's universities, the proportion will come down from the current 18 per cent to about 15 per cent.
Minister Heng, however, was quoted as pointing out that 80 per cent of foreign scholarship holders serve out their bonds in Singapore companies.
He also said MOE and other government agencies and industry partners will offer more scholarships aimed at spurring the growth in emerging industries, reported CNA.
On the review committee, MOE said it will explore feasible models and strategies, such as studying international trends and examining the education pathways leading up to university.
It aims to submit recommendations to the government by the end of 2012.
MOS Wong said it is "timely" to review the education pathways for Singaporeans beyond 2015 because of the long lead time needed for planning and development.
"We will look at expanding opportunities within our diverse university landscape to meet the aspirations of students and the needs of the economy," he said.
The last university sector review was completed in 2008 and set out broad directions for the sector till 2015. By then, about 14,000 Singaporeans, or 30 per cent of each Primary One cohort will have a spot in a local university.
The 15-member committee includes a cross-section of individuals from the public, private and youth sectors.
They include Jonathan Auerbach, managing director at McKinsey & Company, Southeast Asia, Professor Cheong Hee Kian, SIM university president, Aliza Knox, managing director for online sales at Google, Asia Pacific and Kenneth Neo, managing director for Advanced Tech Automation.
The committee will consult and engage extensively with different stakeholders and make use of various platforms such as focus groups and online consultations, said MOE.
