Parliamentary Replies
Singapore Institute of Applied Technology (Update)
Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Mrs Josephine Teo, Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC
Question
To ask the Minister for Education if he will provide an update on the Singapore Institute of Applied Technology, in particular
- he types and nature of partnership arrangements with foreign universities;
- the manner in which polytechnics are involved in programme delivery; and
- how a quality education environment will be provided for the students.
Response
The Ministry of Education announced in May 2009 that the Singapore Institute of Applied Technology would be set up to provide an improved upgrading pathway for deserving polytechnic graduates to obtain industry-relevant degrees. The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), as it will now be known, will provide approximately 2,000 full-time university places each year at the steady state, and will contribute towards the target university cohort participation rate of 30% by 2015.
As negotiations are on-going, further information with regard to details requested by the MP can only be available when the tie-ups with foreign Universities have been finalised. SIT is currently in advanced stages of discussions with several reputable overseas universities from the US, UK, Australia and Europe. In general, foreign partners will commit to deliver programmes in Singapore that will lead to the award of their University degrees. Some disciplines have been identified that build on our polytechnics’ strengths in Science and Technology, as well as support high-growth industries. These are in areas of Applied Sciences and Engineering, Digital Media, Health Sciences and Hospitality. The entire suite of course provisions for degrees in various disciplines will require time to be rolled out and will be spaced out till 2015. This is because each program by foreign partners would need to be assessed by SIT to ensure that a rigorous and relevant curriculum has been developed by the overseas university and who will also send some of their faculty to Singapore to conduct these programmes.
The degree programmes will be conducted within the premises of the five polytechnics, so that they can leverage on the polytechnics’ infrastructure where there are synergies, for example, for engineering laboratories. Nonetheless, each polytechnic will provide a dedicated space where SIT teaching and activities will take place. The polytechnics will also work closely with the overseas university partner to adapt the degree curriculum to ride on the strengths of the polytechnics’ own diplomas. Finally, SIT in conjunction with the polytechnics will also provide faculty expertise to conduct some of the courses.
Given the calibre of our polytechnic graduates and SIT’s high standards in assessing its foreign partners, these degree programs will provide a high-quality tertiary education for our students.