Learning is fun in Singapore

Many students are now considering Singapore for their continuing studies because the island state lies at the crossroads of Asia. One of the rising countries in the region, it is also a dynamic, youthful city, with its many new developments. It is at the hub of Asia’s global network, tapping talents from all over the world for its many needs, including education.

These were the ideas learned by representatives from a number of exclusive schools in Metro Manila during a recent education familiarization tour hosted by Singapore Education, the education bureau under the Singapore Tourism Board. Participating schools were Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, De La Salle-Santiago Zobel, University of Asia and the Pacific, Mapua Institute of Technology, College of the Holy Spirit, Assumption College, St. Theresa’s College, St. Scholastica’s College, Claret School of Quezon City, and Miriam College. A number of media organizations were also invited to join the activity, including The Philippine STAR.

Selene Ng, Singapore Education basic education and higher learning manager, says more than 70,000 foreign students from 70 countries worldwide are presently enrolled in a variety of courses in Singapore’s many schools. The Singapore government is looking at 150,000 students enrolled in the Lion City by 2012-2015.

Ng says there are a number of reasons why students should consider studying in Singapore. Most schools in Singapore have an international perspective when it comes to teaching and learning. Schools recruit the best education professionals from around the world to teach there.

Likewise, schools in Singapore also offer world-class facilities.

"There is an emphasis on ensuring that students have the best infrastructure in schools," she says. All schools have air-conditioning, a must in the tropics; many schools offer Wi-Fi, making laptops a must in classes; and needed software and data are available with just a click from school databases.

Singapore education is also globally focused. Schools and institutions have links to their counterparts abroad, offering numerous opportunities for exchanges and conferences, which are a plus for students seeking breaks abroad.

Anumber of options are available for Filipino students in Singapore. Schools range from pre-schools and primary and secondary institutions to post-secondary and pre-university schools, including polytechnics, universities and postgraduate studies.

Most of the participating educators expressed interest in opportunities for tertiary education in Singapore.

Students have the option of entering either in universities or polytechnics. Polytechnics offer broad-based training for students inclined towards practice-oriented studies at the diploma level. Upon completion of their courses, students in polytechnics have the option of continuing their studies at the university level.

There are five polytechnics in Singapore, namely: Nanyang, Ngee Ann, Republic, Singapore, and Temasek polytechnics. Polytechnics offer diplomas in engineering, business studies, accountancy, maritime studies, mass communications, nursing, biotechnology, chemical engineering, digital media design, applied science, product design, info communications, optometry, early childhood education, and film.

There are also junior colleges where students can take a two-year pre-university course or a centralized institute for a three-year pre-university course.

Singapore’s universities offer internationally recognized degree programs, as well as research and scholarship opportunities to postgraduate studies in various disciplines. All these schools are internationally known, and are ranked among the best in the world.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) was ranked among the Top 25 universities in a report by The Times of London, as well as being among the Top 100 MBA schools in a report by the Financial Times of London. Apart from its degree programs, it also has courses in medicine, law, and architecture.

Since its founding in 1905, NUS has contributed to Singapore’s progress by producing the requisite manpower for government, industry and commerce and the arts. As an engine for growth for Singapore, NUS produces graduates for the global knowledge-driven economy to fulfill its vision of becoming a global knowledge enterprise. Today, it is recognized as one of the leading universities in the Asia-Pacific. At NUS, the focus is on providing quality teaching, engaging impact research, and promoting entrepreneurship and industry collaboration.

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) was ranked seventh in Asia by the Times Higher Education Supplement. It focuses on engineering and the humanities.

NTU has established an international reputation and proven itself a worthy partner to 200 universities in 30 different countries. The relationships include programs with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in manufacturing engineering and the environmental engineering program with Stanford University. It has strong links with the United States and Europe, and rapidly developing relationships with China and India.

The Singapore Management University (SMU) is the newest university in Singapore, having opened in 2000. It is the first private university funded by the Singapore government. This flexibility facilitates SMU’s aim to be a world-class university on par with the best internationally.

The SMU approach to preparing graduates is a focused but broad-based education. Modeled after the Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania, one of the world’s leading business schools, SMU’s curriculum aims to groom outstanding business leaders and creative entrepreneurs capable of excelling in a rapidly changing world.

The Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) is the latest university certified by the Singapore government. It is the first educational and training institute in Asia to be awarded the PSB ISO 9002 (1993), as well as the first educational and training institute in Singapore to achieve People Developer Standard, an award that recognizes its commitment to staff development.

SIM partners with prestigious overseas universities and institutions to offer a comprehensive range of academic programs and executive workshops and seminars. It offers two doctoral programs, nine masters, 50 bachelors, and over 20 graduate, diploma and certificate courses, and annually conducts about 500 executive workshops and seminars.

Universities and polytechnics are not the only options available for Filipino students in Singapore. There are also a number of private schools that offer specialized programs catering to the specific needs of students.

The Singapore Culinary Academy and Spice Garden, or at-sunrice, has a global vision for delivering the best professional culinary arts education. Its mission is to deliver formal education in east and west, herbs and spices, old and new world cuisines, and provide work and study rotations at top hotels, restaurants and luxury homes. It has a three-year bachelor’s course offered jointly with SIM University, a two-year diploma course offered jointly with Johnson & Wales University, diploma courses on culinary craft and pastry and baking, certificate courses on culinary service, and private and personal chef, and a three-week Asian culinary arts course.

Students from more than 22 countries have come to at-sunrice where the facilities include one commercial kitchen, one luxury kitchen, a large outdoor patio, and a spice garden the size of two football fields.

Those inclined toward the arts may opt for LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts, which offers high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate programs in practice-based arts management, design, fine arts, and performing arts. Renowned as Asia-Pacific’s leading arts institution, it emphasizes creativity and interdisciplinary interaction. It has faculties in design, media arts, integrated studies, performing arts, fine arts and flexible learning.

As much as 30 percent of LASALLE-SIA’s current enrollment is composed of foreign students. It expects this figure to go up to 70 percent in 2008 as student enrollment increases to 3,000 from today’s 2,200. When its new campus opens later this year, it will situate its students within the city center providing them with state-of-the-art facilities.

The Tourism Academy at Sentosa is a collaboration between the Sentosa Leisure Group, which manages Singapore’s only island resort of Sentosa, and Temasek Polytechnic, a government tertiary institution that is renowned for its market-oriented and industry-relevant education. It now offers a two-year diploma in hospitality and tourism business.

With the development of an integrated resort area at Singapore’s waterfront and the opening of two casinos in the next two years, a huge demand for hospitality professionals is expected in the island state.

(Next week: Meet the students and more education options in Singapore)

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For inquiries on education opportunities in Singapore, visit the Singapore Tourism Board-Philippines office at the 17th floor, 6788 Ayala Ave., Makati City, with tel. nos. 8130946 and 813-4968. Log on to singapore.gov.sg for details.