Indian students flocking to Singapore now

By R.M.S. Atwal

Following ‘racial’ attacks on Indian students in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Australia, of late there has been a sudden shift in students’ priorities in favour of a safe study environment.   After all, our students are paying hefty sums as fees in foreign universities and colleges. They want their money’s worth too.

Personal safety being the buzzword, Singapore has now become a preferred destination for Indian students.  Being an Asian country, it just a second home for most of our students.

“Our students can immediately enter the Singapore workforce on completion of their studies since the PR process in that country is not that difficult,” said Mr. Rajdeep Singh, the Executive Director of Angad Info Overseas Communication Consultancy, the experts in Singapore Student Visas, in an exclusive interview.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q  Currently, Indian students are bit scared from the security point of view. How safe is Singaporefor our students in these tough times?

A.  Singapore is hailed as a highly favourable destination to get a competitive degree. That country’s cosmopolitan environment and global connections offer a safe environment – the best of the East and the West – making it a compelling destination for international students to live, interact and work together. Among the many expatriate nationalities in Singapore, we have a large number of Indian nationals, particularly in the info-communications industry.

Today, Singapore has a thriving Indian community. Indian Singaporeans play an integral role in the social, economic and political fabric of that country. Of the four main national languages of Singapore, one is Tamil.  Indian students will find Singapore a welcoming nation which incorporates many facets of Indian society, from food and culture to religion, thus making it a safe destination.

Q Where would you place Singapore education in comparison to that of the USA, the UKand Australia?

A:  Singapore being quite close to India, our students can reach there within six hours. Last year, more than 100,000 international students registered themselves with various Singapore schools that provide education in a variety of streams like science, arts, management, tourism and hospitality, information technology and business development.

Our students seem to be happy with the education standard there. Travelling to Singapore for education is easy as compared to that of the UK or the US. Visa is a just formality. The syllabus structure and academic systems in Singapore are almost similar to the ones followed by our Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE). Hence, Indian students easily adjust to studies there. After passing out of class XII one can opt for a Bachelor's degree in vocational subjects like tourism development or hospitality management.

Singapore now offers The Integrated Programme, also known as the "Through-Train Programme”, a scheme which allows the most able secondary students in Singapore to bypass "O" levels and take "A" levels, International Baccalaureate or an equivalent examination directly at the age of 18 after six years of secondary education which makes it a very practical system of education.

Moreover, fees for tertiary education are very low, as the Government heavily subsidises a substantial portion of the full tuition fees, in the form of a tuition grant, for students studying in Singapore universities and polytechnics.

Q How soon can a student get a PR in Singapore?

A: The process is similar to that for a foreign worker. Once the students complete education from Singapore, they are required to obtain a work permit or pass from the local employer which allows him to work with the employer till the time the work pass is valid and after that the same student can apply for permanent residency.  Students who have to undergo practical training in organisations in Singapore as part of their course curriculum will also get a work permit and subsequently the same can lead to a work pass and permanent residency as well. Thus, a student can immediately, on completion of studies, get into the work force.

Q How has the current economic slowdown affected job prospects in Singapore?

A Singapore’s economy shrank 12.5 per cent in the last quarter of 2008 from the previous period, causing the trade and industry ministry to lower its growth forecast for 2009. The ministry now expects Singapore’s economy to shrink up to 2 percent, with only 1 percent growth at best. Previously, it had expected up to 2 percent growth. But the slowdown is a global phenomenon and does not mean one can hide from it. The economy is bound to bounce back and if one is there at the right time he or she would stand to gain in long term. There has been a huge shortage of skilled and semi-skilled people in Singapore and it remains a preferred destination still for the work force. South Asian economies have always been stronger and continue to offer good prospects to fresh migrants. One only moves to Singapore on obtaining a valid work pass which ensures that when he lands there he has a job offer in hand.

Q How about the living and studying expenses?

A: The cost of education and living in Singapore are at least 30 per cent less than that of in the UK or US. All this makes it a very attractive destination our students. Studying there is not exactly a costly affair as there are a number of state-run or aided schools. These schools are cheaper than their international counterparts. The annual fee may range between S$3500 and S$15000. When it comes to buying books and stationery, be prepared to shed between S$30 and S$100, depending on the course of studies. The state-sponsored colleges and universities in Singapore are also more economical than the private ones. Having said all these, cost of living really depends on how you really live.

Q Apart from MBA, which other courses are in high demand there?

A: Singapore is considered to be one of the most business-friendly economies in the world. Its economy marks the presence of all the top global companies. To run this billion dollar economy, multi-national companies employ thousands of foreign expatriates. If you have the skills, then there is no shortage of employment possibilities. Degree and diploma courses in engineering, trades and polytechnics are in huge demand in Singapore.   Polytechnics offer a wide range of courses in various fields, including engineering, business studies, accountancy, tourism and hospitality management, mass communications, digital media and biotechnology. There are also specialised courses such as marine engineering, nautical studies, nursing, and optometry.

Due to its large expatriate community, Singapore is host to many international schools and universities catering to varied student base.

Q Singapore is one of the IT hubs of Asia, how valuable is an IT degree from Singaporeif an Indiastudent decides to come back

Singapore universities have signed formal Memoranda of Understanding with top Indian institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology, Bangalore (IIT-B), Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (IISc), and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi. These agreements have facilitated the exchange of academic and research personnel and students, as well as joint research collaborations. This fact alone would answer your question to a large extent. In addition as mentioned earlier Singapore is the hub of quite a lot of foreign universities whose offshore campuses are now in Singapore, starting from USA, Australia and UK to name a few so the courses taught and offered are of highest international standards which hold very high level of acceptance in India and abroad.

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Q. What advice would you have prospective Indian students and how can you help them in to achieve their dreams.

A For any prospective student the advice is simple and clear: most important is always choose the right course and country before you decide to take admission. One has to define his goals in life before taking further education. Going abroad for further studies by spending your parents’ hard earned money is easy but these are the most important years of life which would frame your future course of action. It might me the most important decision of your life probably. Also make sure your consultant is the right one as his advice and guidance would be very crucial in providing the right career path. This requires a special career counsellor who can identify your needs and interests and guide you properly so as to select a proper course and curriculum. We make sure that students get best of advice and guidance through our professional and trained counsellors who have been engaged in this field for a long time.

We offer a double benefit to students, i.e., we not only help them choose a right course which would help them in near future but we also help them to get settled in right career in their field of interest and education. We have helped many students, skilled and semi-skilled persons settle around the globe including Singapore as one of the most recent preferred destinations. For further information please log on to www.angadinfo.com

 

(R.M.S. Atwal is a Freelance Journalist and can be reached at rajatwal55@yahoo.com)