Co-ordination of higher education
The
Ministry of Education (MOE) is responsible for the co-ordination of
education for Singapore. All post-secondary programs offered by public
and non-public institutions or organisations must be approved by the
MOE, Higher Education Division. The MOE also plays a significant role in
establishing policy for public higher education institutions.
Types of higher education institutions
Higher
education institutions can be categorized into public and non-public
institutions or organizations. Public institutions are established by
individual Public Acts. The institutions are operationally autonomous,
self-governing, and confer degrees, diplomas, and/or certificates.
Policy guidelines for admission standards, enrollment levels, student
payments, etc. are the purview of the Ministry of Education (MOE). The
MOE approves requests for new programs and program changes. In addition,
the MOE recommends the annual budget for public support of higher
education to the Parliament.
The public sector offers a
comprehensive range of post-secondary education and training
opportunities. As shown in Figure 1, different options are available to
students depending upon their qualifications. These options can be
divided into three types: the universities, the polytechnics, and the
technical training institute.
The two universities,
National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University,
require the highest level of qualifications by students and have the
national responsibility for the provision of educational facilities at
university standards, the advancement and dissemination of knowledge,
and the promotion of research and scholarship. The universities
primarily offer full-time degree programs and a few select diploma and
post-graduate diploma courses. The National University of Singapore
offers undergraduate courses through the following eight faculties:
Architecture and Building Arts and Social Sciences
Business Administration Dentistry
Engineering Law
Medicine Science
Postgraduate
studies are conducted within the faculties and the four postgraduate
schools of Management, Medical, Dental Studies, and Engineering.Nanyang
Technological University is organised into six schools offering
undergraduate and post-graduate programs:
Accountancy and Business Applied Science
Civil and Structural Communication Studies
Engineering Electrical & Electronic
Mechanical & Production Engineering Engineering
Four
additional schools are housed in the National Institute of Education,
which is part of Nanyang Technological University. These schools include
Arts, Science, Education, and Physical Education.
Four
polytechnics (Nanyang Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore
Polytechnic, and Temasek Polytechnic) provide a wide range of full-time
and part-time programs leading to diploma, advanced diploma, and
certificate qualifications. The focus of the polytechnics is on the
education and training of middle-level and supervisory personnel to
support the technological, economic, and social development of
Singapore. Each polytechnic offers programs in engineering, technology,
and business studies. Specialised programs, such as design, health
science, optometry, shipbuilding, and information technology, are
provided only by one of the polytechnics.
The last type
of public post-secondary education consists of the Institute of
Technical Education (ITE) which offers technical and vocational
education and training programs for school leavers and workers.
Full-time training in technical and business studies courses is
available for students completing secondary school with GCE 'O' and 'N'
qualifications. These courses culminate in the award of certificates
accepted in industry and commercial enterprises.
The
non-public sector of higher education includes a diverse set of private
institutions, professional organisations, and quasi-governmental bodies.
As noted above, post-secondary programs available through the
non-public sector must be approved by the Ministry of Education. The
approval process ensures provision of appropriate facilities and
management structure as well as evaluating the content of the program.
The providers usually are independent, self-regulated, and
self-financing; they may or may not be profit-making. These institutions
offer diploma, advanced diploma, and/or certificate programs in
business and technical fields of study. The qualifications are awarded
in the name of the organisation. With one exception, no degrees are
conferred directly by these organisations.
Specialized
diploma and certificate programs are directed by professional
organizations, such as the Singapore Hotel Association Training and
Education Centre, Singapore Insurance Institute, and the Institute of
Certified Public Accountants of Singapore, and quasi-governmental
bodies, such as the National Maritime Academy and the SEAMEO Regional
Language Centre. These programs must meet the requirements and standards
set by the professional group. The SEAMEO Regional Language Centre also
is the only non-public institution to offer a degree program, a Master
of Arts in Applied Linguistics.
Private institutions
provide a wide range of educational opportunities, including
correspondence and tutoring schools, as well as diploma and certificate
programs. In addition, some private organizations serve as program
facilitators for foreign universities. These organisations co-ordinate
the teaching and tutoring required for degree programs offered by
foreign universities. Students receive degrees conferred by the
university and not by the local organization. One example is the
Singapore Institute of Management (SIM). SIM provides diploma, graduate
diploma, and certificate programs in management studies. In addition,
SIM co-ordinates numerous business-related bachelor, master and
doctorate degree programs offered by universities from Great Britain and
Australia. For part-time students desiring a bachelor's degree, SIM
also provides access to Open University degree programs, accredited and
awarded by the United Kingdom's Open University.
Institutional governance
The
structure of institutional governance is very similar among the
universities and polytechnics and is defined in the Public Acts
establishing the individual institutions. Each institution is governed
and managed by a Council which is appointed either by the Chancellor of
the universities (the President of Singapore) or the Minister-in-charge
of the polytechnics. The Council for a particular institution includes
the President of the university or the Principal of the polytechnic and
representatives from the administration and faculty of the institution,
the Government, and the private sector.
The Public Act
also establishes a Senate or Academic Board which is responsible for the
control and direction of academic programs, research, and examination,
and has the power to award degrees, diplomas and certificates.Within the
policy guidelines established by the Government, institutions carry out
typical activities of:
- selecting and admitting students,
- developing curricular content and methods of instruction,
- establishing examination policy and procedures,
- regulating conditions of service for staff,
- maintaining the facility,
- and managing financial affairs.
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