ngl2010:

lee_yl:

To look at Taiwan and conclude that an over abundance of graduates may lead to under-employment and associated social issues may be over-simplistic.

Taiwan's higher education landscape is pretty unique; for a total population of 23 mil (4 times that of Singapore), it has some 163 universities (more than 20 times that of Singapore) and 70% of each cohort can expect to be a graduate. Interestingly, among the undergraduates, more than 75% are studying in private universities and apparently, this group suffered the most in terms of higher unemployment.

The pertinent lesson is that given Asians' yearning for learning, should there be insufficient places in public universities, that provide the required intellectual rigour, people will flock to private institutions where quality is less assured and therein lies the risk.

Thus, by drawing the wrong lesson from Taiwan's experience, and consciously capping at 30-40% the cohort participation rate in local public universities, would we end up creating a pool of graduates whose training and skills are mismatched to the industry's needs?

I doubt if more than 75% are studying in public universities then the unemployment rate in Taiwan will be lower. Another case of \"all universities are good universities but some are better than others\" may happen.

floppy:

Like that huh.

Then Singaporeans must be very high standard lor. We should aim for 60%-70% graduates like Taiwan.

lee_yl:

mum_sugoku:

Of cos (all) our universities must maintain acceptable standard lah.. and not just some wild chicken university..

If one's from 北大 or 清华，one will always be able to find a job anywhere.

floppy:

mum_sugoku:

A well written letter published in yesterday's ST Forum:


http://www.straitstimes.com/forum/letters-in-print/limiting-opportunities-in-higher-education-not-the-way-to-go
[quote]......Encouraging more Singaporeans to pursue a university education is ultimately the key to ensuring that we can have a foot in the door in an increasingly knowledge- and innovation-based economy......

mum_sugoku:

Of cos (all) our universities must maintain acceptable standard lah.. and not just some wild chicken university..

floppy:

Like that huh.

Then Singaporeans must be very high standard lor. We should aim for 60%-70% graduates like Taiwan.

floppy:

Like that huh.

Then Singaporeans must be very high standard lor. We should aim for 60%-70% graduates like Taiwan.

pirate:

floppy:

[quote=\"mum_sugoku\"]

Of cos (all) our universities must maintain acceptable standard lah.. and not just some wild chicken university..

Isn't this an oxymoron?

Universities must maintain standard. Hence they reject those who, in their opinion, are not up to their required standard. This is reflected in their A Level or Poly GPA COP.

In Singapore, only 30%-40% per cohort are deemed to be of acceptable standard to be accepted. Yet, we are asking for more to be admitted and to allow more to earn a degree, despite them being deemed not up to our universities' standard?

:?

floppy:

mum_sugoku:

Of cos (all) our universities must maintain acceptable standard lah.. and not just some wild chicken university..

Isn't this an oxymoron?

Universities must maintain standard. Hence they reject those who, in their opinion, are not up to their required standard. This is reflected in their A Level or Poly GPA COP.

In Singapore, only 30%-40% per cohort are deemed to be of acceptable standard to be accepted. Yet, we are asking for more to be admitted and to allow more to earn a degree, despite them being deemed not up to our universities' standard?

:?

floppy:

mum_sugoku:

Of cos (all) our universities must maintain acceptable standard lah.. and not just some wild chicken university..

Isn't this an oxymoron?

Universities must maintain standard. Hence they reject those who, in their opinion, are not up to their required standard. This is reflected in their A Level or Poly GPA COP.

In Singapore, only 30%-40% per cohort are deemed to be of acceptable standard to be accepted. Yet, we are asking for more to be admitted and to allow more to earn a degree, despite them being deemed not up to our universities' standard?

:?

mum_sugoku:

Of cos (all) our universities must maintain acceptable standard lah.. and not just some wild chicken university..

floppy:

mum_sugoku:

A well written letter published in yesterday's ST Forum:


http://www.straitstimes.com/forum/letters-in-print/limiting-opportunities-in-higher-education-not-the-way-to-go
[quote]......Encouraging more Singaporeans to pursue a university education is ultimately the key to ensuring that we can have a foot in the door in an increasingly knowledge- and innovation-based economy......

mum_sugoku:

A well written letter published in yesterday's ST Forum:


http://www.straitstimes.com/forum/letters-in-print/limiting-opportunities-in-higher-education-not-the-way-to-go
[quote]......Encouraging more Singaporeans to pursue a university education is ultimately the key to ensuring that we can have a foot in the door in an increasingly knowledge- and innovation-based economy......

floppy:

Some of the expertise could be niche and it's not viable to have a full-time course every year. E.g. there is no veterinary college in school.

floppy:

mum_sugoku:

Agree.

In that case, for courses which are too niche to be viable here, perhaps govt could offer tuition grants to students who wish to pursue such courses elsewhere? (Not sure if such scheme is already in place though.)

Grants?
Got.
They are just better known to us as scholarship

lee_yl:

yuki2010:

[quote=\"hquek\"]http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1193950/too-many-graduates-devalue-university-taiwan-warns

good article. Thanks for sharing.

yuki2010:

hquek:

http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1193950/too-many-graduates-devalue-university-taiwan-warns

good article. Thanks for sharing.

mum_sugoku:

Agree.

In that case, for courses which are too niche to be viable here, perhaps govt could offer tuition grants to students who wish to pursue such courses elsewhere? (Not sure if such scheme is already in place though.)

floppy:

mum_sugoku:

In other words, as high as 21% of PMET jobs are held by foreigners. Assuming that all foreign PMETs are degree holders, and they are brought here because we couldn't produce enough graduates with similar qualifications to meet market demands, shouldn't we increase our supply of degree holders to fill the gap, instead of insisting on capping the proportion at 40% of cohorts and then recruit foreign graduates to meet the shortfall? If it's due to a job/skill mismatch, isn't it our educational institutions' job to review their curriculum to minimise such mismatch?

Not so simple.

21% is the sum total but doesn't mean it is feasible to create a school / course for locals to fill up these numbers.

Some of the expertise could be niche and it's not viable to have a full-time course every year. E.g. there is no veterinary college in school.

Others because of internal controls by companies. E.g. some companies within some industry have > 80% expats / foreigners not because they have to, but because they want to maintain control.

mum_sugoku:

In other words, as high as 21% of PMET jobs are held by foreigners. Assuming that all foreign PMETs are degree holders, and they are brought here because we couldn't produce enough graduates with similar qualifications to meet market demands, shouldn't we increase our supply of degree holders to fill the gap, instead of insisting on capping the proportion at 40% of cohorts and then recruit foreign graduates to meet the shortfall? If it's due to a job/skill mismatch, isn't it our educational institutions' job to review their curriculum to minimise such mismatch?