by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 26 May 2007

THE ABRUPT announcement by the University of New South Wales - Asia to close shocked Singaporeans and students alike. Students, especially the 148 enrolled in various courses at UNSW Asia were devastated.

The university blamed low enrolment numbers a primary reason behind its decision. For its first semester since opening about three months ago, it planned an intake of 300 students.

At a meeting organised by the university management for affected parents, students and staff, a gentleman reportedly lamented, “It’s verging on the fraudulence, when you took people’s money, re-locate staff to Singapore and you have reasons to believe; and have real concerns, that you’re not able to deliver.”

Looking at the situation in perspective, I do not think UNSW is being fraudulent. Now that its management has decided that its business plan has gone awry and to cut losses, the university has to close, it must live up to its obligations to their students. Enrolled students must be aided in every possible manner to continue their studies.

Enrolment is similar to a contract. Every enrolment obligation - student’s or university’s - must be honoured.

As Singapore’s Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam put it,”This is their (UNSW’s) decision, it’s their business. They made the decision to pull out, they have to deal with the parents and students.”

Other renowned institutions - INSEAD, Chicago School of Business for examples - have succeeded and flourished in Singapore, albeit a competitive education hub. But why UNSW-Asia has not?

In the coming weeks and months, many reasons and causes will be offered for the UNSW-Asia’s failure. Whatever they are, one that will top the list must be: Poor business plan.

Homestay hosts are often requested to act as guardians for the international students they are hosting at their home. There are some confusion as to what exactly is the role of a guardian and his/her responsibilities. Apart from homestay hosts, where a host primarily takes care of of the living conditions of the student the guardian takes the place of a parent when taking care of the student. This will typically involves the following :

FREE Online Homestay Host/Guardian Registration is now Open

What is a homestay?

Homestay is an accommodation option we offer international students through a partnership with local families and individuals. We select hosts to be part of our Homestay Program through an online registration process that is completely FREE. You may choose to offer additional services such as guardianship for international students below the ages 18 years old. Based on your preferences, our job will be to match a suitable student.

Among the services we run, it includes an in-home interview prior to finalizing the student’s accommodation placement with the selected host. Students pay hosts a monthly fee, and hosts provide a comfortable home, meals and a opportunity to experience life in Singapore along with the food delights if you wish - the satay, mee siam, hokkien mee.

With homestay, both the students and the hosts have to make a commitment to try to create a lasting arrangement. Hosts adjust their homes and schedules; students come from thousands of miles away, trusting they will have a happy, safe, clean environment to live in while they pursue
their education.

Homestay situations require honest effort on the part of both student and host, to try to communicate with each other. There are times when a lack of understanding of culture or language can create frustration and unhappiness. For instance, the host may be expecting the student to participate in all the family activities of the household, when the student does not wish to do so. Or, the host family may be too busy to include the student in everything.

What are Homestay host’s (your) responsibilities?

In return, we expect students to abide by house rules, program guidelines and responsibilities. As with any relationship, there will be differences in behaviour and experience. Hosts and students should not expect all homestay arrangements to be the same.

GLOBALISATION and the Internet spin-off a new phenomenon: The migration of and quest for top talent around the world.

Many countries, such as the United States, Britain, Germany, Australia, Canada and even our “tiny red dot” Singapore, work hard to attract talented professionals to work, and hopefully settle down in those countries.