Lessons from the death of Singapore’s liberal arts experiment

[TerrexLee]

The closure of Yale-NUS college proves that Singapore’s political and cultural landscape simply doesn’t work for the spirit of openness that a liberal arts education demands.​

The mission of Yale-NUS was a lofty one from its inception: “A community of learning, Founded by two great universities, in Asia, for the world.” The promise of a liberal arts education in Asia was unprecedented — the region had been built on technical expertise and learning by rote, with a limited role for free discourse and dissent in a student’s formative years.

Hard sciences like mathematics, law and engineering were prized culturally over ‘soft’ subjects like literature and history, and parents would push their children to achieve grades at the expense of learning from a young age.

Meanwhile, freedom of thought and expression remained heavily censored across Asia — and there was perhaps no better embodiment of this than Singapore, the rich but authoritarian city-state that built its sterling global reputation on hard-nosed development and the suppression of alternative voices.
​

More at https://www.domainofexperts.com/2021/08/lessons-from-death-of-singapores.html

 

[Rogue Trader]

I didn't follow this issue too closely... But did the school close because of low demand or political reasons (like nantah)?

If the reason is low demand then it shows liberal arts isn't a good fit for us