Cap on Expenditures Incurred by Universities on Advertising and Marketing

Asst Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene asked the Minister for Education (a) from 2007 to 2011, what is the total expenditure by the four Autonomous Universities (AUs) on advertising and marketing done locally and overseas in all media outlets, including online platforms, for their undergraduate and graduate degree programmes; and (b) whether the Ministry will, in the interest of avoiding excessive advertising and marketing, consider placing a cap, on a per capita basis, on such expenditures, especially for the undergraduate programmes.

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Mr Heng Swee Keat: Between 2007 and 2011, the average annual spending on advertising and marketing for the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes constitutes less than 1% of total expenditure of the AUs.

As autonomous institutions, our AUs have the flexibility to deploy their financial resources from Government, donations and other private sources, in ways that best achieve their educational and research outcomes. Nonetheless, they are mindful that they need to be prudent in the use of public monies, including their spending on advertising and marketing. The Ministry also reviews the expenditure patterns of each AU annually. So far, we have not found it necessary to impose restrictions on the expenditure of the AUs.