How do local uni such as NUS expect alumni to believe that they are in need of money when everywhere are spanking new offices, and so many mercedes, bmws parking there?
99% of faculty members own car and at least 1 condo. with starting pay of $8k per month for fresh phd (usa, uk trained), and associate prof clocking between $10k-20k per month and full prof getting more than $20k per month, and still dare to say loudly not enough money to sponsor $500 per month to poor needy students? my foot!
Just 1 less conference trip per year per faculty is a saving of average $3-4k. multiply that by the number of faculty, look at how many students can get pocket money. or rather, fee hike can be controlled.
also, all the mileage accured by faculty are used by themselevs and family for their twice a year 'jiak hong' trip where they redeem free airtickets on SIA. that mileage could have been pooled and used for needy and bright students for overseas exchange program.