The Higher Education Division (HED) of the Ministry of Education oversees the provision of public university and technical education in Singapore.
Public universities operate within the Quality Assurance Framework for Universities (QAFU).The Framework requires universities to go through a three-stage process. The first stage is an institutional self-assessment by each university against institutional goals and self-selected performance indicators. This self-assessment is followed by external validation by an External Review Panel (ERP) appointed by the Ministry of Education. External validation leads to feedback and future development. The Framework aims to enhance the professionalism and competitiveness of public universities, as well as to provide incentives for institutions and staff to work towards improvement.
From 21 December 2009, external degree providers previously registered with the Ministry of Education (MOE) were required to register with the Council for Private Education (CPE). External degree providers must be registered under the Enhanced Registration Framework (ERF). The Enhanced Registration Framework requires adherence to rigorous standards in Registration, Corporate Governance, Quality of Provisions and Enhanced Information Transparency. Most importantly, registration is a continuous process. External degree providers receive registration for a specified period. Renewal of registration is dependent on the continued ability of the provider to meet the Framework standards.
a) International regulatory and policy frameworks
Foreign universities operating in Singapore are expected to adhere to the regulatory standards prevailing in their countries of origin.
b) Regional agreements
As a member of ASEAN, Singapore is party to the 2000 Bangkok Accord. Singapore is also part of the ASEAN University Network and an active member of the AUN-QA Network. The AUN-QA Network is a group of Chief Quality Officers (CQOs) appointed by AUN member universities to coordinate harmonisation of educational standards and continuous quality improvement activities across ASEAN.
c) National regulations and policy
Compulsory Education Act (2002)
Education Act (1957)
Education Service Incentive Payment Act (2001)
Institute of Southeast Asian Studies Act (1968)
Institute of Technical Education Act (1992)
National Research Fund Act (2006)
Nanyang Polytechnic Act (1992)
Nanyang Technological University (Corporatisation) Act (2005)
Private Education Act (2009)
Temasek Polytechnic Act (1991)
d) State/District regulations and policy
Not applicable.
e) University policies
The Government of Singapore is committed to the corporatisation of public universities. As part of this process, public universities have been granted greater autonomy from the Office of Higher Education. Under the new National Framework for Innovation and Enterprise (NFIE), universities are encouraged to seek outside sources of funding and to develop academic entrepreneurship. Enterprise Board will be set up at each university to drive this process. These Boards will to manage university-level Innovation Funds and allocate funding to entrepreneurship education, technology incubators, entrepreneurs-in-residence and other programs to promote commercialisation of university technologies. In addition, a Competitive Research Programme Funding Scheme has been established to encourage collaboration and partnerships between academia and industry.