Resource Area: International students seek information on education at the Resource Area of the Singapore Education Services Centre. The center’s Resource Area displays reference books, prospectuses and destination information for students. Courtesy of: Singapore Education Services Centre
Due to the high level of competition in today’s job market, earning an academic degree is becoming more important.
And the fact that a degree earned overseas has the potential to offer a brighter future career, many universities abroad have a huge attraction for those looking to further their education.
With the increasing globalization, countries in Southeast Asia like Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines have become a promising destination for studying abroad. Indeed, many recommend taking graduate and undergraduate programs at tertiary institutions such as the Singapore Institute of Management Global Education (SIM GE), Monash University in Malaysia and the Asian Institute of Management in the Philippines.
Established in 1964, SIM GE is the largest and one of the oldest private institutions in Singapore. SIM GE offers overseas degree programs through partnerships with world renowned universities such as RMIT University, the University of London, the University at Buffalo and the State University of New York.
Dubbed as the most comprehensive private education and training institution in Singapore, SIM GE offers more than 50 academic programs such as business management, accounting, finance, economics as well as other social fields like psychology and communication.
“The SIM GE’s wide connection with the world’s best universities has given me the opportunity to interact with many students from the rest of world,” Ivonne Rusly, an Indonesian taking an undergraduate program in accounting and finance at SIM GE, remarked.
Ivonne, who is in her final year of study, further said that the accounting and finance program offered at SIM GE offers a bachelor’s degree awarded by the University of London.
Listed among the fastest growing higher education providers by DP Information Group, SIM GE has successfully inculcated in its students a mindset of cultural perspective. Singapore’s high quality of living, political stability and clean air as well as the country’s modern entertainment, dining places and shopping hub have attracted not only tourists, but also foreign students from all across the globe.
Currently, the school has an enrollment of over 18,000 students from 40 countries worldwide and awards dozens of scholarships each year to deserving new and existing students.
Owing to the institution’s great achievement in implanting world-class higher education,
SIM GE has since September 2008 spread its wings by opening a new campus in Ulu Pandan, Singapore.
In addition to having a residential complex, the new campus includes sporting and recreational facilities such as tennis and futsal courts, an outdoor yoga pad and a dance studio.
SIM GE is also aiming at developing another 56,000 square meters of space by 2014.
SIM GE’s excellent reputation has given a significant contribution to Singapore as a world-class overseas study destination. Likewise, Singapore’s neighbor Malaysia is also scoring a dazzling success as an alternative to studying in Western countries like Australia and the US.
The establishment of renowned Australian Monash University in Malaysia witnesses how globalization has borne the fruit of a borderless international education facility.
Invited by the Malaysian government through a partnership with the Sunway Group, Monash University opened its first Malaysia’s campus at Bandar Sunway in Petaling Jaya in 1998 wherein the classes commenced in July of that year.
The Sunway Campus offers six schools at present; School of Arts and Social Sciences, School of Business, School of Engineering, School of Information Technology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences and School of Science.
With more than 5,000 students representing dozens of nations worldwide enrolled at Monash University in Malaysia, the university, which is often referred to as the Sunway Campus, attracts many Indonesians who seek the best of both worlds in value of higher education with affordable tuition fees.
“The Sunway Campus’ international ambience provides an exceptional opportunity for students to develop their international minded attitude while taking programs that are as great as the ones in Monash University, Melbourne,” asserted Richard M., who is currently enrolled at the School of Engineering at Malaysia’s Monash University.
Richard spent the first two years of taking an undergraduate program in mechanical engineering at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, but transferred to Monash’s School of Engineering in Malaysia due to financial considerations.
“But I don’t regret moving here. All of my classes were transferred. And amazingly, the tuition fee and living costs are much cheaper here,” he added.
In line with Richard’s opinion, Melati Adhidamayanti, who has visited countries in the West and Asia for education and research purposes, believes many universities in Southeast Asia are of the same quality as those in the US and other Western countries.
She further said that her most fulfilling and amazing academic experience in life was when she took a graduate program in development management at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) in Manila in 2005-2006.
“The classes that I took were designed with an interactive approach while providing us with relevant learning experience. I was embraced by diversity not only from the melting pot society I found on the campus, but no less important, from the group work that trained us to be better problem solvers,” asserted Melati, who earned her master’s degree from AIM through a scholarship from the Asian Development Bank.
Established in 1968, AIM is situated in the prominent district of Makati of Peninsula Manila.
Whether the destination is Singapore, Malaysia or the Philippines, the objective of studying aboard is to gain good knowledge of global issues at large aside from honing the skills of thinking independently, creatively and analytically.
The internship program is another feature that attracts students to form networks and gain valuable experience in their respective fields.
In addition to the role of English as the medium of instruction, coupled with increasing globalization, studying at renowned universities in Southeast Asian countries like Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines is indeed an affordable, prestigious education.
