Education: SG vs Commonwealth system

Melbournite SG

What is this "diverse democratic learning"?? Are you refering to the Liberal Arts?

If by anything, the real problem in Singapore for our engineers in particular is a lack of exposure to "proper real life engineering". This is largely due to our economy lacking a diverse array of engineering jobs. An engineer is only as good as his skills and experience. Both of which need serious nurturing.

i agree with u, engineering in singapore is close to useless...My nephew studied it in poly in the late 1990s and he says its just like studying pre school..facts book and calculations and cough them all out during exams.

I think even business dip is better than engineering

sgdiehard SG

well easy life does not mean its lousy degree u getting.what about AUS degree grads?..they are getting paid higher over there than in singapore...So does that mean sg grad getting lower paid are having lousier degree?

Its because aus uni dont belive in repressive learning...

you haven't answered the question, what is repressive learning? and for your info, fresh graduate from AUS are not paid any higher than the local grads for sure. And even in Singapore, the SMU grads in business are getting higher pay than those from NUS. It is not just the universities that counts, and definitely not because those are australian universities!! the days when everything overseas are better are gone, that you can take it to the bank.

Melbournite SG

NUS is the absolute BEST! and that's not coming just from me.

IF NUS is best, why does AUs ask for work expereince of 5 years to apply for PR?

Let me tell u the story, unlike AUS Uni, they dont want graduate who vomit facts during exam and not know anything about real life working...

And NUS grad get job offer before graduatiion is because foreign MNC can only tap into the local market due to the grads familiarity with the country.. Now that the floodgates are opened for FT, NUS grad is close to nothing ..

redDUST SG

This is one of the few sensible statements I've read in this forum. The illerate people are not the uneducated people. Many schools and universities impact knowledge, but not much in terms of education.

For imparting knowledge, NUS does too well, but sad to say not so much in education.

Not all the universities in Australia are good at all subjects. Achitecture firms in Singapore prefer local graduates than OZ graduates, and they pay local graduates higher.

One thing for sure, if you want easy life in the university, go Australian.

sgd,

whether you get an education in nus or not, or anywhere else, depends on yourself. you make the best of the situation you are in. how involved you are, your outlook and what you want to get out of the 3/4 years in tertiary or any school will pad on to the knowledge that will come as standard.

fancy you generalizing about nus. are you a nus grad? otherwise, you should refrain from talking about things you have not experienced 1st hand. if you are, don't blame the uni for the lack of education you received. i am not sure what is your inadequacy. maybe you can share. do you even know what you are talking about.

your last statement is equally shallow, give credit where credit is due. australia, amongst other countries, are recognized for their world class tertiary education offered to the masses. btw, what is an `easy life' in your view?

lastly, robertteh's comment is nothing sensible. what he said is true, however, it is the most partial view anyone with strong emotional attachment to anything(school included) will say.

BK's swiss double cheese is the best burger in the world wide world. a sensible statement?

kramnave SG

IF NUS is best, why does AUs ask for work expereince of 5 years to apply for PR?

Let me tell u the story, unlike AUS Uni, they dont want graduate who vomit facts during exam and not know anything about real life working...

Was just wondering, you went to universities in Singapore and Australia ? I didn't attend NUS so I can't really compare.

sgdiehard SG

What is this "diverse democratic learning"?? Are you refering to the Liberal Arts?

This is true. Electronic and Electrical Engineering, mechanical engineering graduates will not find, or will find little relevance in the Singapore industries. Friends of mine landed in jobs as Bullion Traders, with degree in mechanical. But those doing chemical engineering are having good times in Singapore, many do internship in many of the petroleum and petro chemicals plants in Jurong island. Can't tell about their skills but Exxon Mobil, Shell are recruiting fresh graduates in chemical engineering to groom them, or nurture them....like the government scholars.

redDUST SG

IF NUS is best, why does AUs ask for work expereince of 5 years to apply for PR?

Let me tell u the story, unlike AUS Uni, they dont want graduate who vomit facts during exam and not know anything about real life working...

i guess it is just the regulation aussie imposed on non-aus grad. i think a bit protectionist as well.

i am just reinforcing robert's point, partly in fun because what he said is the truth, not necessarily sensible. do you need to show your kangoo-phile uglyhead and defend australia uni at all costs? the world is big enuf for all to co-exist.

`nus grad is close to nothing' another strong statement from you that you will never be able to justify.

sgdiehard SG

sgd,

lastly, robertteh's comment is nothing sensible. what he said is true, however, it is the most partial view anyone with strong emotional attachment to anything(school included) will say.

BK's swiss double cheese is the best burger in the world wide world. a sensible statement?

I didn't attend NUS, but it doesn't mean I know nothing about NUS. I have NUS grads working for me, I have relatives studying in NUS.

How does NUS qualify to be the best? among the uni in Singapre, Asia?

Giving credit to where it dues, yes. NUS is recognised as the most established uni in Singapore, with credit mostly from its predecessor, the Singapore University, where almost all civil servants were educated, and the only english university here for a long time. With longer history than the other two universities, NUS no dount have better experience and credentials. But, the best MBA program is not from the NUS, but the NTU, with better known professors in business, more relevant syllabus. SMU graduates are better paid than the NUS grads, by MNCs operating locally. SMU appears to have a better selection process for their undergrads, and a more interactive program with relevant subjects. At least these are what the headhunters having in mind. So, NUS is the best university in Singapore, but not the best place for business, make sense?

BK's swiss double cheese is the best burger in the world wide world? it cannot make sense, at least in the Singapore context, or else why are there fewer and fewer BK outlets here. I still prefer BicMac, the best in Singapore, JB and Bataam, you see, there are more McDonald outlets here than anyother hamburgers outlets, make sense?

redDUST SG

I didn't attend NUS, but it doesn't mean I know nothing about NUS. I have NUS grads working for me, I have relatives studying in NUS.

How does NUS qualify to be the best? among the uni in Singapre, Asia?

i know and have been to NASA in texas. can i make general judgement about that outfit?

you distort yourself again. you talk about getting a (lack of) education in nus, i rebutted you on that point. why are you bringing up about nus being the best? can you ever stick to a discussion and not meander as you often have?

thanks for your comment on big mac. you just contradicted yourself.

redDUST SG

i have to say, another dumb statement from you.

judging by your logic, then rang mahal must have served the worst indian food in singapore, because it has only 1 outlet?

and are u sure bk has fewer and fewer outlets in sgp? it definitely has less than mcd, but bonfood is definitely adding on bk's presence in singapore.

Melbournite SG

i guess it is just the regulation aussie imposed on non-aus grad. i think a bit protectionist as well.

`nus grad is close to nothing' another strong statement from you that you will never be able to justify.

It not being protectionist, its because NUS is not the best according to the Aussie. If u studied in Aussie uni, u would have realised that it indeed closely linked with the working world. Also note that those who applying PR in Aus, from NUS u need 5 years of work expereince in singapore or elsewhere and if u studied in Aus uni, the requirement is only 1 year. So why the huge difference, its because 3 years uni in Aus practically taught u everything about the working world...

u will reliase that it forces u to think,interact and be mor free with your mind and not memorise facts and figures ( a bore chore) and study for exams like a mad fool...Its true Aus tertiary is world class...Do u know why , its because their education is interlinked with the current trends in the job market research. So in fact something u studying is 100 % relevant to the working world, and its been regularly reviewed by the Aus Govt. Even those TAFE institutions ( Aus polys) follow the same guideline. The system has been compacted and shrinked to include only the relevant portion of the education and not everything under the hood like in Singapore and make them get grades in exams...This emphasis on grades is not the right way to enhance education because it will mainly make the students study for the grade rather than gaining fruitful insight on watever they are learning,..it also explains why singaprean students are stressed

Singapore education thinks that by making u study everything under the hood, it makes one clever cos thats not true. The implementation, at best is shoddy...

Melbournite SG

I didn't attend NUS, but it doesn't mean I know nothing about NUS. I have NUS grads working for me, I have relatives studying in NUS.

How does NUS qualify to be the best? among the uni in Singapre, Asia?

Its because SMU is following what AUS/UK/US Uni are doing. Place emphasis on the overall interactivity between education, workplace and the student.

there is a reason why SMU is better too, its not that they are top ranking, its because of the govt's strategy to earn dollars from the education market as well, so they "shape it out" so that this instituition or that is better or worst for this or that...

Melbournite SG

If u want to work internationally, SMU and Any of the western Unis are the best route to take

Melbournite SG

For imparting knowledge, NUS does too well, but sad to say not so much in education.

Not all the universities in Australia are good at all subjects. Achitecture firms in Singapore prefer local graduates than OZ graduates, and they pay local graduates higher.

One thing for sure, if you want easy life in the university, go Australian.

thts becuase singapore has a better and advanced buildings than AUS where the buildings generally are old and long standing...

Melbournite SG

Was just wondering, you went to universities in Singapore and Australia ? I didn't attend NUS so I can't really compare.

I did my degree in AUS and MBA in Singapore.

redDUST SG

Singapore education thinks that by making u study everything under the hood, it makes one clever cos thats not true. The implementation, at best is shoddy...

i am sure the feeling is mutual; i.e. singapore tertiary insti of aussie unis.

so you are saying all the chaps who sent their kids to singapore to school, the entire schooling population are all down the wrong path?

australia school is perfect? what you know that hundreds of thousands of parents and school going kids doesn't?

stop deluding yourself and get over your australia is `best in everything' mentality. each system fulfil a certain needs, no less singapore's and australia's.

aus school are good in many areas, no doubt about it. otherwise, i would not have decided to move my kids over there to study. but i don't think it is perfect. neither is singapore's. for all the grouses and complaints i have regarding the present system, i think there are merits too in the schooling system here.

so get off from your high horses about australia good this, good that, becos it certainly isn't in every area, no less education.

anonymous_dickhead SG

Enough already... US education is the best! Singapore Uni are for bookworms and aristocrat wannabes; Aussie Uni are for lazy bump-arounds who wants a short-cut to a tertiary education

In my years of interviewing and hiring, except of the very few bright ones (mostly NUS; NTU students are geeks), most local graduates think that just because they have a local degree, the world owes them a living.

Beside US graduates, those who did their degree part-time usually turn out better too and probably why SMU students are catching my attention and preferred over NUS and NTU grads. Aussies? They come in and tell you they know everything but expect others to do their work for them. I’ve hired a few and fired just as many.

For me.. US is first choice, follow-by SMU, then part-timers and then probably UK graduates. Local grads have to try really, really hard to get my attention and trust.

But that’s just my view as an hiring manager…

Tammiemeow SG

Singapore education thinks that by making u study everything under the hood, it makes one clever cos thats not true. The implementation, at best is shoddy...

It is immigration policy for the 5 years working experience if one holds a relevant foreign degree. It has absolutely nothing to do with NUS being a lesser Uni than Aussie Unis.

And if you are holding a relevant Aussie degree, why would u need 1 year working experience to get a PR. Is it because your degree is not a "Occupation in demand" degree like accountacy? Do you know what is Skills in Demand?

Aussie Unis also emphasize on grades. Then why do they have a grading system (HD, D, Credits, Pass, Fail). Why are those who graduates with honours and HD immediately offered jobs by big Corporations in Oz?

Personally having underwent 2 different educational systems, I do not think NUS is lacking as compared to Aussie Unis. I am so very grateful for having the chance to experiece the world class education I received from NUS, 'cos it makes my postgraduate studies in Melbourne a breeze....

Given the chance to choose again, I will still want to take my Bachelor in NUS. (I was only a mediocre student in NUS.) WHY? Because it gave me a very strong Foundation (including analytical thinking) that I can relate to the working world, be it in Singapore or Australia.

Tammiemeow SG

Hi Melbournite

Did U watch ABC channel last nite.....was on Education being the 3rd biggest industry in Oz.... abt how they charge high fees for foreigners to study in Oz.... Just wondering if the Unis here are run to generate revenue, then would they be world class standard....or would the standard be compromise so as to award degrees to more high fee paing foreigners....

I was told it is easier for a foreigner than a local to get into Oz Unis 'cos foreigner is a full fee paying student.

sgdiehard SG

i know and have been to NASA in texas. can i make general judgement about that outfit?

thanks for your comment on big mac. you just contradicted yourself.

Surely if you have been to NASA in texas, you can say something about NASA, good or bad, or you would be wasting all the time you spent in there. Have I been to the Min of Home Affairs in Singapore? of course not, but from what's happened in there, I'd say many people in there are sleeping, no? you sounds like SM Goh, who onces said to Catherine Lim, "if you haven't been in politics, don't talk to me about it." Surely you are not from the PAP, but may be it is because you and SM Goh came from the same university, NUS, no?

You said NUS is the best, I asked how did you qualify that? a new topic perhaps, but do you change your mind about NUS being the best now?

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