A government-led committee proposed on Tuesday that a new publicly-funded university be established as part of wide-ranging efforts to retain local and foreign talent.

'The expansion of the university sector is timely as it will create additional capacity to cater to a larger number of Singaporeans while continuing to take a healthy proportion of international students,' the Ministry of Education said in a statement outlining the committee's recommendations.

It said enhancement of the university sector 'will strengthen Singapore's position as a talent hub, both to retain our own talent and to draw in foreign talent'.

The proposed new university would offer design and architecture, engineering, and business and information technology programmes.

A final report from the committee will be submitted to the government for consideration in July. -- AFP