Nanyang University
Encyclopedia
Nanyang University was a university in Singapore
from 1956 to 1980. During its existence, it was Singapore's only Chinese language
post-secondary institution. In 1980, Nanyang University was merged with the University of Singapore to form the National University of Singapore
(NUS).
in 1953, then chairman of the Singapore Hokkien Association. A fund was set up for this purpose, drawing donations from people of all walks of life and with Tan himself donating $5 million. The Singapore Hokkien Association donated 500 acres (2 km²) in the western Jurong
area, which was then largely undeveloped rural land.
Nanyang University started classes on March 15, 1956, offering courses in the arts, sciences and commerce. Construction of the entire campus
was not completed until two years later. In 1958 the university held its official opening ceremony, officiated by Tan and William Goode
, then governor of Singapore.
Nanyang University was merged with the University of Singapore in 1980 to form the National University of Singapore
(NUS), in part due to the government's desire to pool the two institutions' resources into a single, stronger entity and promote the English language
as Singapore's only main language. The merger was met with strong opposition from the university's alumni in particular, as well as the Chinese community. They considered the university a people's university due to their financial contributions and believed it is a bastion of Chinese education, culture, and social development. They also believed that the merger was a political move by the Singapore government. The promotion of a single education system based on English medium of instruction
in pre-tertiary education, however, severely reduced the student catchment pool of Nantah, thus hastening its demise.
With the merger, the Nanyang University grounds was taken over by a new technical institute, the Nanyang Technological Institute (NTI), in 1981. In 1991, the NTI was upgraded to university status as Singapore's second English-medium university, the Nanyang Technological University
(NTU). Although technically a distinct institution from the old Nanyang University, NTU has gradually absorbed the rich heritage of the former institution, and there have been calls to rename NTU as Nanyang University to reflect this, particularly with the support of NU's alumni. The administration of NTU has long resisted this move, and the idea receives a lukewarm response from the alumni and current students of the new institution. Most opposition stems from concerns over confusion in the market and the effect it may have on the industry goodwill NTU has cultivated over the years. Some alumni members of NU object to the move, citing the distinction between the two institutions and the need to preserve the heritage of the old university.http://www.nandazhan.com/fuming/zhenzdn2.htm
The NTU administration finally relented and announced the decision to rename Nanyang Technological University as Nanyang University in 2005, justifying the move based on the university's introduction of non-technology-related schools and its expansion into a full multidisciplinary university. A year before this came into effect, the administration backtracked and postponed the move.http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/95279/1/html
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
from 1956 to 1980. During its existence, it was Singapore's only Chinese language
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
post-secondary institution. In 1980, Nanyang University was merged with the University of Singapore to form the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
(NUS).
History
The idea of a Chinese university in Singapore to provide higher education to the Chinese community was first mooted by Tan Lark SyeTan Lark Sye
Tan Lark Sye was a prominent Singaporese Hoklo businessman and philanthropist.Born to a poor family, at the age of 18 Tan migrated to Singapore....
in 1953, then chairman of the Singapore Hokkien Association. A fund was set up for this purpose, drawing donations from people of all walks of life and with Tan himself donating $5 million. The Singapore Hokkien Association donated 500 acres (2 km²) in the western Jurong
Jurong
Jurong is the largest town in the western part of Singapore, consisting of 11 residential precincts, 14 industrial districts, 1 military zone and 1 Waterfront district. It resembles Woodlands, the largest town in the northern part of Singapore, which is smaller in size, has smaller industrial area...
area, which was then largely undeveloped rural land.
Nanyang University started classes on March 15, 1956, offering courses in the arts, sciences and commerce. Construction of the entire campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
was not completed until two years later. In 1958 the university held its official opening ceremony, officiated by Tan and William Goode
William Goode
William Osborne Goode was a nineteenth century American politician and lawyer from Virginia.-Personal life:...
, then governor of Singapore.
Nanyang University was merged with the University of Singapore in 1980 to form the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
(NUS), in part due to the government's desire to pool the two institutions' resources into a single, stronger entity and promote the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as Singapore's only main language. The merger was met with strong opposition from the university's alumni in particular, as well as the Chinese community. They considered the university a people's university due to their financial contributions and believed it is a bastion of Chinese education, culture, and social development. They also believed that the merger was a political move by the Singapore government. The promotion of a single education system based on English medium of instruction
Medium of instruction
Medium of instruction is a language used in teaching. It may or may not be the official language of the country or territory. Where the first language of students is different from the official language, it may be used as the medium of instruction for part or all of schooling. Bilingual or...
in pre-tertiary education, however, severely reduced the student catchment pool of Nantah, thus hastening its demise.
With the merger, the Nanyang University grounds was taken over by a new technical institute, the Nanyang Technological Institute (NTI), in 1981. In 1991, the NTI was upgraded to university status as Singapore's second English-medium university, the Nanyang Technological University
Nanyang Technological University
Nanyang Technological University is one of the two largest public universities in Singapore with the biggest campus in Singapore and the world's largest engineering college. Its lush 200-hectare Yunnan Garden campus was the Youth Olympic Village of the world's first 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in...
(NTU). Although technically a distinct institution from the old Nanyang University, NTU has gradually absorbed the rich heritage of the former institution, and there have been calls to rename NTU as Nanyang University to reflect this, particularly with the support of NU's alumni. The administration of NTU has long resisted this move, and the idea receives a lukewarm response from the alumni and current students of the new institution. Most opposition stems from concerns over confusion in the market and the effect it may have on the industry goodwill NTU has cultivated over the years. Some alumni members of NU object to the move, citing the distinction between the two institutions and the need to preserve the heritage of the old university.http://www.nandazhan.com/fuming/zhenzdn2.htm
The NTU administration finally relented and announced the decision to rename Nanyang Technological University as Nanyang University in 2005, justifying the move based on the university's introduction of non-technology-related schools and its expansion into a full multidisciplinary university. A year before this came into effect, the administration backtracked and postponed the move.http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/95279/1/html
