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SINGAPORE: The University of New South Wales (UNSW) has never attempted to blame the Economic Development Board (EDB) for the closure of its Asia campus in Singapore, according to its Vice Chancellor Professor Fred Hilmer.
In a statement released on Friday, Professor Hilmer said it was regrettable that EDB did not contact him personally before releasing its correspondence to the media.
On Thursday, EDB wrote to the Vice Chancellor to clarify his comments published in "The Australian" newspaper.
Professor Hilmer had told the newspaper that he believed he had "a workable plan for the campus's future" but was rejected "at the 11th hour by the EDB".
This, the EDB said, was misleading and it gave a point by point explanation of how negotiations were carried out from 2004 to May this year.
Professor Hilmer agreed that both parties could not agree on the revised proposal.
But he said EDB's claim that the university was given two years until April 2009 to decide whether to develop the new campus at Changi, needed to be taken in the right context.
He said EDB's support for this proposal (which was offered four days before UNSW announced its decision to close its campus), was significantly lower that what was agreed upon earlier that week.
Professor Hilmer added: "This was recognised in the same communication from the EDB, which affirmed that in light of this revised offer, the EDB would fully understand, if UNSW found it not possible to continue with the campus in Singapore."
EDB pointed out that UNSW had concluded it would not be able to meet the deliverables expected under the EDB's support package. - CNA/yy
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