SIM University: Difference between revisions

SIM University (Abbreviation: UniSIM) was a privately-funded university in Singapore from 2005 to 2017. The university was established and managed under the Singapore Institute of Management Group (SIM). From 2010 to 2017, UniSIM was registered under the Committee for Private Education (CPE).^[3]

During its establishment, it was Singapore's only private university catering primarily to working adults. In 2017, UniSIM was restructured into the sixth autonomous university, Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and brought under the ambit of the Ministry of Education.^[1]

In 2017, SUSS conducted an exercise to issue certificates in SUSS for UniSIM certificates. However, a statement will indicate that the qualifications had been received under the former’s name.^[4]

In 1992, SIM was selected by the MOE to run the Open University Degree Programme (OUDP), in collaboration with The Open University, United Kingdom (OUUK). In 1994, the first batch of SIM OUDP’s 900 students studied only among three degree programmes. In 1998, the first graduation ceremony with 334 was graced by former Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore Dr Tony Tan.

In 2002, OUDP attaining accreditation status and was re-named Singapore Institute of Management's Open University Centre (SIM-OUC) as one of SIM's autonomous entity.^[5]

In 2005, SIM received the mandate from MOE to form SIM University (UniSIM) to forge upgrading opportunities for working adults. UniSIM took over more than 6,500 students from SIM-OUC studying in over 40 programmes. SIM-OUC students who graduated from 2006 and onwards were given a choice between a UniSIM or OUUK degree.^[5]

In 12 October 2016, Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) and Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Ong Ye Kung announced that the Government invited UniSIM to become Singapore’s 6th autonomous university. Subsequently, in 11 November 2016, the SIM governing council voted in favour to bring the university under the ambit of MOE.^[6][7]

In 2017, UniSIM was restructured into the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and became Singapore’s sixth autonomous university under the ambit of the Ministry of Education (MOE). It is no longer a member of the Singapore Institute of Management Group (SIM).^[8]

The public may view both UniSIM and SIM Global Education (SIM GE) as SIM students, in actual fact they are both different arms of the SIM Group. UniSIM was a private univeristy which offered government subsidised programmes whereas SIM GE partners with University of London, RMIT University and etc to offer their programmes in Singapore.^[9]

The university adopted a flexible admission but stringent graduation philosophy catering towards working adults. Criteria to its undergraduate programmes were at least two GCE 'A' level passes or a polytechnic diploma, at least two years' work experience and minimum at 21 years old. ^[10]