Transnational Education (TNE) in Singapore is an ideal route for students who wish to pursue a prestigious degree in popular destinations such as the United States (US) or the United Kingdom (UK) without the high costs and risks associated with studying in a foreign country. The COVID-19 pandemic has made health and safety a priority for Filipino students, thus making a TNE experience in neighbouring countries with a good safety track record an attractive option.

Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) is a leading private education institution in Singapore, providing such a transnational education experience for students looking to venture out of the Philippines. SIM offers more than 80 academic courses and programmes, from diplomas to bachelor’s degrees and even master’s programmes delivered by top-ranking university partners from the US, UK, Australia and Europe. Due to its longstanding collaboration with these university partners, SIM has remained the institute of choice for many international students, with about 25% of their full-time students coming to Singapore to pursue a tertiary education away from their home country1. These statistics include students from the Philippines, who have made the move to Singapore due to its proximity to the Philippines as well as the wide range of industry-relevant course offerings at SIM.

A TNE experience with SIM prepares students for careers with a global edge as they gain employable skills through student leadership positions offered by over 70 clubs and student councils. Many students were also able to establish meaningful networks within the diverse student community. The mix of an all-rounded campus life offered by SIM with the international curriculum provided by the university partners is the winning combination that allows students to have the best of both worlds. To celebrate and reward academic excellence, SIM also provides bond-free scholarships2, which is something highly prestigious for Filipino students and has become a much-coveted title for high-achieving students.

On average, SIM GE’s annual enrolment sits at about 16,000 students, comprising of full-time, part-time, and mature students. Apart from providing students with hard skills needed to thrive in their career path of choice, SIM GE also makes it a point to sharpen students’ soft skills through several student life and career development programmes as well as networking activities. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought along with it some reservations about studying abroad as a whole, with some being sceptical on how virtual learning may impact their overall experience of transnational education. However, online learning has proven just as crucial and beneficial to current students at SIM. Neil Macadangdang, a student currently pursuing the Bachelor of Business (Marketing) with SIM-RMIT has found his lecturers to be responsive and accessible even with online classes. Despite only having set foot once in campus in the past year, he was able to participate actively in co-curricular activities (CCAs) and is now the co-chair of the SIM-RMIT Student Staff Consultative Committee.

Benefits of TNE

The main advantage of a transnational education in Singapore for Filipino students is the opportunity to pursue a globally recognised degree without having to travel across the world. Through partnerships with top-ranking universities, SIM gives international students the opportunity to receive quality education and forge strong multi-national networks, with comparatively lower costs in terms of course fees and living expenses versus in the US, UK or Europe. SIM continues to be favoured by students from countries like the Philippines, as students feel closer to home.

Cross-border Transfer of Learning

A key benefit of transnational education includes the knowledge, skills, capabilities and attributes acquired through social interactions with people from differing cultures and backgrounds. Transnational education helps nurture worldly individuals who are more adapted on a social level. This is a win-win for Filipino students who are increasingly choosing to acclimatize themselves to the local culture before proceeding to secure jobs abroad in Singapore.

Lower Chance of Experiencing Culture Shock

Singapore lives and breathes multiculturalism unlike any other city in the world, and this creates a welcoming environment and a sense of belonging that allows students from all backgrounds, including Filipinos to feel at home. The diversity in language and food are also appreciated and respected in Singapore, making it an ideal place for students who are away from their families.

One-Stop Access to Top-Ranking Universities and Courses

Filipino students looking to study abroad will be spoilt for choice as they consider a TNE in Singapore. SIM’s list of distinguished university partners include University at Buffalo, SUNY, which is known as the No. 1 public university in New York State (Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings 2019), University Of London which is one of the largest, most diverse universities in the UK, RMIT University with 5-Star QS ranking for excellence in higher education, and University Of Wollongong which is globally ranked as one of World’s best modern universities with top-ranking faculty for Computer Science in School of Computer Science and Software Engineering, just to name a few.

Globally Recognised Qualifications

All courses and degrees offered to Filipino students at SIM GE follow the same curriculum structure and have the same academic standards as those offered onshore in Australia, the UK, US, etc. This means that all qualifications attained from SIM GE are recognised globally and will allow students to start a career from anywhere in the world.

About SIM GE

SIM Global Education (SIM GE) is a leading private education institution in Singapore offering more than 80 academic programmes ranging from diploma and graduate diploma courses to Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes with top ranking and reputable universities from Australia, Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States. Its current enrolment stands at about 16,000 full and part-time students and adult learners. 25% of SIM GE’s full-time students are international students hailing from over 40 countries.

Singapore is a fast-growing country and a popular destination for Filipino students looking to experience transnational education. As a country, Singapore is known for having the world’s most progressive education system and has nurtured a culture that promotes educational success and cultivating a highly educated workforce. In this article, we highlight the top 5 reasons why Singapore is the perfect country for students from the Philippines, so read on to find out what sets this diverse country apart from the rest.  
 
Safety 
As you may already know, Singapore has consistently been ranked as one of the safest cities in the world where violent crimes are uncommon, and this can be seen in the country’s response to the global COVID-19 outbreak with timely preparation, stringent testing rules and contact tracing via their contact-tracing app. With Singapore’s non-tolerance to crime and violence, many Filipino students find it reassuring as their loved ones have had a safe experience while living in Singapore, especially during a global pandemic.  
 
 
Ease of Communication 
A unique quality about Singapore is that it is a multi-cultural society and home to students from neighbouring countries such as the Philippines. This acceptance and respectfulness of different cultures allows individuals to acquaint themselves with the various practices and beliefs. English is spoken by most Singaporeans so Filipino students will not have to worry about language and communication barriers. This diversity has made Singapore attractive to international students, allowing them to experience the multi-ethic cultures while using English as the main form of communication. The same can be said for SIM, with about 25% of full-time students hailing from over 40 countries.  
 
This has made Singapore attractive to international students, allowing them to experience the multi-ethic cultures while using English as the main form of communication.  
 
Multiple Job Opportunities 
Singapore has established itself as a hub for global activity and home to more than 59% of technology Multinational Corporations (MNCs) in Asia1, so it comes as no surprise that reputable organisations and institutions such as the University of London, RMIT University and others have chosen to offer their programmes in this country. Singapore is also hailed as a highly favourable destination in terms of a competitive degree, with sectors such as finance and manufacturing continuing to flourish. This puts SIM GE students studying courses like accounting and finance or logistics and supply chain management in a secure spot in terms of job stability. The ease of making global connections places Singapore in a favourable position for international students looking to live, study and work in a prosperous environment.  
 
Says Magesvaran Suranjan, President of P&G in Asia Pacific “The ecosystem is what allows a Hub to thrive. You can establish a HQ anywhere, but if those organisations stay static, they will become obsolete. In Singapore, these entities are alive because the ecosystem evolves to stay ahead.” 2 
 
Access to First-World Resources 
Education institutions based in Singapore are highly competitive, and the same can be said for the country’s economy and infrastructure, with its efficient transportation systems ranked second globally in terms of fare affordability. In the country’s effort to actively invest in building a thriving, innovative ecosystem, Filipino students studying at SIM GE can get used to the well-designed campus along with its top notch facilities such as a financial training centre, well-equipped gym, performing arts theatres, multi-purpose sports halls, labs, studios and many more.  
 
Low Cost of Living Compared to USA and UK 
One of the best things Filipino students, who choose to study in Singapore, do not have to worry about is the extremely high costs of living associated with transnational education. Although many people wish to study overseas, the cost of education in a foreign country such as Australia, the UK and USA may sometimes become a barrier for them. The cost of studying at SIM GE is 30-50% of the on-shore fees, hence students get the same quality of education for a fraction of the price. This makes Singapore the viable alternative destination for students who wish to study abroad, not to mention the limited time difference that Singapore offers to Filipino students.  
 
All in all, with its world-class education, internationally acclaimed universities such as SIM GE and affordable costs, Singapore continues to be a fast emerging and preferred destination for Filipino students.