The Hindu : New Delhi News : Singapore asks India to look east

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 12, 2006
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New Delhi

Singapore asks India to look east

It might be an island nation famous as a shopper's paradise, but Singapore is now seriously looking at targeting studious Indians and marketing itself as an education hub. Promising global education within an Asian setting, there are plenty of good reasons for serious students to look east, the country is trying to tell.

"Singapore is a cosmopolitan country. We believe that there is potential for Singapore as a study destination for Indians. We can provide global education within a cosmopolitan culture and in an Asian setting. I think that is a combination that very few countries can offer," says Area Director (Northern India) of Singapore Tourism Board Kenneth Lim.

Reaching out to Indian students with easy visas and great opportunities to network with corporate houses, a Singapore Education Fair was organised in Delhi recently. This is the third education fair that the country has held here in the past few years. With some of the best universities of the country coming to the fair, it gave Indian students a chance to explore options closer home.

"With some of the best universities abroad like the University of New South Wales opening its Asian campus in our country, it is possible for students to come here rather than travel all the way to Australia,'' pointed out Mr. Lim.

Looking at students wanting to pursue higher education abroad, unlike the usual destinations of Britain and America, Singapore is hoping to attract students at a cheaper price.

"We are hoping to attract students for the study of finance, business administration and engineering. Most people don't realise that there are 7,000 multi-national companies in Singapore, which provides a very good opportunity to network and find a job after their studies," he said.

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It is all about finding links. While there has been enough written about diaspora in the land of milk and honey, Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi held a seminar on "India and Indian Diaspora in Francophone Africa: A Comparative Perspective". There were two themes that were discussed at the seminar: Indian and its Diaspora in Francophone Africa and Indian Diaspora in Francophone Africa: A Comparative Regional Overview.

Bringing together academics from different universities, the seminar had professors from Jamia Millia Islamia, JNU and Delhi University who made it very informative.

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The best and the brightest of the Ansal Institute of Technology were awarded at an Academic Award function this week. With most of the students aspiring to go off to America to finish their degree programmes offered by the institute in collaboration with American universities, it was fitting that the chief guest was the Deputy Chief of the U.S. Embassy in India, Geoffrey R. Pyatt.

The function saw 60 meritorious students awarded for excelling in academic programmes.

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The University of New South Wales, which has recently opened a campus in Singapore, is seriously targeting students from India. Seeing India and China as its largest markets, it will be accepting 70 per cent international students.

Famous for its research, the university recognises the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Indian School Certificate Examination (ISCE) results. The applications are available on the website of the university and the academic session starts from 2007.

-- Mandira Nayar

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