<p>I was hoping someone could outline the difference between educational system in different countries. By this i mean the main english speaking countries like US, UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore. As far as ive heard, US is alot more flexible than all the other countries listed above, and Canada provides the best job experience upon graduation... Anymore pointers to add?</p>
<p>singapore is highly traditional inits outlook of education and still follows the lecture exam system ( barrign SMU maybe which is modelled on the US system) </p>
<p>Australia and UK both do not offer the flexibility of cross discipline study and furthermore change of major or double major . They both believe in the concept of specialization and not in all round developement right since bachelos level..</p>
<p>SM</p>
<p>does that mean the SMU system is american based and the NUS system is singapore-based.. isnt the american system better? whats the difference?</p>
<p>Well true SMU is modelled after the Wharton and blah blah US univ system of credits and all overall structuring.. while NUS is not.. </p>
<p>the diference is as much as in any other US to UK university types only.. all advantages of US system lapse the moment u enter the singaporean system . Yet NUS has its own advantages..</p>
<p>SM</p>
<p>so how about canada? is it in anyway similar to that of the UK's education?</p>
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Australia and UK both do not offer the flexibility of cross discipline study and furthermore change of major or double major
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<p>We do have double majors in aus and its pretty easy to change around ... unless you want to go into law/med.</p>
<p>so NUS is more depth and less breadth than SMU? i would certainly prefer SMU then .. thank God I found out the difference</p>
<p>Yeah. Go SMU! :)</p>
<p>Apparently SMU's propaganda has been working well. But more often than not, propaganda detracts from the truth. To call SMU's system an American one and NUS's a Singaporean one is plain ludicrous. </p>
<p>Let's compare SMU's trademark business major and NUS's.
<a href="http://www.smu.edu.sg/degree_programmes/bbm_courseareas.asp%5B/url%5D">http://www.smu.edu.sg/degree_programmes/bbm_courseareas.asp</a>
<a href="http://www.bschool.nus.edu/Programs/BBA/degree2006_07.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.bschool.nus.edu/Programs/BBA/degree2006_07.htm</a></p>
<p>Clearly as shown, SMU's program is so high structured, dictating the type of courses (even specifying things like career skills, technology & entrepreneurship, global & regional studies) that students have to take. The lack of academic freedom is rather obvious, if not glaringly so. Doesn't that detracts from the very characteristic of an American education system - academic freedom? On the other hand, NUS offers students a much more balanced education, or rather the so-called breadth. Yes there are 15 foundation modules that every business major has to take (which is unique for only some pre-professional majors, most other majors don't require so many fixed courses), but you have complete freedom over 28 modular credits (>20%) which doesn't have to fall into any general education distribution requirement, least of all a 'career skills' requirement. The fact that NUS is a comprehensive university means that you can use these credits to do literature, art history, chinese, anything. Can I say the same for SMU? I'm afraid not. </p>
<p>I hope I don't come across as anti-SMU. Because I am not. There are even times when I recommend my friends to go SMU, because I believe their academic interests and career pursuits are suitable for that path. But I have to say something when people are propagating a myth as ludicrous as NUS offering more depth and less breadth than SMU, or that SMU is more of an american style than NUS which follows the old Singaporean style. Fact remains that SMU is a niche university that prepares for career advancement and only career advancement, that alone detracts from the liberal arts education mentality in the majority of US universities. Whereas NUS, admittedly more rigid in terms of administration, does offer a bit more breadth in its curriculum. </p>
<p>The only thing that SMU seems to resemble the US system more than the NUS is perhaps the way classes are conducted. In NUS there's still more of those old lecture-tutorial style sprinkled with some projects and internships (yes internships exist. my friend's sister spent a full year in China interning), whereas in SMU there's probably more seminar-style and small-classes discussion.</p>
<p>Doesn't Harvard has a distribution requirement for one to fulfill? So does Kenyon and tonnes of schools in the United States. Does that make them less "American"? Anyway, SMU did not proclaim itself to be an American institution. SMU is primarily a Singapore institution that draws the best from the American Unis and adapts it to the Singapore's context and hence the word "Singapore MU". And if you were to be sharp enough, you will see that things like "career skills, technology & entrepreneurship, global & regional studies, general arts, general sciences" covers a wide array of subject matters, i.e. SMU's curriculum extends well beyond that of business modules. Isn't this breath? Or unless you will tell me that Psychology = Business or Law = Business or Sociology = Business.</p>
<p>The fact remains that Singapore Universities' degrees probably have more depth than her American counterparts. This extends to all three local universities. I mean you can't probably major in Computer Science and not learn about JAVA. Or major in Business without knowing what is marketing for example. And thus for the "structured courses".</p>
<p>And as for you saying that "SMU is a niche university that prepares for career advancement and only career advancement", I disagree with you totally in the latter part of your statement. It wouldnt be a university that prepares solely for career advancement if it wants her students to be actively engaged in social causes. I mean if students were to just think about becoming the next millionaire, will there be a mandatory community involvement program? In addition, The Lien foundation wouldnt part with her SGD 6 million dollars to set up Singapore's first Center of Social Innovation at SMU if the university were to focus solely on producing graduates that are cut-throat and competitive and so freaking career-driven.</p>
<p>Anyway, I quote these from the NUS Biz School's coolest website "It's our BBA Blog!": </p>
<p>"I've talked to a friend from SMU two days ago. I must say that I was very surprised by the quality of their presentations. They incorporated videos into most of their presentations and their powerpoint slides are certainly better than what I've seen in NUS Business School for the past year. I think SMU has a clear focus on presentation skills and teamwork whereas NUS is trying to help its students master both presentation skills and knowledge..." - From a NUS student</p>
<p>" Yes, we are still very much focused on the big 'C' Content. " - From a NUS Biz staff
<a href="http://cs.bschool.nus.edu.sg/blogs/bbablog/archive/2006/05/03/351.aspx%5B/url%5D">http://cs.bschool.nus.edu.sg/blogs/bbablog/archive/2006/05/03/351.aspx</a></p>
<p>Isn't the liberal arts more about honing one's skills, i.e. to make one more effective in communicating or one who is able to think critically? Liberal Arts curriculum are noted for its "fun and interesting courses" which lacks the mathematics part (talking about Econs and comparing to that of Singapore's curriculum). From the quotes above, it seems to me that SMU is more in-line with the liberal arts philosophy. And seriously, courses that emphasize on wine tasting, dressing and eating in a formal setting isn't that bad afterall. These are social skills which I think is important to pick up as young as possible.</p>
<p>To me, liberal arts seems to mean a general degree where you get to try out a broad range of different courses - more akin to FASS then SMU. Philosophy is different from practice after all. Both SMU and NUS are ultimately trying to present a more American style education, but if they really to to succeed in this, society has to respond. But does society have any demand for history, oriental studies, geography majors ie. liberal arts degrees? Yes, if you want to be a teacher. </p>
<p>Both SMU and NUS are still rigid - it's not about distributional requirements/core requirements, but the fact that what you do is still linked to your major. The core curriculum in Chicago and Columbia are classical courses, meaning you learn about Plato/Homer and the like. Does that happen at SMU? And I've mentioned this before I think, but if SMU wants to market themselves as being based on the Huntsman Program, they HAVE to find out what exactly the Huntsman Program encompasses. :) SMU is doing well, but we shouldn't suck in all the hype and assume that SMU = American thus broader and better; NUS = Singaporean thus depth and worse. It depends entirely on the individual.</p>
<p>so what school would you recommend to someone who likes a broader education, LOVES making presentations!, and likes to improve his/her writing skills?</p>
<p>What are the choices do you have? If it's between NUS and SMU, I think SMU will fit you better. :D</p>
<p>yes, i got into NUS this year, but im applying to colleges again next year and want to apply to 1 university in singapore again next year.. im thinking of doing Bsc Economics because ive heard that engineering in singapore is very very hard and u have to be very nerdy/anti-social to do well.</p>
<p>Engineering in Singapore is very very hard?!?! Hmmm.. I would say that there aren't any easy courses in Singapore. If you enroll yourself in Singapore's institutitons, be prepared to do hard work.</p>
<p>My sentiments exactly, jeremymjr. </p>
<p>Anyway, the best solution for you waleedk87 is actually NUS' University Scholars Programme (which I am not sure if is opened to internationals). The classes will be as small as they would be in US liberal arts colleges and there will be ALOT of emphasis on discussion, critical thinking, and critical writing. The distribution requirements are rather rigid though I think you have to take a course each in say, 13 fields or something like that. But it's extremely broadbased, only that you cannot avoid areas that you suck at. </p>
<p>SMU seems to fit you rather well too, if you like doing projects. I have the impression that my friends are on like 5-6 concurrent projects all the time...</p>
<p>thanks! i mean no one can beat china/singapore/japan in math & science.. it will really hard for me to beat u guys... although i am an A student..</p>
<p>the thing about me is that i dont suck at anything but am not AMAZING in anything either.. it sucks because im just running around aimlessly! lol..</p>
<p>actually, i wld think india, china and korea are the real powerhouses in math and sciences lol.</p>
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The classes will be as small as they would be in US liberal arts colleges
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<p>That's totally untrue for the USP program. People in the USP program takes basically the same courses as the non-USP program, i.e. attend large lectures and tutorials with the other people. However, they have the chance to do more high level courses like PhD courses. They also have more opportunities to do perhaps a student exchange program. In NUS, if you want to "shine", you have to be amongst the top in the cohort. The USP will help. Whereas for SMU, everyone is given a chance to "shine". For example, they accomodate 100% of students seeking for an exchange program.</p>
<p>Kenyon: Actually, according to my friend (under SMU scholarship), you are only guaranteed an exchange program if you are under their scholarship, so I would take their PR people with a pinch of salt. In most schools, only the very top are given all the opportunities available. :)</p>