SIM University

Infobox_University
name = SIM University


image_size = 104px
motto = "Serving society through excellence in flexible learning for adults"
established = 2005
chancellor =
president = Professor Cheong Hee Kiat
city = Clementi
country = Singapore
colors =
undergrad =
postgrad =
staff =
type = Private
faculty =
endowment =
affiliations=
website = [http://www.unisim.edu.sg http://www.unisim.edu.sg]

SIM University (UniSIM) (Chinese: 新跃大学) was opened in 2005, as Singapore's first private university. The university is part of the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) Group.

UniSIM has both full-time and part-time students, and is dedicated to providing working professionals with the opportunity to upgrade their qualifications for lifelong employability, and giving adult learners the chance to acquire university degrees.

Vision

Serving society through excellence in flexible learning for adults.

Mission

To provide opportunities for professionals and adult learners to upgrade their qualifications, knowledge and skills through a wide range of relevant programmes.

History and Development

The birth of SIM University took more than 12 years of meticulous planning and preparation. The seeds were first sown in 1992 when the Ministry of Education (MOE) appointed SIM, its parent organisation, to run the Open University Degree Programme (OUDP) in collaboration with The Open University of The United Kingdom (OUUK). In 2002, the OUDP was granted accreditation status by OUUK and renamed SIM Open University Centre (SIM-OUC). With accreditation, SIM-OUC enjoyed greater flexibility in designing and directing its academic programmes. It also began an internal restructuring process in preparation for achieving its vision of becoming a full-fledged university.

That vision was realised in January 2005 when MOE granted SIM the approval to form SIM University, which formally came into existence on 14 April 2005. With its founding, UniSIM assumed direct responsibility for SIM-OUC’s enrolment, which currently numbers about 7,300 students.

Programmes

SIM University offers a formidable range of over 40 tertiary-level programmes through four Schools: Arts & Social Sciences, Business, Human Development & Social Services, and Science & Technology.

trategy

UniSIM adopts a flexible admission but stringent graduation philosophy. It has created multiple learning paths for students who hold a diversity of education qualifications and work experience. Among these are working adults above the age of 21 years with ‘A’ Levels or polytechnic diplomas, and at least two years of work experience. Bridging courses at basic, certificate or diploma levels are available for students without the pre-requisite admission requirements. Its curriculum and pedagogy are designed to suit adult learners who are already highly skilled, but who are motivated to acquire greater breadth and depth of knowledge to improve competence, enhance career potential or simply realise the dream of getting a degree.

Faculty

Because of UniSIM’s targeted focus on working professionals and mature learners, the majority of its faculty members are industry practitioners and academics with active consultancy portfolios. UniSIM has plans to forge stronger university-industry collaborations to better serve the needs and interests of our stakeholders.

Flexible Learning

Learners at UniSIM enjoy a unique open and flexible learning environment that allows them to learn at their own pace, place and space. Courses are designed to suit the demands of the busy executive who has to manage career, family and social obligations. These courses have been meticulously researched and carefully constructed for independent learning. Additionally, a whole reservoir of learning support avenues is at the students’ disposal. Face to face lectures and tutorials accompany the comprehensive course materials such as CD-ROMs, video and audio programmes, and printed and web-based texts. Learning is further supplemented by academic counselling, and email and discussion forums. Students may enrol in a single course unit or a number of course units or a diploma programme or an undergraduate programme. They can graduate as soon as three years or take up to eight years to complete a basic degree.

Facilities

SIM University shares the same facilities with SIM at the SIM Headquarters, located at 461 Clementi Road. It also has two other centres – SIM Management House at Namly Avenue and SIM Clementi Centre at 535A Clementi Road. The three centres occupy a total area of close to 60,000 square metres.

SIM Headquarters can accommodate up to 12,000 students and sits on 34,000 m² of land with a total floor area of about 44,000 m². It has more than 80 lecture theatres, tutorial and seminar rooms, and 12 computer laboratories.

SIM Clementi Centre sits on 8,000 m² of land and is one of the primary locations for SIM University’s learning activities. It has 40 lecture theatres and tutorial rooms, and two computer laboratories.

ee also

*List of universities in Singapore

External links

* [http://www.unisim.edu.sg UniSIM]