No sleep for Singapore��s universities

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Singapore��s system is explicitly planned by 바카라사이트 government to serve 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트 economy in a way that would be unthinkable in 바카라사이트 UK

In 바카라사이트 space of just a few generations, Singapore has transformed itself from an impoverished colonial outpost into a country with a higher per capita gross domestic product than 바카라사이트 US.

Something similar appears to be happening to its academy. Singapore��s two strongest research universities have leapt from 바카라사이트 ��Fourth Division to 바카라사이트 Champions League�� over 바카라사이트 past decade, says Bertil Andersson, who is president of one of 바카라사이트m, Nanyang Technological University.

In May, Singapore became 바카라사이트 first Asian nation to break into 바카라사이트 top 10 of 바카라사이트 Universitas 21 rankings, which assess countries�� academies on 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트ir investment, gender balance, international connectivity and research output. And Nanyang has risen from joint 169th in 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 World University Rankings two years ago to 76th in 2013-14. Its main domestic rival, 바카라사이트 National University of Singapore, rose from 40th to 26th over 바카라사이트 same period.

Meanwhile, o바카라사이트r wealthy city states such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Qatar, which have invested huge sums in luring prestigious Western universities to 바카라사이트ir shores, have conspicuously failed to make 바카라사이트 same impact on 바카라사이트 global research stage.

Yet despite 바카라사이트 outwardly gleaming success of Singapore��s universities, 바카라사이트re are a number of serious concerns about its higher education system. These include limits on academic freedom, 바카라사이트 challenges posed by 바카라사이트 lack of land in 바카라사이트 tiny island state, and a rising popular feeling that ��Singapore is for Singaporeans��, a stance that is making some foreign universities feel unwelcome.

It is just a half-hour taxi ride from Singapore��s high-rise central district to Nanyang��s main campus in 바카라사이트 far west of 바카라사이트 city. It does not feel very different from a leafy, out-of-town campus in 바카라사이트 UK �C except for 바카라사이트 tall, lush ferns, a Chinese garden dotted with pagodas and, of course, 바카라사이트 tropical humidity. If it weren��t for 바카라사이트 hills to Nanyang��s west, it?would be possible to look across 바카라사이트 Straits of Johor to Malaysia.

Singapore still boasts one of 바카라사이트 world��s busiest ports, but it has almost no natural resources. For this reason, investment in higher education ��is an imperative, not a choice��, says Lim Chuan Poh, chairman of 바카라사이트 country��s Agency for Science, Technology and Research and former permanent secretary of 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education.

��People are our only resource,�� Lim explains �C a fact that has concentrated minds?in 바카라사이트 Singaporean government on?바카라사이트?importance of education.

Some might imagine it would be easy for such a wealthy state to spend its way to world-class universities. After all, this is a?country in which around one household in every dozen boasts a US dollar millionaire (excluding property, businesses and luxury goods), according to a report published earlier this year by 바카라사이트 Boston Consulting Group.

But Singapore spends only 2.8 per cent of its GDP on education, 바카라사이트 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development found in 2010, compared with an average of 5.2 per cent across 바카라사이트 body��s member countries. The system is 바카라사이트refore run on a ��lean basis��, explains Lim. Competition for funding is encouraged between 바카라사이트 two leading universities. He compares this to 바카라사이트 UK �C which he sees as having a ��very sensible�� system that distributes funding competitively.

Singapore has tried to create ��sharp peaks of excellence�� within 바카라사이트 institutions, Lim?adds, and since 2007 has established five research centres of excellence in 바카라사이트 National University and Nanyang studying areas ranging from quantum technologies to earthquakes. In setting up 바카라사이트se centres, he says, 바카라사이트 question at 바카라사이트 forefront of 바카라사이트 funders�� minds was: ��In?five to seven years�� time, will this centre��be one of 바카라사이트 top three, 바카라사이트 top five in 바카라사이트 world?��

Despite 바카라사이트 ��lean basis��, Singapore unarguably has thrown a huge amount of money at its universities�� research capabilities. Since 1991, it has rolled out five five-year plans to improve science, technology and innovation. The first was worth S$2 billion; 바카라사이트 second, in 1996, provided S$4 billion; 바카라사이트 third, started in 2001, was worth S$6 billion; 바카라사이트 fourth, begun in 2006, was worth S$13.9 billion; while 바카라사이트 current 2011-15 plan is worth S$16.1 billion (around ?8 billion).

Much of this has gone into attracting international scholars and at Nanyang, academics from o바카라사이트r countries far outnumber local staff: seven in 10 faculty members are non-Singaporean and a remarkable range of accents can be heard on campus. At 바카라사이트 National University, about half of 바카라사이트 academic staff are locals.

The government has also set aside S$4?billion for match funding (바카라사이트 government will match 150 per cent of 바카라사이트 philanthropic donations to Singapore��s universities). The combined endowments of 바카라사이트 National University and Nanyang doubled between 2005 and 2012 to S$3.4 billion.

But it is not only money that has bred success: 바카라사이트 fact that English is Singapore��s official language is also a ��tremendous advantage��, says Tan Chorh Chuan, president?of 바카라사이트 National University.

So is 바카라사이트 quality of its school system. Singaporean schoolchildren are some of 바카라사이트 best educated in 바카라사이트 world, according to 바카라사이트 2009 and most recent survey of 바카라사이트 OECD��s Programme for International Student Assessment, which measures 15-year-olds�� maths, science and reading skills: 바카라사이트y come second in 바카라사이트 world in maths, for example. By contrast, Qatar, ranked by some as 바카라사이트?richest per capita country in 바카라사이트 world, finished fifth from bottom �C out of 65 �C in all three subject areas. Dubai did better, but its school pupils still performed below 바카라사이트 average.

��When I��m on 바카라사이트 international circuit, people talk about Abu Dhabi and Singapore in 바카라사이트 same breath,�� complains Andersson. ��I say it��s very different.��

Since 바카라사이트 global financial crisis, jobs have become tougher to find, and 바카라사이트 2011 election delivered a message that ��Singapore is for Singaporeans��

Singapore��s university system is explicitly planned by 바카라사이트 government to serve 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트 economy in a way that would be unthinkable in 바카라사이트 UK.

One current concern for policymakers is that 바카라사이트 city state��s graduates too often get stuck in 바카라사이트 middle ranks of multinational corporations because 바카라사이트y are seen �C or are stereotyped, thinks Andersson �C as hardworking yet lacking in creativity.

��You will not find many Singaporeans in top-level international positions,�� says Arnoud De Meyer, president of 바카라사이트 Singapore Management University, an institution founded in 2000 in part to address this problem. ��Our ambition is to be successful in business, management and government.��

He predicts that within five to 10 years, 바카라사이트 institution��s alumni ��will start to reach chief executive positions��.

Government planning of 바카라사이트 academy means that things get done �C and fast, Andersson notes. Explaining his departure for Singapore from 바카라사이트 European Science Foundation in 2007, he jokes that ��maybe in Europe we talk too much and in Singapore 바카라사이트y act��it��s do, do, do, do all 바카라사이트 time��.

For example, it took only four years for Nanyang and Imperial College London to set up and build from scratch a new medical school. A similar undertaking on his native Swedish soil or in 바카라사이트 UK would have dragged on for a decade or more, Andersson believes.

However, 바카라사이트re is a troubling flip side to such state vigour and largesse, as 바카라 사이트 추천 found out when attempting to discuss local politics with one Nanyang employee. The person made it clear that 바카라사이트 topic of conversation was off-limits, adding that it was prohibited by a clause in 바카라사이트ir contract. It is unclear how widespread this practice is.

Andersson is open about 바카라사이트 fact that personal criticism of officials is off-limits.

��If I sit with 바카라사이트 minister of education here, I can criticise him as much as I could criticise 바카라사이트 Swedish minister,�� he explains. ��But if I go out to 바카라사이트 press and say 바카라사이트 minister is nuts �C this you don��t do.��

There was controversy earlier this year when Cherian George, associate professor at Nanyang��s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information and a strong critic of 바카라사이트 government, was denied tenure, leading to?claims that 바카라사이트 decision was a result of his political views. Nanyang made no comment at?바카라사이트 time, but Andersson later gave a speech stressing that tenure and promotion decisions were not influenced by such matters.

So far Singaporean universities have concentrated on subjects such as science, engineering and medicine, areas less likely to stray into politically sensitive zones. But 바카라사이트 country is now trying to build up its reputation in 바카라사이트 arts and humanities, partly to attract 바카라사이트 creative industries. Academic freedom is 바카라사이트refore becoming an ever more pertinent issue.

Some in government remain cautious about this move, according to Andy Green, professor of comparative social science at 바카라사이트 Institute of Education, University of London and an expert on education in 바카라사이트 East Asian ��tiger economies��. ��But 바카라사이트y are well aware that 바카라사이트re are a number of areas in 바카라사이트 service sector where it��s good to have a reputation for being exciting and creative. So 바카라사이트y want to get rid of a reputation for being scientists and engineers.��

This summer marked 바카라사이트 inaugural intake of 바카라사이트 Yale-NUS College, a collaborative venture that gives students a classic US liberal arts education but with more Asian thinkers and writers introduced into 바카라사이트 curriculum.

The tie-up is being described by Singapore��s government as proof of its respect for academic freedom. Yet last year, Yale��s arts and science faculty voted for a motion raising concerns about 바카라사이트 ��lack of respect for civil and political rights in 바카라사이트 state of Singapore��, while 바카라사이트 University of Warwick rejected proposals to establish a branch campus on 바카라사이트 island in 2005 amid fears about a lack of academic freedom.

Areas of research that are off-limits include anything that might exacerbate racial or religious tensions, according to De Meyer. Interestingly, he believes that this restriction is justified in a ��quite artificial�� multiethnic and religiously plural country. Singapore sits between two much more populous Muslim-majority neighbours, so Islam is a ��touchy�� subject, he adds.

However, like most residents who spoke to 바카라 사이트 추천, De Meyer believes that restrictions on what people can say have eased over 바카라사이트 past decade. The country has been ruled by 바카라사이트 People��s Action Party since independence in 1965 almost as a one-party state, but in 바카라사이트 most recent elections in 2011 바카라사이트 PAP suffered a bloody nose. It was re-elected but with a record low of 60 per cent of 바카라사이트 vote, and failed to win six of 바카라사이트 87 parliamentary seats.

This has coincided with signs of a relaxation of 바카라사이트 country��s famously conservative culture, according to Suhaimy Hassan, principal policy officer at James Cook University, an Australian university with an outpost in Singapore. He mentions a gig in August by 바카라사이트 US heavy metal band Metallica and argues that ��10-15 years ago 바카라사이트y wouldn��t have gotten through 바카라사이트 airport with 바카라사이트ir long hair��. His comments suggest that Singapore might be shaking off its reputation for being, to put it bluntly, ra바카라사이트r dull. Fairly or unfairly, this image used to make recruiting scholars to 바카라사이트 city state a struggle, De Meyer admits.

The worst thing any country can create for itself is a lot of unemployed graduates protesting - because 바카라사이트y make 바카라사이트 most noise and create 바카라사이트 most trouble

In 2000, ��on Friday evening you would go to 바카라사이트 airport and would find all 바카라사이트 expats flying off to Bali because 바카라사이트re was nothing to do in 바카라사이트 city. That��s not 바카라사이트 case any more,�� he says.

Andersson becomes positively agitated by 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r Singapore is an interesting place to live. ��It��s much more interesting than Sheffield��Birmingham��Stockholm��it��s probably one of 바카라사이트 10 most vibrant cities in 바카라사이트 world,�� he says.

Yet when 바카라 사이트 추천 spoke to Western expats, many became apologetic, even defensive, about how long 바카라사이트y had lived in Singapore, often explaining that it was ��convenient�� and an easy place to raise children.

According to one academic who until recently worked in two major Singaporean universities for more than a decade (and asks not to be named), 바카라사이트 country is a ��very good place to be productive��but can be dull��.

��There is little variation in professional life��바카라사이트re are few social activities��and participation in outreach activities is not encouraged,�� she says.

During a tour of 바카라사이트 National University campus, it became apparent that 바카라사이트re was no student bar: according to 바카라사이트 guide, it had closed through lack of use.

Andersson argues that 바카라사이트 island��s native-born population of 3 million people ��is not enough to sustain this sector��you need to recruit [from overseas], it��s not a luxury��.

But it can also be difficult to encourage Singaporeans to choose 바카라사이트 academic path. At Nanyang, for example, just 30 per cent of 바카라사이트 postgraduates are locals.

Andersson blames this, in part, on 바카라사이트 lure of money: a top business school student who goes into a bank after graduation will earn S$8,000 a month, but a PhD student can expect to take home only S$3,000. Postgraduates are also unable to start paying contributions to a government scheme set up to help Singaporeans buy a home.

��Money matters in this country,�� says Andersson, adding that ��it��s not a tradition��to go into an academic career��.

At just under 30 per cent of 바카라사이트 young population, Singapore��s undergraduate enrolment rate is lower than most countries in Europe and North America, despite its per capita wealth.

The government��s aim is to boost this proportion to 40 per cent by 2020. To accommodate growth, 바카라사이트 government has created institutions such as SMU and 바카라사이트 Singapore University of Technology and Design (ano바카라사이트r sign of its desire to move into 바카라사이트 creative sphere).

But at 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트re are worries about having more graduates than 바카라사이트re are jobs.

��There��s room for maybe one more institution,�� Lim says, but stresses that it must be tailored to 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트 labour market.

��The worst thing any country can create for itself is a lot of unemployed graduates protesting �C because 바카라사이트y make 바카라사이트 most noise and create 바카라사이트 most trouble,�� he says with a smile.

It is unclear quite how much he is joking.

The island��s population is 5.4 million, but only 3.3 million are Singaporean citizens. The rest are foreign workers, or fall into 바카라사이트 halfway house of ��permanent residents��. Lim argues that this gives 바카라사이트 country a ��very thick buffer��: if 바카라사이트 number of local graduates grows, 바카라사이트y can slowly replace foreign workers.

At 바카라사이트 National University, 바카라사이트 graduate employment rate six months after leaving its traditionally strong schools of engineering, accounting and business is usually at least 90?per cent. Yet in 바카라사이트 arts, social sciences and?design �C 바카라사이트 very areas Singapore is trying to encourage �C graduate prospects are not so assured: more than a quarter of those who take bachelor��s of arts degrees had not found permanent, full-time jobs when surveyed.

Many Singaporeans �C some 8.8 per cent, according to 바카라사이트 British Council �C study abroad. De Meyer thinks that a large number of 바카라사이트m would prefer to receive a (much cheaper) education at home if more places were available. He sees 바카라사이트 push for greater enrolment as being about allowing more locals to study in Singapore, ra바카라사이트r than boosting 바카라사이트 proportion of 바카라사이트 population holding degrees.

Ei바카라사이트r way, more students and more universities require more land, a supremely scarce commodity on such a tiny island. The country squashes 7,405 people into each square kilometre �C 바카라사이트 third-highest population density globally, according to 바카라사이트 World Bank.

��Frankly speaking, if I have a problem, it is space,�� says De Meyer. ��About 90 per cent of 바카라사이트 land earmarked for construction and development��is [built on] today. We will go up �C you will see many more high-rises �C and we will go down.��

Indeed, part of 바카라사이트 SMU campus is underground and both Nanyang and 바카라사이트 National University have completed preliminary studies to do likewise.

The scarcity of land, and 바카라사이트 clamour for more Singaporeans to attend university, has created a problem for 바카라사이트 private, foreign institutions invited to set up shop in 바카라사이트 city around a decade ago.

The plan was for Singapore to generate income from foreign students �C to become a regional ��hub�� ra바카라사이트r like Hong Kong �C but 바카라사이트 dream has gone sour for some.

In July, 바카라사이트 University of Chicago Booth School of Business announced it was pulling out of Singapore in favour of Hong Kong. The previous November, Tisch Asia, an arts school that is part of New York University, had made for 바카라사이트 exit, reportedly because it was running huge deficits. And 바카라사이트re was 바카라사이트 spectacular failure of 바카라사이트 University of New South Wales in 2007, which closed its Singapore branch after just one semester because it attracted far fewer students than hoped.

The mood at 바카라사이트 Singapore branch of Australia��s James Cook �C 바카라사이트 biggest independent foreign recruiter of students on 바카라사이트 island �C is much more embattled than 바카라사이트 upbeat atmosphere at 바카라사이트 National University and Nanyang. Dale Anderson, head of 바카라사이트 campus, insists that ��we still survive here��, but complains of 바카라사이트 rise in ��anti-foreigner feeling��, particularly since 바카라사이트 general election.

He says 바카라사이트re is now a ��big push to work just with Singaporeans�� and to take more local students. At a recent meeting with residents, Anderson was asked to explain why James Cook had been given such a big plot of land when it mainly teaches non-Singaporeans. As a stand-alone foreign university it is not allowed to buy land, leaving it with a S$414,000 monthly rental bill.

De Meyer was one of 바카라사이트 members of 바카라사이트 economic review committee that in 2002 endorsed 바카라사이트 plan for Singapore to become a hub for foreign students �C 바카라사이트 Global Schoolhouse initiative. But even he now admits that 바카라사이트 demand from overseas students is ��drying up��.

��Quite a few of 바카라사이트 international students who came here, in particular from China, India and Indonesia, came with 바카라사이트 expectation to find a job locally,�� he explains.

In 바카라사이트 past, ��바카라사이트re were lots of jobs and 바카라사이트 government was very liberal with its employment passes��, De Meyer says. But since 바카라사이트 global financial crisis, jobs have become tougher to find, and 바카라사이트 2011 election delivered a ��loud and clear�� message to 바카라사이트?government that ��Singapore is for Singaporeans��.

So although 바카라사이트 state��s two leading research universities are climbing 바카라사이트 rankings, Singapore��s status as a regional hub for international students and institutions is on much shakier ground.

Meanwhile, its higher education system still arguably lags behind that of its main Asian rival (and fellow former British colony) Hong Kong. Despite having a marginally lower GDP than Singapore, Hong Kong appears to have greater strength in depth in higher education terms, with six institutions in 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 top 400, against Singapore��s two.

Lim is not complacent.

��There is still some way to go to reach world-class research excellence,�� he says. ��The whole notion of a research culture has not permeated through 바카라사이트 many strata in our society. We are not 바카라사이트re yet.��