A study Of Singapore’s policy journey towards massification of higher education

This study examines Singapore’s policy journey towards massification – expansion of the higher education landscape – through addressing the research question of why the government carried out massification between 2000 to 2017, the identified timeframe of the study. Singapore’s case presents an inte...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Tan, Ee Siong
Other Authors: Chou Meng-Hsuan
Format: Final Year Project
Language:English
Published: 2019
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10356/76681
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Institution: Nanyang Technological University
Language: English
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Summary:This study examines Singapore’s policy journey towards massification – expansion of the higher education landscape – through addressing the research question of why the government carried out massification between 2000 to 2017, the identified timeframe of the study. Singapore’s case presents an interesting microcosm of higher education developments occurring across Asia, of which massification is one such salient development. Through qualitative research methods using content analysis and structured interviews, the study finds that the policy considerations for massification are: (1) producing high-quality human capital, (2) developing the higher education sector as engine of growth, (3) fulfilling social demand for higher education and, (4) alleviating inequality in access to higher education. In addition, this paper provides broader reflections on Singapore’s higher education policy sector, namely that Singapore’s policy journey towards massification was characterised by constant policy changes, high and costly public sector expansion, and the strong role of the state.