Transcript The Bachelor of Technology Programme at NUS Professor POO Aun

The Bachelor of Technology Programme at NUS
Professor POO Aun Neow
Faculty of Engineering, NUS
19th October, 2010, NUS
WCCEE 2010
Singapore Facts & Figures
Singapore’s successful development
since independence some 50 years ago
has been due in no small part to the high
value it placed on education, by both
NUS government and many in its population.
Area: 690 sq km
Population: 5.0m
GDP: S$265b (US$204b)
Residents: 3.7m
GDP per Capita: S$53,143 (US$40,880)
( 2009 figures - http://www.singstat.gov.sg/stats/keyind.html )
WCCEE 2010 17-19 October, Singapore.
Education in Singapore
 “Singapore believes in education and, for 2007,
about 20% of the national budget has been
allocated for education with almost half of this on
tertiary education.”
 “Our polytechnics and universities play a critical
role… for a growing and increasingly high value
economy.”
(Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister of Education. 28 March 2007)
WCCEE 2010 17-19 October, Singapore.
Education in Singapore
“Every student must … go as far as you can.”
“Our education system has been successful ... We
will continue to improve.”
“We will create multiple pathways … the Government
is investing $5.5 billion over 5 years to build up
Continuing Education and Training.”
(Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong , August 2010)
WCCEE 2010 17-19 October, Singapore.
Singapore Education System
The school system
Pre-University
(2 years)
42.9%
21.4%
27.7%
GCE 'O' Level Examination (Age:16)
Figures
based on
Year 2009
10 years
13 years
Secondary Schools (4 years)
98.1% of cohort
Primary School Leaving Examination
48,000 students
Compulsory Primary (6 Years)
WCCEE 2010 17-19 October, Singapore.
12 years
Inst. of Tech. Edu.
(2 years)
Polytechnics
(3 years)
Singapore Education System
Engineering Education
B.Eng
Industry
Yr 2
(4 years)
(4,200)
Figures
based on
Year 2009
GCE 'A' Level Exam
(11,000)
(6,300)
Inst. of Tech. Edu.
(2 years)
Polytechnics
(3 years)
Many polytechnic graduates
aspire for an engineering
degree.
WCCEE 2010 17-19 October, Singapore.
Junior Colleges
(2-3 years)
But university places
are limited.
Age: M 20
F 18
Singapore Education System
Engineering Education
Overseas Studies
B.Eng
Industry
Yr 2
(4 years)
(4,200)
Figures
based on
Year 2009
(11,000)
(6,300)
Inst. of Tech. Edu.
(2 years)
Polytechnics
(3 years)
Many others left after working
and saving for a few years.
WCCEE 2010 17-19 October, Singapore.
Age: M 20
F 18
GCE 'A' Level Exam
Junior Colleges
(2-3 years)
This
Many
caused
go overseas
significant
right
disruptions
after
to their employers’
polytechnic.operations
Singapore Education System
Engineering Education
Overseas Studies
B.Eng
Industry
Yr 2
(4 years)
(4,200)
Figures
based on
Year 2009
(11,000)
(6,300)
Inst. of Tech. Edu.
(2 years)
Polytechnics
(3 years)
And many more were not able to
fulfill their dreams because of
family commitments.
WCCEE 2010 17-19 October, Singapore.
GCE 'A' Level Exam
Junior Colleges
(2-3 years)
Age: M 20
F 18
Bachelor of Technology at NUS
Introduced in 1995 primarily:

To provide an opportunity for polytechnic graduates
working in the local industry to study for a good
engineering degree without having to leave their jobs
and families.

To contribute to the development of the engineering
manpower needed for Singapore’s increasingly
knowledge-based economy.
Operating Parameters:

To be financially self-sustaining.

To maintain the high academic standard.
WCCEE 2010 17-19 October, Singapore.
Bachelor of Technology at NUS
Approach

Take full advantage of its position within NUS with
its well-established BEng Programme, high quality
staff and excellent teaching facilities.

To reduce cost, time and effort, avoid re-inventing
the wheel.

Aa far as possible use existing systems, operating
procedures and policies and adjust only to meet the
special needs of the BTech students and the BTech
Programme.
WCCEE 2010 17-19 October, Singapore.
Bachelor of Technology at NUS
Program Structure

All students admitted must have polytechnic
diploma and preferably some working experience.

Students granted exemptions of one year of the
four-year full-time B.Eng programme – BTech
curriculum maps the final 3 years of the 4-year BEng
course.

Courses specially tailored for students with
polytechnic background working in industry.
WCCEE 2010 17-19 October, Singapore.
Bachelor of Technology at NUS
Industry
B.Eng
B.Tech
Yr 2
(370)
Figures
based on
Year 2009
(11,000)
(6,300)
Inst. of Tech. Edu.
(2 years)
Polytechnics
(3 years)
WCCEE 2010 17-19 October, Singapore.
(4 years)
(4,200)
GCE 'A' Level Exam
Junior Colleges
(2-3 years)
Age: M 20
F 18
Bachelor of Technology at NUS
Programme delivery

Use the same staff teaching the BEng courses, but
remunerate them “on a consulting basis” on a willingbuyer/willing-seller basis.

Fully utilize the same laboratory and other physical
facilities during the “3rd shift”. Such excellent and
expensive facilities would otherwise become obsolete
as time passes anyway.

Classes are held only during the evenings and on
Saturdays, as all students hold full-time jobs.

No “long vacation” to allow students to complete in
shorter time.
WCCEE 2010 17-19 October, Singapore.
Bachelor of Technology at NUS
Some key numbers

Currently 5 programmes: Chemical, Electronics,
Industrial & Management, Manufacturing, and
Mechanical.

Student enrolment: 1200

Graduated: 1900

Tuition Fees: S$36,000 (US$27,000)


Or S$9,000 (US$6,750) per year
Profile of students:

Age: 20 to 60 years; Median: 30

Also from China, India, Myanmar, etc.
WCCEE 2010 17-19 October, Singapore.
Bachelor of Technology at NUS
Accreditation

Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES)

Professional Engineers Board (PEB)

Engineering Council (UK) to Master of
Engineering level

Engineering Accreditation Board (EAB) of
Singapore and thus recognized under the
Washington Accord.
WCCEE 2010 17-19 October, Singapore.
Bachelor of Technology Programme
Some Contributions of Programme

Contribute to local community and industry, without cost to
FoE/NUS/public. (Save taxpayers $150m thus far?)

Appreciated by many of its graduates:
“Without the second chance provided by the BTech
Programme, I would never have had the chance of getting a
degree and upgrading myself…” a graduate from Class of 2004

Additional income welcomed by staff, both academic and
non-academic, and graduate students.

Good annual surpluses. (Breakeven enrolment: 300)

Faculty finds teaching BTech students a different useful
experience, good industrial contacts.
WCCEE 2010 17-19 October, Singapore.
Admission Statistics
Admission Statistics
1800
1600
Number
1400
1200
1000
Applications
800
Admitted
600
400
200
0
1990
1995
2000
Academic Year
2005
2010
95
/9
6
96
/9
7
97
/9
8
98
/9
9
99
/0
0
00
/0
1
01
/0
2
02
/0
3
03
/0
4
04
/0
5
05
/0
6
06
/0
7
07
/0
8
08
/0
9
09
/1
0
No. of students
Student Enrolment Statistics
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Academic Year
Graduate Statistics
BTech Graduating Class
Number of graduates
250
200
150
100
50
0
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
Year
2008
2010
2012
Performance of BTech students
WAM vs Total Admission Points
All Graduates
90
Weighted Average Marks
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0
10
20
30
Admission Points
WCCEE 2010 17-19 October, Singapore.
40
50
60
Performance of BTech students
WAM vs Diploma Points
All Graduates
90
Weighted Average Marks
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0
5
10
15
20
25
Diploma Points
WCCEE 2010 17-19 October, Singapore.
30
35
40
45
Bachelor of Technology Programme
Comments by external examiner
“Good course, well executed serving a real need, in short…
excellent.
“They (the students) felt the course had been very
worthwhile and were now looking forward to moving to
better paid jobs.
“…the graduates deserves greater respect for having
achieved the same academic level whilst holding down a
full-time job.”
(Professor John Midwinter, vice-provost at UCL
and past President of IEE)
WCCEE 2010 17-19 October, Singapore.
Bachelor of Technology Programme
Performance of Graduates
In a recent survey among our graduands:
• 98% were promoted after joining the B.TECH
programme with about half just before or after
completing their course.
• Close to 70% indicated that the B.TECH course
contributed directly to their promotions.
• 100% indicated that what they study in the B.TECH
course were useful to their work with almost 70%
indicating that these were useful to a large extent.
WCCEE 2010 17-19 October, Singapore.
End of Presentation
Thank you.
WCCEE 2010 17-19 October, Singapore.