WARWICK UNIVERSITY (Opening of campus in Singapore)

Column No : 1991

WARWICK UNIVERSITY:

(Opening of campus in Singapore): 17.

Dr Lily Neo asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what is his Ministry's response to Warwick University's decision to abort plans to open a campus in Singapore because of the alleged lack of academic freedom here; and (b) will this affect the Ministry's agenda in attracting world-class universities to open campuses in Singapore.

The Minister for Trade and Industry (Mr Lim Hng Kiang): Mr Speaker, Sir, to date, we have attracted 16 leading universities from all over the world in a diverse range of disciplines to establish a presence in Singapore. These include the University of Chicago, MIT, INSEAD, the Technical University of Munich, and Waseda University. The University of New South Wales' plan to set up a comprehensive university is progressing well. When interviewed by the Australian press, Prof. Greg Whittred, President of the University of New South Wales' Singapore Campus, had expressed that they were extremely confident that academic freedom is not going to be an issue here.

In the case of the University of Warwick, its Vice Chancellor, in a letter to the Straits Times on 21st October 2005, said that many in Warwick's academic community would like the University to continue discussions with the EDB which he expected would end up with Warwick having a significant presence in Singapore. In the same letter, however, he said that the academic community in Warwick was concerned with the governance and financial structures being considered for the Singapore campus. EDB will continue to work with Warwick and we welcome them as before. However, Warwick will have to assess for itself and decide for itself whether a Singapore campus fits into their plans.

Warwick's decision has not affected our plans to attract leading foreign universities to establish a presence in Singapore. The EDB is in discussion with other renowned universities in the world to set up their presence in Singapore.

Dr Lily Neo: Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Minister whether there are out of bound markers that the campuses here must abide by and what are they, eg, are students allowed to hold protests here, and so on, and should such a marker be spelt out clearly and explained why they should be there?

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Mr Speaker, Sir, our policy on academic freedom and our policy to encourage rigorous policy debate and to encourage a spirit of questioning in Singapore, ie, in schools and universities, I think that is well known. Our OB markers, especially on race and religion, are also well known. Students who want to stage protests will have to follow the laws of the land.