Why is it that so many world-renowned universities in Singapore have left? 

I refer to the article “SUTD still a draw after ending MIT partnership” (Straits Times, Jul 23).

It states that “Despite ending its undergraduate degree collaboration with the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) has not suffered a drop in the number of applications.

When the university announced it was ending its partnership with MIT, which helped it develop a distinctive curriculum, there was some concern that it would lose some of its lustre with school leavers heading to degree education.”

Are there any other universities that had similar partnerships like this one with MIT, that have left too?

In Singapore, it appears that the termination of partnerships with world-renowned universities may be the norm, rather than the exception.

Why is it that so many world-renowned universities have closed in Singapore?

For example:

… “University of Chicago to leave Singapore – Why?” (Jul 11, 2013)

… “NYU, NUS to scrap dual graduate law degree” (Channel NewsAsia, May 21, 2013)

… “Johns Hopkins, UNSW and now Tisch: When will we ever learn?” (Nov 9, 2012)

… “UNSW closure in 2007”

… “Red faces, millions lost as uni closes campus” (The Sydney Morning Herald, May 24, 2007)

… “A*STAR’s letter to Business Times on developments at the Division of Johns Hopkins in Singapore” (Business Times, Jul 27, 2006)

Leong Sze Hian