Breaking News:
TV Mobile to cease its broadcast transmission from 1 Jan 2010. Mediacorp, which runs the free-to-air mobile digital television, cites the “substantial” resources required to operate and maintain the service as a reason for its termination. “Having carefully evaluated the commercial viability of the service, Mediacorp has decided to discontinue the service,” it says.
The writer, who has chosen to remain anonymous, has worked with the medical establishment before. He has interests in Research and Development within the biomedical field.
Despite the claims of two local institutions to develop local talent, an analysis of the student intake figures at Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA) and Duke-NUS reveal that a huge proportion of placements go to foreigners.
Spotlight on SMA
Accessing the student directory of the Singapore-MIT alliance website, it is approximated that around half the students admitted are foreign students, as indicated from the country in which they obtained their prior degrees. Many of such students obtained their previous degrees from Indian and Chinese universities.
What is the reason behind the assumed high proportion of foreign students relative to the locals? It may be that not many local students ultimately want to upgrade themselves and earn a graduate degree, hence not many tend to apply to the SMA program. However, the other issue is that the goal of the SMA program is to “attract and develop talented human capital for Singapore industries, universities, and research establishments”, as quoted from its website.
The question is how many of these foreign students will really stay and be part of the talented human capital for our industries, universities and research establishments upon completing their advanced degrees? The local students are more likely to stay for the long-term, but how about their foreign counterparts?
If the goal is develop talented human capital, wouldn’t it be better to send our talented local scientists and engineers to leading institutions overseas, and master the ‘software of success’, which can then be transferred to the locals?
Spotlight on Duke-NUS
According to student statistics from the Duke-NUS website (note, you need to scroll down to the student statistics, which is the second graph when at the website), the number of Singaporean students admitted for the year 2007 was 19 (73%), while 7 (27%) were foreign students, making up a total of 26 students. In 2008 however, the proportion of admitted foreign students increased. The total number of admitted students in 2008 was 48, with the number of Singaporean students numbering 26 (54%), and their foreign counterparts at 22 (46%).
A 46% proportion is high in comparison with other medical schools. Taking into consideration the fact that a large number of local students apply to the school, a large number of seats given to foreign students would mean depriving local students of places.
There is also not much difference in terms of school fees. Singaporean students pay S$35,000 while Permanent Residents and foreign students pay S$35,600 and S$38,000 respectively. However, Singapore students will serve 4 years of bond while their foreign classmates including permanent residents will serve 5 years.
According to the school website, its beginnings “can be traced to 2000, when Singapore launched an ambitious Biomedical Sciences Initiative designed to make the country the biomedical hub of Asia, and to attract both research and health sector manufacturing capabilities to Singapore.”
Given the fact that the training of a doctor can take more than five years and that it will take about close to a decade to realize the goals of the government’s ambitious biomedical science initiative, a similar question to the SMA issue can be asked – is it worthwhile to give a large number of seats to foreign students who just serve their five-year-bond, but may not possibly stay in Singapore for the long-term?
At least, local students are more likely to stay around to assist Singapore in realizing its goals as this is their home.
HELP keep the voice of TOC alive!
If you like this article, please consider a small donation to help theonlinecitizen.com stay alive. Please note that we can only accept donations from Singaporeans. Thank you for your assistance.Do you have a flair for writing? Volunteer with us. Email us your full name and contact details to theonlinecitizen@gmail.com
Refer to (49) by mice :
“S’pore can do without people who only look out for their self-interest. the shorter their stay, the better (for S’pore). having them here does not bode well for S’pore’s image.”
Say that to the countless number of foreign students currently studying in Singapore’s universities and private educational centres; say it to the foreign workers currently building up Singapore’s economy!
You know what would happen if these students and workers leave? Singapore’s economy grinds to a halt. Period!
The Straits Times Index falls below 1,000 points. Period!
Kiss your a** to these non-tradtional source of “foreign talents” (China & India)! The PRC’s are only good at fouling our “sanitized” society with their cadaverous slimy trails of odious “swamping”. Even the skoes in Geylang are called “foreign talents” by our blinded one-party ruled government. DICTATOR! Pack your bags n’ leave for some pacific islands before you knave yourselves to these Reds! Can’t believe you are still rootin’ for ‘em after wat they have done to your wallets. Tax, tax, tax n’ still TAX (so as to “invest” your $ in some godforsaken plot of desert in Cathay)!
//My Views
We needn’t tell these foreign students.
Most of them didn’t want to stay here.
Ask lots of them and you will understand.
Zhang Yuan Yuan didn’t just happen like that.
What a joke!
//The Straits Times Index falls below 1,000 points. Period!
This is a joke.
The last time it happened was because of the Asian Financial Crisis.
So, by introducing FTs, we have create the seeds of such a crisis in Singapore.
BTW, Singapore made monies through exports…
If the ST index did fall to 1000 because of FT, I will buy like crazy because it will raise in no time above that.
A country’s index dependent on FTs. What a joke!
We have lots of “poor” people with high CPF that if released, they can consume.
One of most stupid thing I ever heard: FT hold Singapore hostage?!
Refer to (53) by [cat].
It is Singapore as a nation that needs foreign students due to its strategy of becoming an international education hub. When these foreign students completed their studies, they are given one year to consider whether to take up a job in Singapore and contribute to SIngapore’s economy.
As a result, not only Singapore’s education industry grows – office property, construction (more private schools and hostels are built), food and beverage, airlines, recruitment and entertainment industries are all being pulled along!
Just imagine, how much values have been added!
//My Views
That is common knowledge, provided that Singaporeans are not subsidizing for these students.
The fact is we are.
Refer to (56) by [cat].
Foreign students studying in Singapore’s private schools and universities are not subsidised. They paid the same rates as what Singaporeans are paying.
For those foreign students studying in public universities under scholarships or subsidies, it is SIngapore’s privilege that they are willing to study here. These students could have chosen to study in world class universities in UK or US.
Refer to (48) by [Singaporean].
Incidentally, who was this year’s top PSLE student? A girl who came from PRC. Yes, you heard it right, from the People’s Republic of China! Handicapped with a poor command of English when she first arrived and without the advantage of studying in popular or prestigious primary school, she topped the whole nation in that examination which is of paramount importance to all Singaporean parents and students! What does this mean? The country is robbing invaluable talents from China!
My Views
post #55 on December 26th, 2009 7.00 pm
why are those students given a year to decide to stay & contribute to our economy?
hmmm, how many locals are employed in the construction industry? what is the foreign/local ratio?
maybe a detail breakdown of their contribution to airline (which 1? lol…), F&B, entertainment industries? i dare say our public transport operaters are more than happy that they do earn more from a larger influx of these students. that’s alot of details to show, take your time though. :P
Ladies and Gentlemen,
If you have not yet heard about the exciting news, here it is :
Singapore’s top GCE “A” level student came from China (Shanghai – to be precise)!!!
May be I should also take this opportunity to refresh your memory :
Top GCE “O” level student came from Malaysia.
Top PSLE student came from China!!!
You guys still doubting the effectiveness of the government’s foreign talent policy? Still sore about the petty sum of scholarship invested on foreign scholars? The government got back every cent!
Both the governtment and schools are short-sighted. I am worried if we can get good education out of such traits. Besides, locals who were deprived of places in schools and short-changed for being a Singaporean will find their greener pasture elsewhere and established their root there. I hope ministers don’t go there and urge them to return home because they were never fairly treated in their homeland. Thina about it.
Response to “MY VIEW” above:
Government (with the help of main stream media) will like to push their reckless increas of foreigners by selective news. You have to believe it at your own risk. There are many local top students not mentioned. My nephew scored TOP in his school but never get published in the news. I am surprised why foreigners get so many free publicity. Than again, there are also many top rated foreign prostitute and con men in this island, was it given equal publicity as those you mentioned above?