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

• Main Author: Tan, Ee Siong
• Other Authors: Chou Meng-Hsuan
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::General::Education
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/76681
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

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.