2024 is, in fact, a doubly special year for SIT. We celebrate our 10th anniversary as an Autonomous University, as well as move into our new home in the Punggol Digital District (PDD) — a campus integrated with industry and community to provide a vibrant, applied learning environment for students.
But its history transcends the last 10 years. To fully appreciate the University's transformation, take a step back further in history to 2008. Here is a look at the memorable moments that have led SIT to where it is today.
Singapore's government aimed to increase the percentage of students entering government-funded universities (cohort participation rate) to 30% by 2015. To achieve this, they expanded the Poly-FSI scheme where polytechnics partner with overseas universities to offer wider degree options to diploma graduates, while maintaining high standards through careful planning and selection of reputable universities.
Incorporated in September 2009, the Singapore Institute of Applied Technology (SIAT) aimed to provide more education pathways for Singaporeans to obtain university education. It was later renamed the ‘Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)’ to offer reputable foreign university degrees locally, expanding on the Polytechnic-Foreign Specialised Institute (Poly-FSI) initiative.
By March 2010, SIT was ready to start admitting students — a year ahead of schedule.
We would offer 8 degree programmes from 5 overseas universities. They were the Culinary Institute of America (CIA); Washington's DigiPen Institute of Technology; University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV); the Technical University of Munich in Germany; and the Newcastle University in the United Kingdom.
Soon, word about SIT's intense admissions process — rigorous interview sessions, portfolio review and assessment of candidates' aptitude and prior work experience — got around. This piqued the interest of A-level graduates too.
In 2011, in response to growing demand, SIT expanded our admissions criteria to include A-level holders.
To further increase the university cohort participation rate (CPR) to 40%, The Committee on University Education Pathways Beyond 2015 recommended developing SIT into an Autonomous University with a focus on applied learning and industry collaboration. This would distinguish SIT from existing universities and offer students a wider range of options. SIT aimed to become a full-fledged university by 2014 and planned our programmes based on future industry needs by partnering with industry leaders.
In 2013, Professor Tan Thiam Soon became President of SIT, taking over the reins from founding President, Professor Tan Chin Tiong. He emphasised that university education is a journey of lifelong learning that builds skills rather than pursuing paper qualifications. The saying "Once a SITizen, Always a SITizen" describes SIT's students' lifelong learning journey.
The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) was set up in 2009, operating out of the 5 polytechnics in Singapore — providing high-quality degree programmes offered by our Overseas University partners.
On March 28, 2014, we became Singapore's fifth Autonomous University and established our headquarters at 10 Dover Drive. We then began offering degree programmes in our own name. SIT pioneered a unique education model in Singapore, combining strong theoretical foundations with real-world applications.
The new academic year also marked the start of the first three degree programmes awarded by SIT. Prior to this, SIT worked with overseas universities to offer degree programmes in Singapore. The three new programmes in Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering (Land), Information and Communications Technology (Software Engineering) and Accountancy aimed to plug gaps in the industry.
The satellite campuses across the five polytechnics were ready in end-2014. We welcomed our first students the following year in 2015.
A core component of SIT's applied learning pedagogy, the IWSP allowed students to augment their theoretical knowledge with practical industry experience. The pioneer batch of IWSP students included 63 from the Accountancy programme, who kicked off their stint in January after going through a competitive recruitment process held by industry partners.
Seven new applied degree programmes were introduced that year, including the Bachelor of Science with Honours in Nursing. Offered jointly by SIT and the University of Glasgow, the two-year programme's curriculum was co-created and designed with input from health practitioners across the care continuum and the Ministry of Health. All seven degree programmes also featured SIT's signature IWSP, which was launched in 2015 so our students could apply classroom knowledge in a real work environment.
SIT kicked off our inaugural career fair by offering SITizens networking opportunities with over 100 industry partners. These included companies in the engineering and tech sectors, as well as ministries and statutory boards.
SIT's pioneer cohorts graduated in 2017 and 2018 from various degree programmes, with over 90% employed within six months of graduation. Over the years, the Graduate Employment Survey (GES) has shown positive results, confirming the success of SIT's model of applied learning.
In the age of disruption to industry, upskilling is more important than ever for working professionals who wish to stay relevant. To help more working adults access higher education, SIT launched our lifelong learning division, SITLEARN Professional Development, in April 2017.
SIT's upcoming campus in Punggol will break ground in more than one way. Apart from being co-located with industry partners in the PDD, it will also be the first campus in Singapore — and the region — to be equipped with a Multi-Energy Microgrid (MEMG). When completed in 2024, it will be Singapore's largest private microgrid.
A model of the upcoming PDD was unveiled to thepublic for the first time on January 21, 2018. Visitors to the exhibition at Waterway Point were able to feast their eyes on gleaming miniature buildings nestled among lush green spaces. Among them were buildings belonging to SIT, whose new centralised campus would spring up on the site by 2024.
SIT's groundbreaking ceremony for our Punggol Campus on September 10, 2019 marked the beginning of an exciting chapter for our University.
The Punggol Campus is nearly twice the combined capacity of SIT's current campuses, and sits on two plots of land about the size of 17 football fields. Green technologies will be integrated with the buildings to improve energy efficiency and reduce the University's carbon footprint. The MEMG will draw from multiple energy sources, including solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. Up to 10,000 sqm of PV panels will be arranged on building rooftops. Once fully operational, it could generate enough energy to power 1,000 four-room flats annually.
SIT became Singapore's third-largest Autonomous University by full-time undergraduate intake, after NUS and NTU. As Singapore's only university of applied learning, we are constantly expanding our degree offerings to meet evolving industry needs. Some 8,000 students are enrolled in our 38 undergraduate courses, which range from accountancy to speech and language therapy. The robust enrolment signals growing confidence in SIT's unique pedagogy of applied learning.
In partnership with SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), SIT hosted SkillsFuture@SIT, a webinar centred on the theme of ‘Supporting Industry Transformation through Upskilling Singapore's Workforce’. The event also featured the launch of SIT's pilot Competency-Based Workplace Learning pathway in collaboration with Ensign InfoSecurity Pte Ltd, LTA, SBS Transit Ltd and SMRT Corporation Ltd.
From becoming an Autonomous University to getting the green light for a new permanent campus, SIT hit many milestones under the watch of its second President, Professor Tan Thiam Soon. After 9 years, it was time to pass the baton. On 1 January 2022, Professor Chua Kee Chaing stepped into the role. As SIT's third President, he would steer the University towards the next phase of growth, deepening applied learning and applied research initiatives to produce work-ready graduates and postgraduates.
The University also welcomed a new Chairman to our Board of Trustees in March — Mr Bill Chang, who took over the reins from Dr Ng Yat Chung. Dr Ng was conferred an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Lettersin recognition of his leadership in developing SIT's applied learning focus.
Working adults can now brush up their skills in the information and communications technology sector via a new pathway at SIT. The pilot programme, known as the Competency-based Stackable Micro-credential (CSM) pathway, would allow them to earn qualifications in specific topics, such as cybersecurity, that can stack up to an SIT degree. The micro-credentials will be offered through SIT's Bachelor of Science with Honours in Applied Computing, and may be expanded to more degree programmes in the future.
The SIT Teaching and Learning Academy (STLA) launched at SIT's fourth Applied Learning Conference, aims to enhance the University's competency-based education, focusing on skill mastery over traditional qualifications.
STLA adopts Recognition of Prior Learning, a new approach allowing learners to leverage past experiences to accelerate degree completion.
Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing described STLA as ‘a significant step towards building new capabilities in our adult learning and education landscape’.
SIT's Punggol Campus reached a construction milestone with its Topping Out Ceremony. Opening in 2024, the campus will foster industry collaboration and hands-on learning through innovative spaces.
After a decade of being recognised as an Autonomous University, SIT is finally getting a campus that it can truly call its own. The new Punggol Campus — built on a living lab concept — aims to deepen the authenticity of SIT's applied learning pedagogy, and catalyse projects between faculty, students, industry and the community.
Located within the heart of the Punggol Digital District, the University will be a knowledge hub for Punggol and the surrounding towns.
As the University celebrates a decade of impact, SIT has produced a commemorative book entitled 'Journey to Punggol'. The book looks back at the journey that SIT has taken as Singapore's first university of applied learning, and chronicles its key milestones in the past decade.
