INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC ADVISORY PANEL FOURTH MEETING , 13-16 JANUARY 2003

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1. The International Academic Advisory Panel (IAAP) has concluded its fourth meeting in Singapore. The meeting focussed mainly on the need to maintain quality in all our universities and specific ways to enhance the strategic value of undergraduate and postgraduate research programmes in Singapore.

2. The IAAP agrees that we should expand our university cohort participation rate (CPR) from the current 21% to 25% by admitting more students from our junior colleges and polytechnics if the quality of our universities and graduates can be maintained.

3. The IAAP also agrees that the bulk of the higher university capacity required can be met by expanding the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), both in terms of its undergraduate intake and disciplinary provisions. The IAAP supports the establishment of 3 new schools at NTU -- Physical Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Design & Media. This will enable NTU to provide a more comprehensive undergraduate education.

4. The IAAP endorses the proposal to transform the National University of Singapore (NUS) into a multi-campus university (MCU) system. With a multi-campus setup, NUS can better meet the different needs and aptitudes of students, thereby optimising their potential. Members however also emphasise the need for synergy and porosity among the campuses.

5. The IAAP supports the establishment of a Graduate Medical Programme at the proposed NUS Outram. Such a programme, in addition to meeting the need for more medical graduates, will provide a differentiated approach to medical training. Further, it will leverage on the excellent medical expertise already present in the Singapore General Hospital and other Singhealth hospitals.

6. The IAAP unanimously supports the aim of providing and improving the quality of undergraduate and postgraduate education to students who will benefit from a more research intensive and residential experience within NUS. The recommendation of NUS Buona Vista, specialising in the fields of engineering, info-communications technology and sciences, can accomplish these goals. However, the NUS Buona Vista campus, if built, must maintain strong linkages with NUS Kent Ridge so that both will benefit from improvements in either campus. NUS Kent Ridge will continue to be the main provider of undergraduate education in NUS and its efforts to achieve excellence must be sustained. The Panel is of the view that connectivity between the two campuses is a key element in achieving quality uplift. It suggests that the mode and pace in the realisation of NUS Buona Vista progress in a manner that will not adversely affect the present quality of other campuses.

7. The IAAP also made further recommendations to improve the educational quality of NUS Kent Ridge, including tailoring differentiated programmes to meet the varied aptitudes and inclinations of students, strengthening the development of postgraduate education in specific disciplines and increasing affiliation to the campus through more residential undergraduate opportunities.

8. The IAAP visited and interacted with staff and students of NUS, NTU and SMU during its stay here. It commends our universities for their remarkable progress in the areas of teaching and research since the third IAAP meeting held in January 2001. It noted how NUS and NTU have put in place significant positive changes, such as curriculum broadening and changes to personnel management policies. Panel members also had an opportunity to interact with students from our 3 universities and were impressed with their global outlook and varied interests.

9. The Panel will meet again in Singapore in the year 2005. Issues for discussion, among others, will include the development of an enriching and sustainable research culture within Singapore.