AT LEAST a third of secondary school students here will get some form of overseas exposure as part of government efforts to cultivate a more global outlook among the young.

This target, set for 2012, is a quantum leap over the present level, where barely 5 per cent of students have the chance to go on an overseas school programme. Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam announced the new move when he spoke to a gathering of global corporate leaders on the third and final day of the Forbes Global CEO Conference on Wednesday.

Universities here to send 50 per cent of their students on overseas stint to prepare them for an increasingly globalised workplace "This idea of global thinking, or more broadly cultural versatility, should actually start earlier than university," said Mr Tharman.

He added that the overseas stints could include foreign school exchange, community service and leadership training programmes.

Last year, about 22,600 out of the 530,000 students in local schools and junior colleges went overseas on various school programmes and trips.