After kena rejected when we invited Warwick to set up a campus in Singapore, with the reason being the lack of academic (and social) freedom, we played it high-key when UNSW agreed to set up UNSW Asia campus in Singapore. Now we might be a laughing stock.
After establishing herself to be very hubful, Singapore’s attempt at becoming a world-class education hub has been annulled as UNSW discontinues, leaving students and teachers still in shock.
The university had wanted to cut the size of its operations in Singapore, but the idea was rejected by the EDB, Prof Hilmer said.
Is this the result of forced ambition?
The remaining hubs must not lose face: Financial hub, R&D hub, Sports hub, Biotech hub, Biomed hub…cannot have a “setback” like UNSW’s withdrawal…
But hey, chill lah, there’s still Starhub, Toa Payoh HDB hub, and Ang Mo Kio hub with the big NTUC…
Or decriminalize homosexuality loh (debate going on) (and the criminalization was one of the major concerns of Warwick university too), then can become GLBT hub. Bring on the pink dollar!
Whatever it is, we talk and grumble, but ultimately still struggle to stay afloat with (or get out from) the state’s heavy-handed brand of government-knows-best (or EDB-follows-best) implementations.
So now you know not everything in Singapore can be depended on! For those who spent S$26,000-$29,000 for tuition fees (which is *gasps* around twice the amount of my present school fees + accommodation + living expenses in Shanghai!) at UNSW Asia, I sure hope things work out for you. Try to look at it as a new door opening for you, instead of feeling cheated (try really hard to avoid this thought), ok?
