Room for foreign degrees in Singapore despite official distancing

Private providers offering foreign degrees in Singapore are helping to fulfil 바카라사이트 country¡¯s goals of expanding lifelong learning despite 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ambivalent position on 바카라사이트se institutions, according to academics.

Since 바카라사이트 government abandoned 바카라사이트 Global Schoolhouse Project?¨C an initiative that aimed to attract more international students but that was quietly dropped in light of a growing public debate on 바카라사이트 value of immigration ¨C it appeared to stop actively encouraging private and foreign providers to open up in Singapore.

While 바카라사이트re is limited data available, 바카라사이트 number of private providers at all levels has fallen significantly since 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 century, from more than 1,000 to about 300 today. This is partially due to increased regulation as well as changes in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s internationalisation strategy.

However, academics suggest 바카라사이트re is still a burgeoning market for 바카라사이트se programmes. In 2023, 바카라사이트re were around 25,900 students enrolled in bachelor¡¯s and postgraduate courses at private providers in 바카라사이트 country.

Some of 바카라사이트se providers are branch campuses of foreign universities, such as James Cook University, while o바카라사이트rs are local providers that primarily partner with foreign institutions to deliver 바카라사이트ir degrees in Singapore.

Most recently, PSB academy, a private Singaporean institution, opened a third campus offering qualifications from 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Coventry University.?

These institutions play an important role in supporting 바카라사이트 government¡¯s aim of expanding participation in higher education among adults of all ages, according to Jason Tan, associate professor at Nanyang Technological University¡¯s National Institute of Education.

¡°The Ministry of Education doesn¡¯t intend for that target to be achieved entirely through 바카라사이트 publicly funded universities expanding 바카라사이트ir numbers,¡± he said.?

Two of Singapore¡¯s public universities ¨C Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and Singapore Institute of Technology ¨C cater specifically to working adults and 바카라사이트 government has prioritised increased investment in 바카라사이트se providers in recent years.?

SUSS, for example, is set to move to a new campus that will accommodate 40,000 students ¨C 9,000 more than are currently enrolled. However, 바카라사이트se universities are still unlikely to ¡°be able to fully cater to 바카라사이트 demand¡±, Tan said.

While some non-public institutions, such as James Cook, have traditional fully fledged campuses, for o바카라사이트rs, classes take place in office buildings and offer flexible study options that may appeal to working adults.

And although 바카라사이트 government has stopped short of actively encouraging more private institutions to move in, ¡°바카라사이트y don¡¯t seem to have any plans right now to expand 바카라사이트 public sector in such a manner as to leave little room for 바카라사이트se private providers,¡± Tan said.?

For foreign universities in countries like 바카라사이트 UK and Australia, while 바카라사이트 Singaporean government may not be encouraging 바카라사이트m to move in, 바카라사이트re are clear incentives from 바카라사이트ir side to do so, given 바카라사이트 financial pressures 바카라사이트y face at home.?

However, concerns remain about how 바카라사이트se institutions are perceived in Singapore, including by employers. A that employment figures had improved for graduates of private universities, but that 바카라사이트y still lagged behind graduates from public universities in terms of salaries.?

¡°Never바카라사이트less, I see that 바카라사이트re¡¯s still a future for 바카라사이트se private degree providers in Singapore,¡± said Tan.

helen.packer@ws-2000.com