24 Aug 2006
Incentives in place to attract Singaporeans to take up higher research degrees
- Mr Ong Lip Hua made an important observation that more Singaporeans need to pursue postgraduate degrees ("Free Up Funds for Locals ", 16 August 2006). Knowledge creation through research is crucial for Singapore to maintain a competitive advantage in a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy. It is therefore a priority to build up a critical mass of research manpower in Singapore.
- To encourage more Singaporeans to take up higher degrees in research, the Ministry of Education (MOE) will continue to provide a capitation grant for each Singaporean student enrolled in such programmes. In addition, MOE provides a block grant to universities. This is used by the universities to fund research scholarships covering tuition fees and a monthly stipend for the students' living expenses, which are awarded based on merit.
- For outstanding students, there are also attractive scholarships offered by research agencies and industry. For example, the A*STAR Graduate Academy has collaborated with both NUS and NTU to offer the A*STAR Graduate Scholarship.
- Mr Ong suggested that the universities provide more loans instead of direct subsidies for bright foreign students. Under the tuition grant scheme, the universities offer subsidies in order to attract high-calibre foreign students to augment our talent pool and contribute to our economy. The foreign students also add to the campus vibrancy and enrich the educational experience of our own students. To achieve these objectives, the tuition grant scheme must remain sufficiently attractive to foreign students of the desired quality.
- Foreign students who receive government subsidies are required to work in Singapore or for Singapore-based companies for 3 years upon graduation. They make important contributions to our economy in areas where we need to supplement our indigenous manpower. Some of them may eventually decide to make Singapore their home, becoming permanent residents or Singapore citizens. In providing subsidised education to foreign students, our universities ensure that there is an inflow of talented students who are admitted on the basis of stringent admission criteria.
Mr Perry Lim
Director, Higher Education
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