Singapore Institute of Tech could be 5th varsity
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THE Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), which partners overseas universities to offer degree courses to polytechnic upgraders, could become Singapore's fifth university.
Minister of State for Education Lawrence Wong broached this possibility yesterday as he briefed the media on a recent trip he led to study the German university system.
Mr Wong, who heads a committee looking into providing more university places for Singaporeans, said the trip further affirmed the committee's thinking that if the country were to have another university, it should be practice-oriented and closely linked to industry. It should also offer programmes that combine work and study.
Mr Wong said the 15-member panel had already indicated that SIT, with its practical bent, could be a 'possible platform' for this applied university model.
But it would have to be restructured as it does not award its own degrees.
SIT, set up three years ago, has an enrolment of about 1,500. It offers 24 degree programmes from 10 overseas schools such as the Technical University of Munich and the University of Glasgow.
Mr Wong also gave an update on the committee's work that started in August last year.
Since last October, the members have also visited Finland, France, Hong Kong and the US.
He said the committee will submit its preliminary recommendations next month to an international panel that advises the Government on higher education.
The international panel, which includes top university administrators, will hold its biennial meeting early next month.
On this most recent study trip, Mr Wong and two members of the committee - Professor Cheong Hee Kiat, president of SIM University, and Mr Mohamed Faizal Mohamed Abdul Kadir, deputy senior state counsel at the Attorney-General's Chambers - visited three applied universities in Baden-Wurttemberg and Berlin.
Mr Wong said companies work closely with the applied universities to shape the curriculum, which makes their graduates attractive to these employers.
As a result, these schools were highly sought after. One he visited had 15,000 applicants for a particular programme but only 1,500 were admitted.
Representatives of German engineering firm Festo told Mr Wong that out of 10 engineers it hires, eight would come from an applied university.
As the applied university model is markedly different from what is currently offered in Singapore, Mr Wong said getting support will be important.
The committee has held several focus group discussions with students, parents and employers.
Students and parents generally welcomed the move to provide more university places and the idea of an applied university. But poly students said they would be less keen on a traditional three-year university programme, and would rather get a degree in two years at SIT or abroad.
Feedback from employers and companies has been positive, said Mr Wong, but 'some will be more ready than others' for a work and study programme.
About 27 per cent of the cohort now goes to publicly funded universities and this rate is expected to reach 30 per cent by 2015.
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I graduated from Singapore Polytechnic recently.
Initially i wanted to join SIT's University of Glasgow's Degree in Aerospace System.
However i heard that they will be using the same facilities that Singapore Polytechnic uses, meaning i may be using the same laboratories, learning on the same cessna aircraft.
Most importantly, i don't want to spend another 2 years deciding on which foodcourt to eat in SP every lunch time.
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Originally posted by MyPillowTalks:
I graduated from Singapore Polytechnic recently.
Initially i wanted to join SIT's University of Glasgow's Degree in Aerospace System.
However i heard that they will be using the same facilities that Singapore Polytechnic uses, meaning i may be using the same laboratories, learning on the same cessna aircraft.
Most importantly, i don't want to spend another 2 years deciding on which foodcourt to eat in SP every lunch time.
so.. did u go to some other uni or what?
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Originally posted by Uraniumfish:
so.. did u go to some other uni or what?
NTU...near my home
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Originally posted by MyPillowTalks:
NTU...near my home
wah, then ur gpa must be high
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What so suprised about the campus location? Do you know that the temporary Singapore University Of Technology and Design (SUTD) are at ITE 's HQ in Dover Road, meaning they will be also using ITE equipment for teaching university stuff and imagine SUTD students have to share canteen with ITE student !
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Originally posted by M the name:
What so suprised about the campus location? Do you know that the temporary Singapore University Of Technology and Design (SUTD) are at ITE 's HQ in Dover Road, meaning they will be also using ITE equipment for teaching university stuff and imagine SUTD students have to share canteen with ITE student !
that's cool
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Originally posted by MyPillowTalks:
NTU...near my home
For me I think i can't even make it to ntu
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Huat ah for papigs if this news materialises! More money for them, money money and still money! Wa! More increase in salary of the highest paid ministers in the world.
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Originally posted by Uraniumfish:
For me I think i can't even make it to ntu
i only good enough for the mass dumping engineering course
But since i took electronics & electrical engineering in poly, don't mind continuing, and good to have some knowledge of this course when i do wad i wanna do next time -
Originally posted by MyPillowTalks:
i only good enough for the mass dumping engineering course
But since i took electronics & electrical engineering in poly, don't mind continuing, and good to have some knowledge of this course when i do wad i wanna do next timeoh, what course are you taking?
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cool and that's good.
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Originally posted by M the name:
What so suprised about the campus location? Do you know that the temporary Singapore University Of Technology and Design (SUTD) are at ITE 's HQ in Dover Road, meaning they will be also using ITE equipment for teaching university stuff and imagine SUTD students have to share canteen with ITE student !
No la we don't have to share canteen with ITE students. We have our own canteen. And the equipments that we are using are mostly new. E.g Laser printers..
Just that we are using ITE building that's all.
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Originally posted by Uraniumfish:
oh, what course are you taking?
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
At least it's still a degree. And what i learn will be useful to what im probably going to do next time. -
Originally posted by polarsnake:
No la we don't have to share canteen with ITE students. We have our own canteen. And the equipments that we are using are mostly new. E.g Laser printers..
Just that we are using ITE building that's all.
Are you talking about the Food Plaza@SUTD where the coffee scent is ? Actually previously that food plaza is an canteen for ITE Dover East students until I just heard recently that it turn to Food Plaza@SUTD for their students. So does this mean that now ITE staff or student go to The Food Haven near the entrance for meal ? -
Originally posted by MyPillowTalks:
I graduated from Singapore Polytechnic recently.
Initially i wanted to join SIT's University of Glasgow's Degree in Aerospace System.
However i heard that they will be using the same facilities that Singapore Polytechnic uses, meaning i may be using the same laboratories, learning on the same cessna aircraft.
Most importantly, i don't want to spend another 2 years deciding on which foodcourt to eat in SP every lunch time.
You go uni to study or for the food?
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may i ask how the hell is Singapore job market going to absorb all the graduates?
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Originally posted by charlize:
You go uni to study or for the food?
No food how to study? Damn stress over study still need to stress which caipng to eat -
Originally posted by the Bear:
may i ask how the hell is Singapore job market going to absorb all the graduates?
You never read newspaper?
There are so many jobs available but Singaporeans are always so picky.
Just because got some paper qualification, then don't want to be toilet cleaners or retail sales assistants or road sweepers.
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Originally posted by the Bear:
may i ask how the hell is Singapore job market going to absorb all the graduates?
It's simple, they create new companies that need fresh graduates.
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Originally posted by Uraniumfish:
It's simple, they create new companies that need fresh graduates.
sustainable?
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not everywhere does need a grad to get the job done...
I guess sooner or later it becomes w/ skills inclusive...
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Originally posted by the Bear:
sustainable?
I guess so, especially engineering sector.
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Originally posted by Uraniumfish:
I guess so, especially engineering sector.
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Originally posted by charlize:
What la!