 Why Study in Singapore?
Singapore is an island state with a population of 4.3 million located in South East Asia. Singapore is a country rich in heritage, as evidenced by the various ethnic groups (Chinese, Malays, Indians, Eurasians) living together harmoniously. The different ethic groups in Singapore still maintain their traditional practices, customs and festivals, but yet have acquired a distinct identity as Singaporeans.
The city bustles with many attractions and activities. Dining and shopping are the two top-rated activities of locals. This is reflected in the staggering range of foods and cuisine, as well as the multitude of shops in the city and suburban centers.
Add on to this is a thriving arts and cultural scene, especially with the opening of Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, featuring top artistes from all over the world. Ethnic districts such as Little India, Chinatown, Malay Village give a flavor of the culture and history of Singapore. Many events such as the Great Singapore Sale, Singapore Arts Festival and festive light-ups make Singapore a distinctly "happening" place to be in.
Singapore is also strategically located at the heart of Asia and can be a hub to explore the Southeast Asian region. The proliferation of major commercial and budget air carriers in Singapore allows students to hop on a plane and arrive only a few hours later in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Hong Kong, and many other countries.
Students studying in Singapore do not have to worry about learning a new language. The working language in Singapore is English, and all courses are conducted in English. As such, students will have minimal difficulty adapting to studying in Singapore.
Students can be assured of high standards of living in Singapore. The living standards in Singapore can be compared to that of developed Western cities such as New York and London.
Students can also be assured of a high quality education in Singapore. Singapore has in place an Education Excellence Framework designed to protect student interests and to build high quality education providers. The Case Trust for Education Scheme gives international students the added assurance that private education institutions have proper systems and practices to look after the welfare and interest of international students. The Student Protection Scheme (SPS), which protects the fees paid by international students, is one such initiative.
Singapore nursing programs are well established and are recognized in many developed countries. The traditional nursing education pathway in Singapore is based on a 3-year full-time diploma in nursing program, and more recently, a 3-year full-time bachelor of nursing degree program (4 years for honor students).
However, there is a route for existing registered nurses in countries outside of Singapore to enter into an accelerated 10-month program that will enable them to gain the knowledge and skills required to obtain a Singapore registered nurse license and practice in Singapore hospitals and other healthcare institutions.
What happens for international students after graduation?
Students can look forward to a career in nursing in Singapore hospitals and other healthcare institutions after graduating and obtaining the Singapore Registered Nurse license. Singapore registered nurses qualify for the ‘S’ Pass, a new visa category that allows foreign skilled technicians and specialized workers to work in Singapore.
Singapore’s drive is to become a regional medical hub in Asia for a whole spectrum of healthcare services. Currently, Singapore is the region's premier destination for international healthcare services. As such, the patient pool in Singapore is diverse. In 2005, 374,000 foreign patients came to Singapore to seek medical treatment. More than half the patients that go to Singapore for major medical treatments are from Indonesia. Malaysia, the United States, Britain and Japan are also important sources of foreign patients. The Singapore Ministry of Health expects more foreign patients to arrive and sees the total reaching one million a year by 2012.
There are 29 hospitals in Singapore with a total of 11,830 beds (Singapore Ministry of Health 2005 figures). By the end of this year, every major public and private hospital in Singapore will most likely have attained Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation, a widely-recognized American mark of quality healthcare. The accreditation examines the safety and quality of clinical practices, in addition to general areas such as facility management and safety.
As part of the Commonwealth, Singapore’s nursing standards are recognized amongst Commonwealth countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia. Furthermore, working in JCI accredited hospitals in Singapore can be a spring board to a nursing career in other developed countries such as the United States.
Thus, students can expect to receive not only a sound education, but promising career prospects in the healthcare industry in Singapore and beyond.
Article supplied by:
HMI Institute of Health Sciences - Singapore
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