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The University of New South Wales Asia, Singapore's first comprehensive foreign university, is set to compete with local universities for programme-based research funding from the government.
Officially opened by Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the university is here at the invitation of the Singapore government as part of its plan to make Singapore a regional education hub.
UNSW was chosen by Singapore for its strengths in science and engineering as well as its research capabilities and the government says its presence here will benefit Singapore.
Mr Tharman said: "We think they're able to contribute to our research landscape just like academics in NUS and NTU who come from all over the world and come here to contribute. We've got to have level playing field for the competition for funds. This is not funding that's going to Sydney. This is funding that's going to UNSW in Asia in Singapore and it adds something to what we're trying to achieve in research."
In two years, the university is set to relocate to Changi from its temporary campus at Tanglin and the entire cost is estimated to be around a quarter of a billion dollars.
Currently it has research centres dealing with health care as well as interactive and digital media which it intends to focus on.
Professor Greg Whittred, President, UNSW Asia, says: "Sometime over the next 12 months, we will announce the initiatives in the area of solar and clean energy. We will announce initiatives in the area of water and membrane technologies."
The university intends to have 800 students by August this year with at least 70 percent from overseas.
Students can expect to pay S$23,200 to S$29,000 per year in fees.
The first intake will take place in March and a second intake is planned for August this year.
And it wants to retain that special Aussie flavour.
Professor Whittred says: "Almost all members of our professional staff have been educated in Australia or taken an Australian degree here in Singapore. So as you go around the campus, everyone knows what it means to have a little bit of Australia in them."
Although it may not offer exactly the same choices as what's available down under, the menu is surely pointing towards a global cauldron of academia. - CNA/ch
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