Over 50 students will graduate from the University of Stirling at Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore on 9 September, in a ceremony attended by the University’s Senior Deputy Principal, Professor Steve Burt.
The graduation ceremony is the second to take place in Singapore as the result of successful partnerships between the University’s Institute for Retail Studies with the Retail Academy of Singapore and with Nanyang Polytechnic.
In 2006, Stirling was invited by the Ministry of Education to partner Nanyang Polytechnic in offering a BA (Hons) Retail Marketing degree to Singapore Polytechnic Diploma holders for the very first time. The objective was to fill an identified skills gap in the retail labour market.
Director of the Institute for Retail Studies, Professor Paul Freathy, says: “Today’s graduation highlights how cross cultural partnerships can work in practice and how universities can respond to the specific needs of industry.”
Chan Lee Mun, Principal and CEO of Nanyang Polytechnic, says: “My heartiest congratulations to the University of Stirling and the retail marketing graduates on this special occasion.
“The retail industry in Singapore continues to see good growth. Many renowned international brands are entering the local market, making for a lively and buoyant retail scene. This translates into healthy career opportunities for the graduates. I am confident that the knowledge, skills and exposure they have gained from this degree programme will help them carve out successful careers in our retail industry.”
Prior to the launch of Stirling’s Retail Marketing degree in 2008, no academic institution in Singapore offered an undergraduate retail degree programme. Since the degree programme was launched, applications have increased year on year. All teaching in Singapore is undertaken by University and associated staff.
Yeo Yan Lee, who graduates on 9 September, says: “These are exciting times for retail marketing graduates – we see more and more big names coming in, like H&M which was just recently launched, and the retail sector is still going strong. This degree programme has given me a broad-based training in retail management and marketing and I feel confident that I will be able to do well in whichever retail sector I join.”
Professor Steve Burt, Senior Deputy Principal of the University of Stirling, says: “This programme is the culmination of over twenty years of involvement by the University of Stirling in retail education in Singapore.
“It is a fine example of what can be achieved in international ventures if they are based on a real commitment and understanding of the needs of the market, and genuine partnerships with local institutions. I congratulate my colleagues at Stirling, our partners at Nanyang Polytechnic and the Retail Academy of Singapore but, most of all, our new graduates on their achievements - and I wish them well in the future.”