The SingaporeInstitute of Technology is the fifth autonomous university in Singapore. Established in May 2009, SIT is Singapore's first university of applied learning. The university offers industry-focused, applied degree programmes; it confers its own degree programmes as well as specialised degree programmes with overseas universities. The university's degree programmes are grouped into five clusters: Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Food Technology, Infocomm Technology, Health and Social Sciences, and Design and Specialised Businesses. The University's main campus is located at 10 Dover Drive, Singapore 138683 in Dover. The other 5 campuses are located in the 5 local Polytechnics. In 2023, SIT will have a new centralised campus in Punggol next to Teck Lee LRT station. The university will be integrated with Punggol Digital District built by JTC Corporation in Punggol Downtown and Northshore district.
History
Beginnings
In 2005, the Polytechnic-Foreign Specialised Institutions initiative was introduced by the Ministry of Education. Its aim was to encourage polytechnics to partner with overseas universities to offer degree programmes in niche areas that also supported Singapore's economic development. Their findings supported the establishment of a dedicated publicly funded institute that would bring in overseas university partners to Singapore.
Establishment
In 2009, the university was founded by then SIT president Tan Chin Tiong. He was previously a deputy president at the Singapore Management University. In 2013, Tan stepped down as SIT president and returned to the Singapore Management University as an advisor and Professor. Tan Thiam Soon took over the reins from him.
Singapore Institute of Technology Bill
In 2014, a bill was passed in the Parliament of Singapore conferring the university autonomous status and allowing it to confer its own degrees. SIT will partner overseas universities to build upon their capabilities while offering new applied degrees in SIT's name. SIT is also required to constantly refresh its programmes in accordance with Singapore's developments, economy and society.
Admission
SIT accepts applicants with diplomas from the 5 local Polytechnics, NUS High School, 2 local Arts Institutions, A levels and International Baccalaureate Qualifications. Adult learners may also apply for admission. Beside grades, applicants are admitted based on experiences, co-curricula activities and passion for the degree programmes. In 2017, 14,000 applicants competed for 2,600 places in 41 degree programmes. 80 per cent of applicants were polytechnic diploma holders and 17 per cent were A-level holders.
SIT engages with overseas universities to jointly offer the following programmes:
Research
Enterprise & Innovation Hub was launched to help industries to work with SIT students, faculty and professional officers to manage industry projects and projects developed through the Integrated Work Study Programme.
Campus buildings
SIT's main campus is located at the SIT@Dover, 10 Dover Drive, Singapore 138683. The main office deals with student matters, undergraduate admission matters, financial aid, scholarships, and pre-matriculated students. The degrees directly offered by the institute are conducted at SIT@Dover. For degrees with overseas university partners, students study in any of the five satellite campuses island-wide, which are based at the polytechnics. On 23 August 2015, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced in his National Day Rally that SIT will have a new centralised campus in Punggol next to Teck Lee LRT station, which is slated to be completed by 2023. Besides SIT@Dover, SIT has campuses at the various polytechnics in Singapore.
