AS A recent polytechnic graduate, my heart is set on going to a good university here.

It is a pragmatic preference aimed at easing the financial burden on my parents. Many poly students are in the same situation.

So it was good news to me when I heard that Curtin University would be setting up a campus in Singapore.

I am sure it will become a popular choice for many poly graduates who are unable to meet the requirements of the four universities here.

To have a sustainable core of students, Curtin will have to consider how it will make itself accessible, in terms of tuition fees and admission requirements.

Stronger publicity and pre-enrolment drives would help too.

Kenneth Goh, 19, has a diploma in interior architecture and design from Temasek Polytechnic

Build up school's credibility

WHEN choosing a university for undergraduate study, two things are paramount: If the institution is of good repute, and if it offers a degree that is widely recognised.

Tag on the university's location and the area of study, and the choice becomes even more challenging.

Unlike other Australian state universities whose degrees are widely recognised in Singapore, Curtin may need some help to establish its credibility.

To achieve this, the Ministry of Education can help endorse the university's courses by encouraging local students to pursue a degree at Curtin.

It can also do more to show that its degree will be recognised in prominent organisations - in public service, for instance.

More can be done by local universities or influential industry partners to encourage and arrange partnership programmes with Curtin.

Organisations in both public and private sectors can also consider putting together financial schemes for local students at Curtin.

Such measures can help the new university establish itself as one of the institutions of choice among Singaporeans.

Liana Tang, 24, recently graduated with honours in biology from the National University of Singapore

Concrete assurance needed to allay fears

AFTER the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Asia pulled out of Singapore last year, many students now wonder if Curtin University may suffer the same fate.

For students, financial problems and losing accreditation are big risks when it comes to studying at a new, privately funded, foreign-run university in Singapore.

So, concrete assurances from Curtin to prevent such problems would do much to allay students' fears.

The success of Curtin University's local campus will help rebuild trust among Singaporeans after the UNSW pullout and enhance the Republic's reputation.

Tabitha Mok, 21, is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Western Australia

Diversity in education landscape good

THE Government has a great track record of attracting the best foreign institutions to operate here.

So I was a bit puzzled about its decision to welcome Curtin University.

Firstly, Curtin does not feature anywhere near the top in academic ranking tables such as the Times Higher Education Supplement.

Secondly, unlike other foreign institutions here like Insead, a business school, it is not world-renowned.

Then I realised that the decision was not without merit: It will offer diversity to our education landscape.

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the former Minister for Education, once said: 'There's something about growing up in diversity that's very powerful in education.'

If more diversified universities lead to more graduates, that is a good thing.

After all, more education can only lead to the betterment of society.

Vernon Lim, 24, is a final-year business student at the Singapore Institute of Management

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Apr 7, 2008.