A NORTH East university is expanding its global degree programmes following a new link-up with south east Asia.
For the first time, Northumbria University courses will now be taught to students in Singapore following the launch of a new partnership with Kaplan Higher Education.
The new partnership will see up to 40 of Northumbria’s programmes running at Kaplan’s base in Singapore, allowing students to study for a Northumbria degree without having to travel to the UK.
From the start of the new academic year, students in Singapore can study Northumbria’s MBA, business with international management and business with tourism programmes, with more courses in business, design, computing and engineering being rolled out over the next 12 months.
It is the first time Northumbria University has formed such a partnership, though it was one of the first British universities to establish links in Hong Kong and is now the largest provider of UK higher education there.
The partnership was officially launched at the Raffles Hotel at an event attended by senior representatives from Northumbria University, Kaplan and the British High Commissioner to Singapore.
Northumbria’s vice-chancellor and chief executive, Professor Andrew Wathey, said: “Northumbria University is committed to growing its international presence and forming first-class knowledge-based partnerships which create opportunities for students and ensure that they have the skills and qualifications needed to succeed in a global economy.
“In Kaplan we see an organisation which is highly regarded around the world, with an international mission similar to our own, and an excellent reputation as a global provider of high-quality education. I am confident that this new partnership will bring new opportunities to both organisations and benefits to many students who will now be able to study Northumbria’s programmes in their home country.”
Kaplan Higher Education in Singapore is part of Kaplan Inc, one of the world’s largest private education companies, which provides educational and career services to more than a million students from 500 worldwide locations.
Kaplan’s APAC chief executive Mark Coggins said: “We continue to see strong demand for tertiary education in Singapore, as it grows into a global education hub. To match this, we are developing strategic partnerships that go beyond the number of course offerings.
“It is a collaboration of two organisations who share the same student-centric values, and are committed to deliver programmes that are highly attuned to market needs. Students will benefit from high quality education options that will give them a strong edge in the workplace, and the best of what Northumbria and Kaplan Singapore have to offer.”
Northumbria University attracts many international students to its Newcastle campus, including hundreds from China, India, Thailand and Malaysia.
