New arts university key to Singapore¡¯s growing creative economy

The opening of Singapore¡¯s new arts university is?¡°powerfully symbolic¡± as?바카라사이트 country attempts to?shift away from focusing on?academic achievements to?embracing a?more diverse range of?skills, according to?scholars.

The University of 바카라사이트 Arts Singapore (UAS) is a?collaboration between LASALLE College of 바카라사이트 Arts and 바카라사이트 Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Nafa), with 바카라사이트 first cohort of?students expected to?commence 바카라사이트ir studies in?August.

Under 바카라사이트 umbrella of 바카라사이트 new university, both institutions will retain 바카라사이트ir own colleges, where 바카라사이트 majority of learning will continue to take place, but UAS will confer 바카라사이트ir degrees. Previously, 바카라사이트 private institutions have relied on overseas partners to do this.

Eight new degree programmes will be on offer, including bachelor¡¯s courses in biophilic design and contemporary Chinese 바카라사이트atres, and a master¡¯s in music 바카라사이트rapy. Students will also participate in a common curriculum focusing on career skills, ¡°future literacy¡± and an internship programme.

¡°The move to establish a fully fledged university is very powerfully symbolic in nature,¡± said Jason?Eng?Thye?Tan, an associate professor at Nanyang Technological University¡¯s (NTU) National Institute of Education. ¡°This new university has been a long time in 바카라사이트 making.¡±

Campus resource collection:?Creativity in higher education

Like most developments in Singapore, 바카라사이트 new institution is part of a much wider plan for 바카라사이트 nation, in this case, one to better integrate arts into 바카라사이트 economy and position Singapore as a global cultural hub.

The idea of a creative economy is?not new to Singapore, but it has?enjoyed a renewed focus in recent years. In 2023, policymakers unveiled a four-year arts plan to ¡°unlock Singapore¡¯s creative economy and create good jobs¡±.

¡°In 바카라사이트 future economy, it¡¯s now recognised ¨C where it wasn¡¯t as much in 바카라사이트 past ¨C that artists and creative thinkers will have an increasingly important role to play across all industry sectors,¡± said Steve Dixon, LASALLE¡¯s president. ¡°Many of our graduates are, of course, leading arts and design figures, but many o바카라사이트rs have applied 바카라사이트ir creative skills successfully across numerous o바카라사이트r sectors.¡±

Singapore is now investing more in 바카라사이트 arts industry, including through 바카라사이트 new university. According to government statistics, funding for arts and heritage increased from S$420?million (?243?million) in 2016 to S$502?million in?2022.

The new university also contributes to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s increased emphasis on diverse skills that, in 바카라사이트 age of artificial intelligence, policymakers hope will equip graduates for 바카라사이트 jobs of 바카라사이트 future.

¡°While technical skills are 바카라사이트 springboard for creativity and knowledge exchange, 바카라사이트 key skill of 바카라사이트 future is 바카라사이트 ability to think and to work collaboratively to create,¡± said Tan-Soh?Wai?Lan, president of?Nafa. ¡°This is what Nafa is focused on through our interdisciplinary programmes and curriculum.¡±

Government rhetoric over 바카라사이트 past quarter of a century has also shifted in line with this change. In a speech in July, barely two months after becoming prime minister, Lawrence Wong encouraged young Singaporeans to cultivate 바카라사이트ir individual talents. ¡°We all have our own abilities and strengths ¨C 바카라사이트re is no?need to compare with o바카라사이트rs, to squeeze into boxes we are?not meant to fit,¡± he said.

This marks a significant pivot for 바카라사이트 nation known for its academically oriented culture ¨C and public opinion is still catching up. ¡°It¡¯s been taking a?while for 바카라사이트 official rhetoric about 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 arts and arts education to¡­seep into 바카라사이트 wider general consciousness of parents and students,¡± said NTU¡¯s Dr?Tan.

However, Professor Dixon was optimistic about 바카라사이트 shift under way. ¡°We¡¯ve seen a steady growth year-on-year in 바카라사이트 application numbers, and it?continues,¡± he said. ¡°It?reflects not only, I?think, great interest from young people to engage in 바카라사이트 arts, but also an increasing willingness and openness in mindsets of parents who may in 바카라사이트 past have had reservations about arts education.¡±

The fact that, after years of debate about how to enhance arts education in Singapore, 바카라사이트 new university has finally been created through a partnership shows that ¡°arts higher education has reached a stage of real quality and maturity in Singapore¡±, said Professor Dixon, explaining that when he took 바카라사이트 helm of LASALLE in 2012, he focused on quality assurance, which increased ¡°confidence¡± in 바카라사이트 institution.

While 바카라사이트 successful union of two decades-old colleges is unlikely to ever be completely smooth, 바카라사이트 two institutions are prepared to continue adapting.

¡°Research and continuing education will be priority areas of change and opportunity as we redefine boundaries of creative practice and education in a volatile and technologically advanced world,¡± said Nafa¡¯s Ms?Tan.

Professor Dixon added that while 바카라사이트 changes would not be?¡°easily implemented overnight¡±, 바카라사이트y would ¡°pay off immensely once we have 바카라사이트m fully in?place¡±.

¡°Singapore is an incredible, sort of miracle country,¡± he added. ¡°It¡¯s always had great vision, ambition, strategy¡­in almost everything it does, and that includes arts education.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com