News and Events
10-year Anniversary for BSc Singapore Programmes
13 August 2010
It was ten years ago this month that the first Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Business Studies enrolled its first cohort of Singaporean students. Offered by Loughborough University and run in conjunction with PSB Academy in Singapore, the degree programme has become a particularly successful outcome of a strong partnership between the two institutions.
Besides the Bachelor of Science in Business Studies, PSB’s partnership with Loughborough University also resulted in the launch of a similar degree with a major in Human Resource Management in 2006, both managed by Maxine Clarke, Programme Director at Loughborough.
To date, the programmes combined have produced more than 500 Singaporean graduates and are taught primarily by LU faculty and supported by Singapore tutors. This, according to Ms Clarke, is one of the major strengths of the programme: “Singaporean students are attracted to the opportunity to study with professors and tutors from the UK, and especially from such a well-regarded university as Loughborough.”
One of that first cohort of students on the programme, Ms Brenda Leong (pictured), now 31, said: “I enrolled onto the programme because I felt the degree would provide an insight into the corporate business world as I wanted to develop a wider business perspective.”
She added: “(Back then) PSB had specially invited the person-in-charge from LU to Singapore to offer an in-depth introduction to potential students… It was that sincerity that moved me to sign up.”
That ‘person in charge’, Dr Robert Hamilton, Senior Lecturer in Business Economics, has been involved with the programme since its inception, saying of the programme(s): “I am particularly pleased that the programme continues to grow from strength to strength. The commitment from staff at both institutions, and, of course, the dedication of the students, is what makes the programme such a success. I am honoured to have been involved with such a successful programme for the past ten years.
“The students are extremely dedicated and focussed, working full-time and often raising families at the same time as studying for their degree. However, the pay-off can be huge: once the students graduate, they are so much more marketable in Singapore,” he added.
After she graduated in 2002, Ms Leong went on to experience several different facets of the finance industry, from consumer banking to corporate treasury, among others: “The degree heightened my personal satisfaction and set the foundation for me to adapt to the changes in the business world easily,” she said.
“I am able to deploy the teaching learnt into the daily business operations,” she added. “And on a career level, the degree has enabled easier transition for me to move from the banking industry to the corporate sector, and also has provided career advancement and salary growth opportunity for me.”
Loughborough’s vice-chancellor, Professor Shirley Pearce, said about the 10-year anniversary: “It’s a tremendous achievement. Our shared vision is the belief that high-quality education should be available to all able students, including those who do not follow traditional routes… that education should be relevant to the working world.”
For PSB’s chief executive officer, Dr Steve Lai, the institutions’ partnership is also special to him because he is an alumnus of the University, having obtained his first degree and PhD here.
He said: “I enjoyed every moment of my student life… Loughborough is a university with a proud tradition in teaching and research, and a strong reputation in industry application and collaboration.
“Together, we had produced so many exceptional graduates who have since progressed successfully on a professional front,” he said.“I know we will build on our success and reputation and continue to forge even stronger bonds in the future.”
Professor Pearce agreed: “(Having a) committed, knowledgeable teaching staff, combined with good administrative support in both Singapore and Loughborough, is the foundation for the success of this partnership.”
About the programmes
PSB Academy offers two degree programmes jointly awarded with Loughborough University: the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Business Studies and the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Business Studies with Human Resource Management.
Each programme consists of 18 modules and can be completed in three years on a part-time basis. Graduates with polytechnic diplomas or other recognised advanced diplomas in related fields may be exempted from the first year of study.
The BSc in Singapore degree programmes are specially designed to develop the potential of students both academically and in the workplace. Through a structured combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars and workshops, students will progress from descriptive understanding to critical evaluation and synthesis.
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