SINGAPORE: As the new academic year began in Augustphclub, students at the National University of Singapore (NUS) saw an unusual number of foreign visitors on campus.

Tourists crowded shuttle buses and canteens, and milled about libraries, research labs and even accommodation facilities. 

This was not the first time that Singapore universities had received an influx of tourists. They flocked to NUS and the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in February. NTU responded by imposing a fee on tourists and requiring tour groups to seek approval prior to visiting.

Many Singaporeans were bewildered by the phenomenon. Why were tourists treating NUS and NTU, places for teaching and learning, as attractions?

To put it simply, they look at NUS and NTU just like how many in Singapore perceive top universities such as Oxford and Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Tourists to NUS and NTU generally hail from China, and some told reporters that they came to show their children what Singapore campus life is like.

In recent years, NUS and NTU have emerged as top universities globally, placing 8th and 15th respectively in the latest QS World University Rankings.

This is an attractive factor for parents and prospective students, who believe that high-ranking universities might give graduates a competitive edge in the job market.

Visiting the campus in person is the best way to find out if the faculty and academic environment is suitable for them.

Ongoing geopolitical tensions and growing sentiments against immigration have made it increasingly difficult for foreign students to gain admission into Western universities. Australia, for example, will cap the number of international student enrolments in 2025, to manage record migration and rising housing costs.

Those who dream of studying abroad may have to look elsewhere. Singapore stands out as an attractive destination because of its low crime rate and high quality of education.

The fact that Singapore is a predominantly English-speaking country with a large Singaporean Chinese population could also be a major draw for Chinese students. They could adapt to local life more easily, while honing their English skills and gaining access to international opportunities.

With that, there is now an impression that anyone who made it into NUS or NTU is a “xue ba” - a highly capable student talented in their field of study. Chinese parents bring their children to these universities hoping it will inspire them to work harder and aim for a better standing in life.

As undergraduates, we welcome visitors to experience our vibrant campus life. However, it shouldn’t be done at the expense of students.

Even without tourists, NUS’ shuttle buses are typically full at peak hours during term time. The service connecting University Town (UTown), Central Library and several faculties is prone to overcrowding, which requires students to wait for the next bus or find alternative routes. 

Add tourists into the mix and the shuttle buses get overwhelmed. While measures were introduced in August to limit shuttle bus services to students and staff, some tourists managed to squeeze through the crowd and board the bus from the rear.

Those crowds took a toll on campus life, and even on student well-being. Long queues at food courts forced some students to skip meals to make it to their classes on time.

On Aug 21, NUS took steps such as introducing a visitor access system and requiring registration for tour buses. However, some students felt that those crowd control measures came too late, as the campus was previously inundated with tourists in February.

Even though Singapore’s public universities are open to visitors, it should not entail free access to all university facilities. 

While places such as classrooms and laboratories are out-of-bounds to tourists, common areas frequented by students suffer from the lack of regulated access, making them prone to overcrowding. 

Tuition-paying students should not have to compete with members of the public for access to campus facilities and resources.

Singapore’s public universities have to walk a fine line between protecting the interests of the student population and remaining accessible to everyone, but the former should always take priority.

One way to do so is to encourage tourists to join official events like open houses.

Currently, Singapore’s universities hold one open house annually. They’re often packed with visitors and prospective students because that’s the only time in the year when they get to speak to professors and students directly and participate in guided tours of teaching facilities and student accommodations. 

However, it's understandable that not every prospective student can turn up on that day. While online live chats and student-led guided tours are now in place for visitors to learn about the university, they are not comparable to the comprehensive information on display at a typical open house. 

Singapore’s universities could take a cue from Oxbridge, which runs a few open days during the vacation period, as well as course-specific open days. Providing more options for prospective students to visit the campus allows them to plan for a trip that fits their schedule and prevents overcrowding during term time. 

We should take pride in welcoming tourists from all over the world to learn about Singapore and our universities. But in their mission to provide quality education, public universities must ensure a conducive environment for staff and students.

Tan Zhan Tiam and Sean Darmawan are third-year students at the National University of Singapore (NUS).phclub

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