NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE (Part-time undergraduate courses)

Mr Rohan bin Kamis asked the Minister for Trade and Industry what is the progress of the plan by the National University of Singapore to conduct part-time undergraduate courses.

The Minister for Trade and Industry (Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the hon, Member for Telok Blangah may have in mind the proposed part-time Bachelor of Technology course which I mentioned in my reply to a similar question from him in September 1979. This course was aimed at upgrading the technological skills of Singapore Polytechnic and Ngee Ann Technical College graduates who hold the requisite Technician Diploma in Engineering. However, the establishment of the Nanyang Technological Institute and the expansion of the NUS Faculty of Engineering will increase greatly the opportunity for these graduates to upgrade themselves. The proposed Bachelor of Technology course has now been overtaken by events and is no longer necessary. As I also explained in my reply in September 1979, participation in the University's part-time undergraduate Law and Accountancy courses has been very disappointing.

At present the University does not have any plans to conduct part-time undergraduate courses.