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Regions and Countries |
NUMBER 46, WINTER 2007 |
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The Minnow and the Whale: Singapore-China relations in Higher Education
Anthony Welch
Most internationalization literature still focuses on advanced Western states or student and staff flows from South to North. Regional internationalization retains a narrower focus, although the rise in regional trading and political blocs—sometimes supported by student mobility schemes such as ERASMUS—can mean that student mobility becomes largely regional. One little-known regional case involves the tiny island nation of Singapore and its giant and sometimes troubling cousin, China. The changing context includes China-ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) trade relations, which is substantial and growing swiftly, and China's accession to the WTO and worldwide rise in service-sector trade (estimated at US$30+ billion in higher education alone).
Higher Education in China and Singapore Nonetheless, China and Singapore each maintain ambitious plans to extend capacity and enhance quality. With an annual economic growth of almost 10 percent from 1990 to 2000, China has shown an intense commitment to learning (common to much of East Asia), issued in key higher education reforms—notably programs to develop world-class institutions for the 21st century. From 1993, the 211 Project selected 100 institutions and key disciplines for special attention and investment. The later, much more selective 985 Program invested an additional RMB30 billion (about US$4 billion) in the top 10 or so universities. Given the more than 1,000 higher education institutions in China, most missed out from being selected, while still coping with annual enrollment increases since 1998 of about 20 percent—without much increase, if any, in staffing. Quality, then, is highly differential. Singapore, with a population of around 4.5 million (smaller than many of China's cities), has long been a net importer of educational services. More recently, however, it announced plans to become a regional "eduhub" and invested accordingly. This policy included initiatives like the new Lee Kwan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore; recruiting selected overseas staff (especially in the biosciences) via generous salary packages and research support; and founding the first fully owned and operated foreign campus, operated by the University of New South Wales, Australia.
Singapore's Failed Suzhou Venture
Current Linkages Regional consortia include the ASEAN Universities Network, which has commenced collaboration with Chinese institutions; and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities, which includes the National University of Singapore and Peking, Fudan, Zhejiang, and Tsinghua University, among others. The global consortium Universitas 21 brings together the National University of Singapore, Fudan, Peking, and Hong Kong University. Framework agreements date from 1999, when the two Ministries of Education signed a memorandum of understanding, promoting exchanges between teachers, scholars, researchers and students. A memorandum of understanding in 2002 formalized student exchange programs. Embracing 50 from each side, the agreements are directed at broadening China-Singapore ties, particularly among students. Chinese universities included the Beijing Language University, Beijing Post and Communication University, Beijing University for Foreign Studies, and Tsinghua University. Institutional agreements focus mainly on business, administration, and the development of Asia-Pacific expertise. The National University of Singapore inaugurated its Shanghai College in 2003—with Fudan University and major Chinese firms. Offering Shanghai internships with high-tech companies (often international) of up to 12 months duration, students take entrepreneurship courses at Fudan (also in its own start-up companies). Courses and internships form credits toward a degree from the National University of Singapore. The International Master of Business Administration program is a collaboration between the National University of Singapore and Peking University, with modules in both English and Chinese. Again, the goal is to develop bilingual graduates, equipped with East-West business knowledge. Offered in Singapore and Beijing, full-time annual fees are $18,000. In December 2003, Singapore's Nanyang Technology University, School of Business established a joint Executive MBA program partnership with China's leading Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Aetna School of Management. Nanyang Technology University has also investigated collaboration with Peking University and Tsinghua, in the area of humanities, as part of its plan to develop a leading Chinese studies department. Singapore's senior civil servants can join Tsinghua University's Executive Program for Senior Singapore Civil Servants, which has been running for some years. The National University of Singapore's new (2004) Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy signed letters of intent in late 2005 with three of China's most prestigious universities: Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Fudan University. Each partner will establish double-degree public policy/public administration graduate programs; students will spend one year at their "home" institution, the second at the "partner" institution, and will earn degrees from both. Private-sector partnerships include an exchange program of the new Singapore Management University, established in 2000 as the first publicly funded private university, with a focus on business and management. A one- or two-semester exchange is offered with three Chinese partners: Nankai University, Sun Yat Sen University, and Xiamen University. Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry offer Asian Business Fellowships to such exchange students.
Conclusion [Online] Available: http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/soe/cihe/newsletter/Number46/p22_Welch.htm
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