Churchlands-based education services provider Navitas Ltd announced today it has reached an in-principle agreement with Curtin University to develop and manage a new university campus in Singapore.
Churchlands-based education services provider Navitas Ltd announced today it has reached an in-principle agreement with Curtin University to develop and manage a new university campus in Singapore.
The company has signed a three-year lease on a site owned by the Singapore Land Authority, located just outside the Singapore CBD, with annual lease costs of about $1.8 million.
Design plans for a staged refurbishment of the site, called 'Curtin Singapore', are being developed, with the first stage expected to be completed by December this year.
Navitas will be responsible for the recruitment of students, will provide teaching staff, premises, administrative support, library and computer facilities and will assist in the preparation of the enrolled students for Curtin examinations.
Curtin's Vice Chancellor, Professor Jeanette Hacket, stressed that both institutions were committed to the long-term viability of the new Singapore campus.
"Curtin commenced delivering programs in Singapore in the mid 1980s, and has had long-term partnerships with the Marketing Institute of Singapore, the Singapore Institute of Materials Management and the Singapore Human Resource Institute, said Professor Hacket.
"This project would enable current operations with our Singapore partners to be consolidated into a campus in the heart of Singapore."
Curtin and Navitas have previously collaborated on a university campus in Sydney which Navitas manages.
Navitas and Curtin announcements are pasted below:
Global education services provider, Navitas Limited announced today that it has executed a tenancy agreement with the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) to lease state property at 90 & 92 Jalan Rajah, Singapore 329161.
The term of the lease is three years, with options for two further extensions of three years each. Navitas is alsopleased to announce that it is currently in the final stages of discussions with Curtin University of Technology (Curtin) to collaborate on the development of a new university campus in Singapore to be located at the Jalan Rajah site (Curtin Singapore).
The Jalan Rajah site (which was formerly used as an institute of technical education) is located just outside the Central Business District. Under the tenancy agreement, annual lease costs will be approximately A$1.8m commencing from the lease execution date net of lease incentives.
The projected capital expenditure over the first 18 month period of the tenancy agreement is A$12m to A$14m.
Design plans for a staged refurbishment of the site will be developed with the first stage expected to be completed in time for the first student intake in December 2008. A design concept for Curtin Singapore is attached as figure 1 to this announcement.
Mr Simon Ong, SLA's Assistant Chief Executive said, "In recent years, there has been strong interest and demand by operators from both commercial and foreign systems' schools, in taking up our State properties.
There have been many successful adaptive reuses from a former school, army camp to learning of the arts and academic pursuits. The ease of adaptability helps tenants get their operations up and running sooner and at lower start-up costs."
Discussions between Navitas and Curtin are ongoing but agreement has been reached in principle in relation to the Curtin Singapore project.
Under the agreement, Curtin will establish a campus in Singapore, to be operated and managed by Navitas, delivering degree programs to international and local students wishing to study in Singapore.
A key component of Navitas' growth strategy is to continue the evolution of the Company's business model to include the delivery of degree programs in association with partner universities on campuses established and maintained by Navitas.
In 2005, Curtin and Navitas cooperated in the successful establishment of a Curtin University campus in Sydney with Navitas being responsible for the operation and management of the new institution.
Navitas Chief Executive Officer, Mr Rod Jones, said the Company's solid track record of performance with Curtin over the past few years has led to this exciting new endeavour in Singapore.
"We are delighted to have the opportunity to work closely with Curtin again in the development of this fantastic new campus," said Mr Jones.
"While the collaboration clearly fits the Navitas growth strategy, it will also allow Curtin to focus on its key strengths of academic excellence while managing operational and investment risks," he said. "It's a tremendous step forward for both institutions."
Navitas will be responsible for the recruitment of students, will provide teaching staff, premises, administrative support, library and computer facilities and will assist in the preparation of the enrolled students for Curtin examinations.
Curtin's Vice Chancellor, Professor Jeanette Hacket, stressed that both institutions were committed to the long-term viability of the new Singapore campus.
"Curtin commenced delivering programs in Singapore in the mid 1980s, and has had long-term partnerships with the Marketing Institute of Singapore, the Singapore Institute of Materials Management and the Singapore Human Resource Institute, said Professor Hacket.
"This project would enable current operations with our Singapore partners to be consolidated into a campus in the heart of Singapore."
Discussions with the three Institutes are currently underway as both Navitas and Curtin are keen to continue the association between Curtin and the Institutes within the new campus.
"We see this project as a marathon, not a sprint," said Professor Hacket. "Curtin and Navitas have already committed a significant amount of time, money and research to this process and we are eager to see this campus grow and excel in the long term to offer quality programs to students in Singapore and the region."
All courses offered at the Curtin Singapore Campus will be approved by Curtin and Curtin will retain control over all academic matters. Full undergraduate and postgraduate courses will be on offer, in a similar format to the Curtin Sydney campus.
Curtin announces new Singapore Campus
Curtin University of Technology has announced the decision in principle to establish a new campus in Singapore that will be managed by Navitas Limited (formerly IBT Education Ltd).
The new Singapore Campus will offer Curtin Business School (CBS) courses and new programs from other faculties which will be developed according to student demand.
The comprehensive teaching facility will enhance the student experience while providing research and development opportunities for the University, and strengthening industry engagement in Singapore.
Curtin has had a long standing relationship with Navitas - an Australian listed public company - through the operations of Curtin's Sydney Campus and the Curtin International College based at the University's Bentley Campus in Perth.
Curtin's Singapore Campus will be operated along similar lines to its Sydney Campus, where many aspects of the service delivery are undertaken by Navitas. However, to ensure excellent academic outcomes and the Curtin approach to teaching and learning, a Pro Vice-Chancellor will be appointed to provide academic leadership and manage the quality of programs.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Jeanette Hacket said Curtin was currently working with Navitas and existing Singapore partners to integrate course programs.
"Curtin has had very successful and long standing relationships with its Singapore partners - up to 24 years - and is very keen to continue working with them in the new Campus," Professor Hacket said.
"Curtin believes there would be significant benefit for current programs with our Singapore partners to be incorporated into a consolidated single location campus, in the heart of Singapore.
"The proposed Singapore Campus could allow students from current programs to continue with their studies and enable us to maintain strong relationships with our existing partners."
Curtin has a history of engagement covering more than twenty years with its Business School partners in Singapore: the Marketing Institute of Singapore (MIS), Singapore Human Resource Institute (SHRI) and Singapore Institute of Materials Management (SIMM). Curtin currently has nearly 900 students enrolled in Singapore.
The new Campus will improve the attractiveness of Curtin's programs in Singapore and deliver long term benefits for students. It is expected that it will also raise the profile and reputation of Curtin in Singapore and the region and lead to growth of students coming to Curtin Perth from Singapore and the region.
The Singapore Campus will be Curtin's second campus in the Asian region, following the establishment of one in Miri, Sarawak in 1999, in partnership with the Sarawak State Government.