at the Straits Times Education Forum,
10 February 2022
This exhibition reflects on SIT’s first ten years as an autonomous university (AU) by highlighting significant developments during this transformative period. Arising from the foundational paper “SIT in 2024” based on MOE’s 2012 “Report of the Committee on University Education Pathways Beyond 2015” (CUEP), SIT set out to become a leader in “innovative university education by integrating learning, industry and community” after we were accorded AU status in 2014.
Let us take you down the memory lane of our transformation into an autonomous university over the last decade from the perspectives of our Alumni, and Academic and Corporate Staff. We hope that the contents from this exhibition are relevant for you as part of the SIT Family, and at the same time illuminating, as we continue to make SIT a source of pride in Singapore’s education landscape. As we move into the next decade, SIT will continue “to maximise the potential of our learners, and to innovate with industry, through an integrated applied learning and research approach, so as to contribute to the economy and society”.
SIT was established in 2009 to provide industry-focused education and produce graduates who can contribute immediately to the workforce. SIT initially operated in a unique university-like collaboration model, offering degree programmes in partnership with reputable overseas universities like DigiPen and TUM. This allowed students to obtain degrees conferred by these universities through SIT's specialised curriculum and industry integration programmes.
In 2014, through the SIT Act passed in Parliament, SIT was accorded the status of an autonomous university (AU). We were then able to confer our own degrees for the first time and develop our own degree programmes aligned with Singapore's economic and industrial needs. We also took a unique approach to education by implementing a work-study pedagogy that combined classroom learning with real-life work experience. This approach aims to enhance students' skills and job-readiness, ensuring they are equipped with practical knowledge and relevant work experience upon graduation.
Today, SIT continues to evolve and expand its range of degree programmes, research initiatives, and partnerships with industry and renowned universities globally. We enter the next decade with our focus on applied learning, interdisciplinary education, and industry collaboration.
Source: The Journey so far and the Way Forward, SIT Annual Report 2020
Through a process of development and accreditation, SIT transformed into a university. Here are the key moments:
SIT was incorporated on 23 September 2009 under the initiative of the Ministry of Education to offer undergraduate studies primarily to polytechnic graduates. In partnership with reputable overseas universities, SIT offered campus-blind* degree programmes targeted at growth sectors of our economy.
In 2010, SIT had its first intake of 500 students enrolled in ten degree-programmes offered by overseas university partners. Renowned universities such as the University of Glasgow, DigiPen Institute of Technology, the Culinary Institute of America, and the Technical University of Munich enabled students to gain exposure to international education models and immersion programmes. Currently, SIT is partnering with these four Overseas Universities together with the University of Newcastle to offer a mix of OU, joint and conferred degrees to our students.
As early as 2003, Singapore recognised the need to expand and diversify our higher education landscape to meet the demands of a rapidly changing economy. A university with a focus on applied learning and industry collaboration was recommended by the Economic Review Committee and MOE was tasked to study the feasibility of establishing a new university. SIT was subsequently established as “an aggregator” to offer programmes from reputable overseas universities.
Another big step for SIT happened in 2014 following the Report of the Committee on University Education Pathways Beyond 2015 (CUEP) in 2012 that recommended the institution be accorded autonomous university status. This allowed SIT to have greater autonomy in academic and administrative matters, and more importantly, to confer its own degrees. This step has greatly enhanced SIT’s ability to respond faster to industry needs.
Since its founding in 2009, SIT has expanded its offering of degree programmes to include other disciplines, catering to the different sectors of the economy. As we grew, instead of establishing different schools, we created clusters to reflect the unique organisational structure of the institution. This approach groups together degree programmes sharing common disciplines or industries, thus facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration and pooling of resources. It also allows for a more efficient utilisation of faculty expertise, facilities and industry partnerships, and enhances students’ learning experience in an environment where they can engage with peers and faculty with similar interests and career aspirations.
When we became an autonomous university in 2014, we offered three SIT-conferred undergraduate degree programmes and one joint degree programme. This was on top of the ongoing OU programmes that had an enrolment of 3,455 students. In the same year, we ran our first master’s programme in SIE together with TUM Asia, and two years later, the Doctor of Education. We currently have an enrolment of over 10,500 students in our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
Strategies on Becoming a Premier University of Applied Learning
After pioneering applied learning at tertiary level with specialised programmes tailored to industry needs, SIT prepared itself for the next lap by embracing applied research as an integral part of applied learning. In 2020, our mission statement was revised to reflect our focus on research, not only for the sake of industrial innovation but just as importantly, to allow academic staff to keep abreast of advances in their fields and to incorporate emerging industry trends into the curricula.
Here then, is our current mission statement, crafted in 2020, widened to incorporate applied research to enhance our applied learning pedagogy.
Our Current Mission Statement To maximise the potential of our learners and to innovate with industry, through an integrated applied learning and research approach, so as to contribute to the economy and society.
Our Mission Statement on Becoming an Autonomous University To develop individuals who build on their interests and talents to impact society by providing a nurturing environment that is uniquely enriched by world-class partners.
To pave the way forward, four strategic thrusts, interconnected and mutually beneficial, were formulated with five focus areas to drive our mission.
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