--TODAY, 11 Feb 2012--
Steeper increases for PR and international students in coming academic year

SINGAPORE - Students at the five polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) will pay higher fees for the coming academic year (AY2012), with sharper increases for permanent residents (PR) and international students than for Singaporean students.

In a joint statement issued yesterday, the five polytechnics - Nanyang Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic - said the fee increases are "necessary to help the polytechnics defray the increasing cost of delivering a high-quality education".

"The higher fee increases for PR and international students are to more clearly differentiate the privileges enjoyed by citizens over PRs and international students," they said.

For new PR and international students at the polytechnics, fees will increase 22 per cent and 28 per cent, respectively, for AY2012. Fees for existing PR and international students will also increase but by smaller amounts.

In comparison, fees for new Singaporean students will increase 2.3 per cent (S$50) to S$2,250.

Nanyang Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Singapore Polytechnic will also increase the fees for their existing Polytechnic-Foreign Specialised Institution (Poly-FSI) degree courses by 2.5 per cent in AY2012, to between S$5,110 and S$8,500 per year. The fees currently range from S$4,980 to S$8,290. The revised tuition fees of these courses will apply to new and existing Singaporean students.

Separately, the ITE announced that fee increases for Singaporeans will range from about 2 per cent for a Technical Diploma in Culinary Arts course to approximately 7 per cent for a Nitec course. The new fee structure applies to both new and existing Singaporean students.

For new PR students, they will see an increase of about 114 per cent for full-time Nitec courses, while international students will see an increase of about 167 per cent.

Existing PR and international students admitted before AY2012 will also pay higher fees based on the fee structure at the point of their admission.

The ITE said the fee increases are necessary given the rising costs of delivering high-quality education, adding it will continue to receive a substantial subsidy from the Government to cover the bulk of its costs.

Both the ITE and the polytechnics assured that there are sufficient financial assistance schemes in place to help students in financial difficulties.

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--The Straits Times, 11 Feb 2012--

SINGAPORE: Three universities in Singapore -- Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Management University (SMU) and National University of Singapore (NUS) -- said they will raise their tuition fees for the 2012 academic year.

This comes as the five polytechnics in Singapore as well as the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) announced on Friday fee hikes for the academic year (AY) 2012, which starts in April.

Students at NUS can expect tuition fees to be raised by four per cent to S$7,460 in AY2012/2013. The fee hike works out to be a yearly increase of 1.6 per cent.

Meanwhile, Singaporeans studying at NTU will pay four to six per cent more than their seniors, depending on their course of study.

Those starting their courses at SMU will pay five per cent more.

As announced earlier by the government, with effect from the cohort of AY2012/2013, fees for Singapore Permanent Residents and international students will be 32 per cent and 84 per cent higher respectively, than those for Singapore citizens.

- CNA/wk

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--The Straits Times, 11 Feb 2012--
Increase of 2% - 7% is to 'keep up with rising costs of providing quality education'

By Amelia Tan

Singapore's three universities, five polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) yesterday announced separately that they will raise tuition fees by around 2 per cent to 7 per cent for the next academic year.

They said the increases were due to the increased cost of providing a quality education. As in previous years, the increases will be bigger for permanent residents and foreigners than for citizens.

At the polytechnics and ITE, the fee increase will affect new and existing students. At the universities, however, the increases will affect only incoming students. But male students who applied for places before their national service will have their tuition fees pegged to the date of their applications.

University fees have generally been increased almost yearly, as the Government has said previously it would have more frequent but smaller fee increases rather than a hefty hike every few years.

From this year, Singaporeans starting at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) will pay 4 per cent to 6 per cent more than their seniors, depending on the course; those starting at the Singapore Management University (SMU) will pay 5 per cent more.

The biggest increases are for the business courses at NTU and the architecture, business, medicine, dentistry, nursing, law, music, and pharmacy courses at NUS. Fees for all these courses will go up by 6 per cent.

Singaporeans starting at the Singapore Institute of Technology, which offers degree programmes for poly graduates, will pay 2.6 per cent more than their seniors.

At the polytechnics, Singaporeans enrolled in diploma courses this year will pay $50 more than last year - a rise of 2.3 per cent, to $2,250 a year.

Singaporeans studying in a Nitec course or Higher Nitec course at the ITE will pay $20 more a year, amounting to $300 for a Nitec course and $536 for a Higher Nitec course. Singaporeans taking the technical engineer diploma will pay $2,250, or $50 more.

The fee hikes are steeper for non-citizens across the board. For example, a permanent resident admitted to SMU to study law this year will pay $15,610, or $1,430 more than last year. An international student will pay $21,750, or $2,400 more. Singaporeans reading law will pay $11,820, or $579 more than their seniors who entered last year.

The institutions stressed that financial help is available.

Students interviewed said they were not surprised by the announcement as there had been regular fee hikes recently. 'I think the fees are still affordable now,' said Gan Sok Ting, 19, a final-year biotechnology student at Singapore Polytechnic. 'But if the fees go up higher, by about $100, for example, it might be expensive for some students.'

ITE Higher Nitec student Aw Meng Kit, 17, said: 'I think the increase is reasonable. The Government has been trying to raise the standard of ITE education by providing us with good facilities and teachers.'

ameltan@sph.com.sg

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--The Straits Timees, 10 Feb 2012--

By Amelia Tan


Students studying at the National University of Singapore (NUS) University Town (UTown). The three universities, five polytechnics and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) announced separately on Friday that they will raise tuition fees for the academic year starting 2012. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN


The three universities, five polytechnics and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) announced separately on Friday that they will raise tuition fees for the academic year starting 2012.

The institutions said the increased cost of providing a quality education has led to the the fee hikes and in accordance with previous hikes, the increases will be greater for permanent residents (PRs) and foreigners than for citizens.

At the polytechnics and ITE, the fee increase will affect new and existing students. At the universities, however, the fee increases will affect only incoming freshmen, but male students who applied for places prior to national service will have their tuition fees pegged to the date of their applications.

The universities have generally increased their fees every year in the last few years, with the exception of 2009, when the economic downturn sparked a deferment in fee increases.

Singaporeans starting at National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) will pay 4 to 6 per cent more than their seniors; those starting at Singapore Management University (SMU) will pay 5 per cent more.

The largest increases are for the business courses at NTU and NUS, and the architecture, business, medicine, dentistry, nursing, law and pharmacy courses at NUS. Fees for these courses will go up by 6 per cent.

Singaporeans starting at the Singapore Institute of Technology which offers degree programmes for poly graduates, will pay 2.6 per cent more than their seniors.

At the polytechnics, Singaporeans enrolled in diploma courses for 2012 will pay $50 more than 2011 - a rise of 2.3 per cent, which will bring their fees to $2,250 a year.

Singaporeans enrolled in a National Institute of Technical Education Certificate (Nitec) course or higher Nitec course at ITE will pay $20 more a year, amounting to $300 for a Nitec course and $536 for a higher Nitec course. Singaporeans headed for the technical engineer diploma will pay $2,250 or $50 more.

The fee hikes are steeper for non-citizens across the board. For example, a PR enrolled in SMU to study law this year will pay $15,610 or $1,430 more than last year; an international student will pay $21,750 or $2,400 more. Singaporeans reading law there from 2012 will pay $11,820, or $579 more than their seniors who entered last year.

The institutions said the higher fee differentiation between Singaporeans citizens, PRs and foreigners is in line with the Government's move to sharpen the differentiation between the different groups and to reflect the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship.

They also stressed that financial help such as bursaries and and student loans are available for those requiring assistance.

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--The Straits Time, 31 Jan 2012--
School building up niche programmes, and getting tougher to gain admission

By Amelia Tan


RP alumnus Derek Ong (above), 24, who started OSavory, a business making fish bak kwa. -- ST PHOTOS: CAROLINE CHIA


RP alumnus Derek Ong, 24, who started OSavory, a business making fish bak kwa (above). -- ST PHOTOS: CAROLINE CHIA

REPUBLIC Polytechnic (RP), the baby among the polytechnics here, turns 10 this year, and is still some way from being a top choice among students and their parents, its principal has said.

But a confident Mr Yeo Li Pheow said: 'We need time to establish our name, but I think we will get there soon.'

In an interview with The Straits Times ahead of the launch of its 10th anniversary celebrations, he noted that in its first decade, RP grew its enrolment from about 800 to 14,000, and developed its niche in sports science and sports management.

It will be the first polytechnic to offer a three-year diploma programme in sports coaching. The course, starting this year, will be among the 38 offered by RP, an increase from the five back in 2003.

RP took in its first students that year, operating out of a temporary campus at the former Ministry of Education headquarters at Kay Siang Road. It moved to its current Woodlands site in 2006.

The tussle for a place among students who have completed their O levels is getting keener by the year. Mr Yeo noted that the cut-off point for admission last year was at least a point lower than 2010's for half the courses.

Students use their aggregate score from their grades in O-level English, mathematics and three subjects relevant to the diploma they wish to pursue - the lower the cut-off point for a course, the harder it is to win a place on it.

But Mr Yeo said RP is still less competitive than the other four polytechnics here - Temasek, Ngee Ann, Nanyang and Singapore (SP).

For example, RP's cut-off for its biotechnology diploma programme was 23 last year; at SP, it was 10. RP's cut-off for aerospace engineering last year was 21. An applicant with this aggregate would have stood no chance of getting a place in the SP equivalent, which had a cut-off of 12.

Mr Yeo is not disheartened, because he believes the relative ease of entry into RP comes from it still not having made its name, rather than because its courses lack quality.

He said: 'Cut-off points are determined by supply and demand. Frankly, if you ask me what I think parents will say when they think about RP, they will say, 'It is in Woodlands, (which is) so far.''

RP will become more accessible when the Thomson MRT line is ready by 2018. The nearest train now is at Woodlands MRT station on the North-South line, which is a 10-minute walk away.

Mr Yeo said he expects that the growing confidence in RP will continue to push down the cut-off scores for entry - already, the cut-off points for its biomedical sciences and biotechnology programmes fell three points to 19 and 23 respectively between 2010 and last year.

He is also banking on RP's alumni to burnish its reputation as they make their names in their fields.

Biotechnology graduate Derek Ong, 24, for example, started O Savory, which makes fish bak kwa, last year. It is not breaking even yet, but he hopes it will soon as it expands from being sold online into shops.

The young entrepreneur said: 'I learnt to be independent and to think on my feet through RP's problem-based learning approach. The entrepreneurship modules and food-science projects also helped me to see the business opportunity in fish bak kwa - it is healthier and can be sold in the halal food market.'

RP's 10th anniversary celebrations will be capped by a musical starring students and staff in October.

ameltan@sph.com.sg

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--LianHe ZaoBao, 31 Jan 2012--

For 2012 JAE for Polytechnics, business management courses remain as the top choice among the applicants. Some new courses like new media and medical biology courses are also gaining in popularity. A spokesman from RP mentioned that enrolment rate for most courses have increased, such as supply chain management and biomedical sciences. Article mentioned on the favourable take-up rate of the 6 new diplomas including 3 offered by Republic Polytechnic.

陈秋华　王珏琪
　　理工学院联合招生和特别招生活动结果昨天公布，商科依旧是各工院最吃香的科系之一。与此同时，一些较新的课程如新媒体和生物医药科学等也日渐受学生欢迎，甚至还出现供不应求的现象。

　　从各课程的截分点显示，义安工院和新加坡工院的国际商务课程跟往年一样，还是遥遥领先，截分点分别是6分和7分。

　　截分点在9分或以下的课程则从前年的五个，增加一倍至今年的10个，显示更多课程的竞争激烈，获得更多O水准成绩优秀生的青睐。在约230个工院课程中，登上十大最低截分点排行榜的课程以商科、生物科学和心理学为主。

　　截分点最低的工程课程依旧是义安工院的工程科学，维持在9分。

　　新加坡工院发言人说，院内五大科系都出现供不应求的情况。最热门的有生物医药科学、国际商务和建筑学。

　　淡马锡工院不少课程，如飞行与宇航、商业与接待业和心理学课程也非常抢手。

　　共和工院的发言人则说，今年该院不少课程的报名率都提高，特别是新颖的学科如供应链管理、生物医药科学和生物科技。

　　义安工院院长谢名章受访时透露，该院受欢迎的几个科系依旧是会计、商业与传媒。

　　他说：“一般来说，每年各科系的报名率波动并不会太大，大概因为学生到了这个年龄，都已知道自己的志向所在。工院能做的，就是确保提供的课程能跟得上市场的需求。”

　　义安工院分别在前年和2005年开办的华文媒体与传播及汉学这两门中文课程的报名人数明显增加。义安工院发言人指出，这相信是因为两大课程提供给学生独特的学习体验，每名学生都有机会到中国、香港或台湾参与交流计划。
　　为了进入华文媒体与传播系，O水准会考成绩不太理想的张雅琪特别通过“理工学院联合特别招生计划”才获录取。

　　她说：“我从小就对中文媒体有兴趣，前几年知道义安工院有这项课程就决定报读，没想到会考成绩不理想，达不到12分的截分点。幸好我一直都有进修广播和采访技巧等，所以才被录取。”

　　南洋工院在受询时则表示不愿对招生结果置评。

　　此外，几所工院今年相继推出六个新专业文凭课程，其中一半来自共和工院。新课程截分点介于11分至26分，大部分工院受询时都表示新课程得到不错的回响。

　　一心想往漫画界发展的洪慧敏（17岁），就是其中一名“大胆”报读新加坡工院全新的商业创新与设计课程文凭课程的学生。她虽然在中四会考考获六科10分的成绩，可升上初级学院，却选择报读工院。

　　她说：“未来我想当一名漫画家，拥有自己的绘画事业。但是要做一名成功的漫画家，除了要画得好，还要懂得构思和推销自己的概念和作品。新课程鼓励学生从创新的思维经营生意，我觉得对日后会有很大的帮助。”

　　不过，有些学生仍然倾向选择传统上较吃香的商科课程。

　　洪少隆的O水准会考成绩优异，他报读新加坡工院国际商务文凭课程。他受访时告诉记者，这纯粹是基于实际考量所作出的决定。

　　他说：“读工院如果毕业后考不上大学还能直接到社会工作，但上初院如果进不了大学就吃亏了。而商科是最大众化的学科，出来要从事什么行业都行。”

qiuhua@sph.com.sg
ongjq@sph.com.sg
报道

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--TODAY, 31 Jan 2012--
by Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE - Two Master of Business Administration (MBA) programmes here have been ranked among the world's top 35 by the Financial Times (FT).

The National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School's MBA programme retained its place at 23rd for the second year running. This is the highest ranking attained by a Singapore university.

According to the NUS, its school did well in several categories in the FT annual ranking of the top 100 MBA programmes around the world this year.

For example, post-MBA salaries of graduates increased by 185 per cent over pre-MBA salaries, it said.

The school remained ninth in the world for its graduates' international mobility. This, the school said, reflects the broad international demand from employers for its MBA graduates.

The Nanyang Technological University's Nanyang Business School (NBS), meanwhile, has been placed in 34th position in the FT annual ranking. It is the fourth straight year that NBS has been ranked among the world's top 35, although it held the 33rd position last year.

The NBS said its MBA graduates charted the highest salary level compared to other Singapore MBA graduates, with an average pay of US$102,350 (S$128,965) a year, three years after graduation.

The NBS MBA programme also ranks first in Singapore for the career progression opportunities and successful job placements offered to its graduates.

The Financial Times Global MBA Ranking is based upon data from business schools and their alumni. Three main areas are analysed: Alumni career progress, diversity of students and faculty, and ideas generation.

Rankings are heavily weighted on salary and salary increase three years after graduation, with both measures each accounting for 20 per cent of a school's rank.

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