Academic Staff

Name and Constituency of  Member of Parliament

Assoc Prof Ong Soh Khim, Nominated Member of Parliament

Question

To ask the Minister for Education (a) what percentage of newly recruited academic staff in local universities are Singaporeans in each of the last 5 years; (b) if there are any plans or efforts to recruit more Singaporeans as academic staff in local universities; and (c) whether good PhD holders from local universities will be recruited as academic staff in these universities.

Response

1.                   For our universities to be top-ranked, it is essential for them to hire academic staff based on merit and not whether they are Singaporeans or foreigners.

2.                   Candidates are selected based on their ability to meet or exceed the needs of their appointment. Each university has its own academic staff selection process but the underlying principle of selecting academic staff based on merit is the same.

3.                   In the past five years, about 23% of newly recruited academic staff have been Singapore citizens, and another 12% have been Permanent Residents. While the universities recruit talent from abroad, they also actively seek out and recruit similarly outstanding Singaporeans with PhDs, whether from local or foreign universities.   In addition, the universities develop potential faculty members through their postgraduate scholarship schemes, which are open to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents.  

Sabbatical Leave

Parliament Notice Paper No. 35 of 2006

Question No. 368 for Oral Answer

Name and Constituency of  Member of Parliament

Assoc Prof Ong Soh Khim, Nominated Member of Parliament

Question

To ask the Minister for Education in light of the globalised university concept with shorter exchanges and overseas stays and pervasive borderless learning through information technology, what is the purpose of having sabbatical leave in the universities.

Response

1.                   In universities around the world, sabbatical leave is a well-accepted practice for the professional development of senior or tenured academic staff.  Sabbatical leave enables staff to spend a meaningful period of time, which could range from several months to a year, away from their teaching and administrative duties at their home universities in order to deepen their scholarship and to work closely with other researchers and academics in their field of expertise. It is generally recognised that the regular, face-to-face interaction with fellow academics in the course of a sabbatical provides advantages in research that are not always obtained through shorter exchanges or communication using IT.  Both the occasional sabbaticals and shorter academic exchanges have their place. 

2.                   Sabbatical leave also benefits the wider academic community in the universities. The collaboration and close networking that it enables can strengthen links between our universities and reputable foreign institutions. A well chosen plan of sabbaticals can help  enhance the international standing of our universities.

3.                   NUS, NTU and SMU have guidelines and processes to evaluate proposals from eligible academic staff who intend to take sabbatical leave to embark on study or research programmes, and to ensure that these programmes are aligned with the interests of the university.