Emerging education hubs The case of Singapore

• Published in: Higher education Vol. 61; no. 1; pp. 23 - 40
• Main Authors: Sidhu, Ravinder, Ho, K.-C, Yeoh, Brenda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01-01-2011; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Alliances; Asia; Ausland; Auslandsbeziehungen; Change Strategies; City states; Collaboration; Colleges & universities; Colleges and universities; Economic crisis; Economic development; Education; Education policy; Educational Change; Educational Cooperation; Educational Environment; Educational Policy; Educational research; Entrepreneurs; Foreign Countries; Geopolitics; Global Approach; Global economy; Global education; Globalisation; Globalisierung; Globalization; Government (Administrative Body); Higher Education; Hochschule; Innovation; Institutional cooperation; International alliances; International Education; International students; Internationalism; Internationalität; Internationalization; Knowledge; Knowledge Economy; Labor force; Manufacturing; Massachusetts; Massachusetts institute of technology; Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); Nation building; National University of Singapore; Nationalism; Neoliberalism; Networks; Partnerships in education; Policy Analysis; Political economy; Political platform; Politics; Politics of Education; Postsecondary education; Program Descriptions; Research universities; Schoolhouses; Singapore; Singapur; Strategic Planning; Studium; Transnationalism; Universities; USA; Singapore; Asia; Massachusetts; Knowledge economy; Entrepreneurial university; Singapore; Higher education; Globalisation; Internationalisation
• ISSN: 0018-1560; 1573-174X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10734-010-9323-9

In anticipation of a globalising post-Fordist political economy, countries and universities are increasingly pursuing strategic transnational education and research alliances. This article analyses the Global Schoolhouse, a key education policy platform that aims to transform Singapore into a knowledge and innovation hub by establishing networks and collaborations with foreign universities. Two Global Schoolhouse initiatives are examined-the alliance between Singapore and MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), and the institutional restructuring aimed at re-modelling the National University of Singapore into a 'leading global university centred in Asia'. We outline some of the complexities and unanticipated outcomes which emerge when nations and their education institutions seek to globalise. (HRK / Abstract übernommen).