First priority in university education is the provision of affordable, top-quality education to citizens

26 April 2006

We refer to Mr Tan Thiam Chye’s letter “Varsities: Talent-centred or citizen-centred? ” (ST Forum, 24 April 2006).
Our universities are Singaporean institutions whose objective is to serve Singaporeans. The Government’s first priority in university education is to provide an affordable, top-quality education to citizens. The three universities - National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Management University (SMU) - are already admitting one in every five local students for their undergraduate programmes. We are committed to increasing this to one in every four local students in a few years’ time. We are also significantly increasing bursaries and study loans to Singaporean students who need financial assistance.
Our universities are reviewing their tuition fees for future batches of foreign students, with a view to widening the gap between local and foreign student tuition fees. However, they must continue to attract high quality foreign students, while providing places for every Singaporean who qualifies for admission.
Good international students create vibrancy and diversity that will benefit and spur on our own students, and ensure that they receive a quality university experience. Likewise, the universities must attract the best faculty they can get, Singaporean and foreign. Without this international orientation, our universities cannot be the first class institutions that Singaporeans deserve.

Lim Chee Hwee
Director,
Higher Education