UNSW call it quits after 3 months, $250million wasted
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University of New South Wales' Singapore campus to shut in June
By Pearl Forss, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 23 May 2007 1715 hrs
Artist's impression of UNSW (Asia) Changi campus
SINGAPORE: The University of New South Wales will close its campus in Singapore next month.
The announcement came less than two months after its grand opening.
The school says it is running into financial problems because enrolment was lower than expected.
Its target was 300 students in its first semester.
But it only got 148 students, 100 of whom are Singaporeans.
Students have already paid their fees, which range between S$26,000 and S$29,000 a year.
UNSW says these students will be offered a place at its home campus in Sydney.
There will also be scholarships to help with the cost of travel and accommodation.
The school adds that it is also in talks with local institutions and other universities in the region to offer these students a place to continue their education.
UNSW has already invested over S$22 million (AUD$17.5 million) in its Singapore campus.
It was invited by Singapore's Economic Development Board in 2004 to establish what would have been the first private comprehensive university in Singapore.
The EDB refuses to reveal how much it invested in the school. - CNA/ir
From EDB website
"The latest addition to Singapore's vibrant intellectual community, the University of New South Wales (UNSW), gives a major boost to the global schoolhouse strategy. Unlike the other foreign universities, which are mainly joint campus operations, UNSW Singapore, an A$100 million (A$1=$1.20) research and teaching campus with a strong focus on science and technology, will be wholly-owned and independently run by the leading Australian university.
"We are honoured that the Singapore government has chosen UNSW to spearhead its vision to develop Singapore as a hub of educational excellence in the Asian region," said Professor John Ingleson, Deputy Vice-President, Chancellor (International) UNSW. Ingleson added that UNSW's first overseas venture into Singapore heralds the next stage in the internationalisation of the university. UNSW Singapore is scheduled to open its doors in 2007 with an intake of about 15,000 students, of which at least 70 per cent will be foreign. When fully operational, the university is expected to pump about $500 million a year into the local economy.
Complementing the foreign universities are the three home-grown universities. National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Management University (SMU) are quickly gaining a reputation for quality education worldwide. This year, NUS welcomed 5,600 freshmen from 71 different countries, while SMU reported a 10 per cent increase in international student applications from last year." -
Wasted sia... Then the current building vacant?
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vibrant only cos we give out plenty of scholarships to our neighbours! -
why did they quit in the first place?
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wtf sia.. 2 months!? -
Actually time is the factor lor. Of cox lah, new school sure little people mah. Last time RP also mah, First year JAE less than 400 chose RP, whole cohort tens of thousand student leh.
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gee, tats the sch im looking forward to after i graduate..
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x2Originally posted by nyox:gee, tats the sch im looking forward to after i graduate.. -
FI might close this thread... there's a thread at Current Affairs/News forum...
Linky for those who didn't see this thread earlier on.
Edit: Added link. -
why close ?
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mayi jie say already.Originally posted by WiNtEr'SkiLL:why close ?
there's a thread at Current Affairs/News forum... -
leave my mark here before fifi close
it is reported the uni is running into financial crisis.
local students still prefer the 3 local u? -
wasted.
where got so fast see results one? should wait for one more year lo.
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I heard the radio version and it would seem that there was some dispute between the UNI and EDB... you know Singapore journalism lah... sensitive things can only hint hint and never spelt out...
furthermore, can only say on radio because print on paper risky -
yar lor..Originally posted by ChoCoChips:wasted.
where got so fast see results one? should wait for one more year lo.
there goes my dream Uni...
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It means they didn't throw more scholarships to FTs to come to Singapore to study for free.
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I don't think so. EDB isn't dumb. Pulling out will make news, foreigners will wonder. There has got to be other reasons.Originally posted by AndrewPKYap:I heard the radio version and it would seem that there was some dispute between the UNI and EDB... you know Singapore journalism lah... sensitive things can only hint hint and never spelt out...
furthermore, can only say on radio because print on paper risky -
iam so dissappointed while some of my friends are overjoyed.. urgh
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The radio report said that there was some dispute re the "minimum" "target" enrollment figures...Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:I don't think so. EDB isn't dumb. Pulling out will make news, foreigners will wonder. There has got to be other reasons.
anyway see if Aus news picks up the story and give more details... -
At least the Australian press can be relied upon to cover it.
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who the hell would pay 30k to study in SINGAPORE
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there must be more to it than meets the eye..i;ve never come across a recognised institution investing tens of millions only to shut down operation in two months time..
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I wonder.... if UNSW's conscience finally came to bare like Warwick's did.
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got about 150 students for first intake ....... not bad liao .......Originally posted by vito_corleone:who the hell would pay 30k to study in SINGAPORE -
do singaporeans pay this amount too? if yes that's really freaking expensive!Originally posted by vito_corleone:who the hell would pay 30k to study in SINGAPORE