Welsh school banks on first overseas campus here

Aug 20, 2008
Welsh school banks on first overseas campus here
By Jane Ng

THE University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC) has set up its
first overseas campus in Singapore with a focus on banking and
finance programmes.

With private school East Asia Institute of Management (EASB) as a
partner, UWIC will hold its classes at the former's Henderson Road
campus while it looks for a permanent site.

It will offer a full range of Bachelor and Master's degrees in
various disciplines, including accountancy, banking and finance,
international business management as well as international
hospitality management.

Other specialisations include electives in casino and event
management. Under the casino management course, students will cover
topics such as casino and gambling management in a cosmopolitan
society, gaming management and casino operations.

The school is also looking at offering courses in arts and design.

While courses from UWIC have been on offer at EASB over the past few
years, the main difference in the university having a campus in
Singapore is that it will take greater charge of the academic
programmes and look into the development of a bilingual curriculum.

From its current 700 students, it hopes to expand to 3,000 in five
years.

Its vice-chancellor, Professor Antony Chapman, said the Asia branch
campus would attract foreign students to Singapore and act as a
springboard for collaborations with other universities in the region.

He was at the EASB's Balestier campus to sign a memorandum of
understanding with EASB chairman Andrew Chua.

Mr Chua believes the setting up of a campus by a foreign university
is the way to go to ensure better quality assurance. It is his
school's second such collaboration, the first being with Queen
Margaret University in Edinburgh.

With such a collaboration, he said, students can be assured of a long-
term commitment by the university, enhanced infrastructure and
better facilities.

The university will also take on the responsibility of ensuring the
quality of students, lecturers and examinations.

For instance, the courses will be conducted by both local and UWIC
lecturers. Singapore lecturers will be validated by the university
and appointed adjunct or senior lecturers.

Courseware and study materials will also come directly from the
university, with lecturers and students having total access to its
online learning resources like bulletins and journals.

Local faculty staff will also receive training on delivery methods
and marking of examination scripts.

UWIC was the top ranked 'new university' in Wales in the 2007 UK
Sunday Times League Table. It is well-regarded for its career-
orientated degree courses, with 95 per cent of its graduates gaining
employment or undertaking further study within six months of
completing their studies.