Singapore to establish its first university of the arts

If you have a passion for the arts, you will soon have an option to pursue a degree in the first arts university in Singapore!

On Mar 3, Education Minister Lawrence Wong announced that Singapore’s first arts university will be an alliance between the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and Lasalle College of the Arts.

He said: “MOE strongly believes in the need to nurture more diverse talents through our multiple education pathways. In our next phase of development, we will need this diversity of talent in STEM, and also in the arts, design and media.

“Because of the quality and standards that both LASALLE and NAFA have achieved, I’m happy to share that MOE will grant the alliance its own degree-awarding powers, and also confer it university status.”

The Ministry of Education, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, will work with both schools to establish the alliance.

Both NAFA and Lasalle will remain independent and retain autonomy over their strategic directions, respective faculties and delivery of curriculums.

Mr Wong also said that the new university will draw strengths from both institutions and drive synergies between them. Students can benefit from a more diverse range of offerings and opportunities to access cross-institutions modules and projects, and share learning resources.

The new university is expected to be set up within the next three to four years.