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SINGAPORE's brand of education is already attracting interest worldwide, even from traditional education strongholds like the United States, Britain and Australia.
In recent weeks, representatives from education institutions in the three countries have come here to forge closer ties with Singapore institutions.
They are looking at sending their students here on exchange programmes, collaborating on scientific research or establishing a stronger presence here.
Not all are part of Singapore's global schoolhouse plan of having 150,000 international students in seven years, but their presence adds to the buzz.
Last month, Australia's Curtin University said it would set up a campus here by year's end to offer business degrees. It will be funded by global education services company Navitas and function like a private school.
Then, at the end of last month, Mr Bill Rammell, Britain's minister in charge of life-long learning, further and higher education, announced during his visit here that his government would give selected British universities up to $800,000 to send students here and for research tie-ups with Singapore institutions.
It is an endorsement of Singapore as a place Britain wants to build ties with, he said, citing the 'high quality of higher-education institutions and the willingness of the Singapore Government and universities to enter into international collaborations'.
He told The Straits Times: 'The proactive way Singapore is going about trying to establish itself as a regional hub for education will benefit the universities and the country as a whole.'
Also here last month were the Americans. The presidents from a consortium of seven top liberal arts colleges - collectively, the Claremont College Consortium - travelling together for the first time, stopped here while on a tour to Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing.
They spent three days visiting Singapore universities and meeting senior Education Ministry (MOE) officials.
They had three aims:
- To increase student or faculty exchange;
- To have more collaborations on research;
- To attract top Singaporean students to Claremont.
Professor David Oxtoby, the president of Pomona College, one of the seven in the group, described the visit as a big success in terms of possible future collaborations mooted.
Singapore's plan to have a liberal arts college came up in discussions between the ministry and the visitors. Ministry officials had visited one of the Claremont Colleges last year on a study tour of liberal arts colleges in the United States.
The Claremont group said it has no plans to set up a Singapore campus, but it is keen to work with the upcoming college on exchange programmes.
Said Prof Oxtoby: 'A liberal arts college would be an excellent development for Singapore...We have a great deal of experience in Claremont in starting colleges of the highest quality, and feel that we could be helpful in this regard.
'It is possible that we will become closer partners.'
Pomona has six students from Singapore. Another five are headed there.
The other colleges at Claremont are Harvey Mudd, Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, Scripps and two graduate colleges, the Claremont Graduate University and the Keck Graduate Institute.
Pitzer's president, Professor Laura Trombley, said Singapore is of particular interest to her college as it is looking to attract more students. Her college specialises in the social sciences, international programmes and documentary filmmaking.
Pitzer also has students in research centres or campuses in places like Botswana, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Italy and Nepal, which students from its partner countries can visit and conduct research.
Prof Trombley said the trip to Singapore was the start of more future tie-ups: 'We will plan regular admissions visits to top schools in Singapore, as well as use our network of students, parents and alumni to let school students know about the opportunities for them in Claremont.'
The seven colleges in the Claremont group are independently run, but students are free to take courses on any campus.
Pomona has the broadest coverage in fields, while the other four undergraduate colleges have a more specific focus. Harvey Mudd, for instance, focuses on science and engineering, while Claremont McKenna on economics and political science.
Educators say such tie-ups are beneficial for both parties.
Said Professor Oxtoby: 'Our students will receive a broader, deeper, and more global education.
'Singapore is a very valuable bridge to Asia. As a country with close current and historic ties to China, South-east Asia and India, it is well positioned to help the Claremont Colleges make connections.'
This article was first published in The Straits Times on Apr 17, 2008.
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