Concerns at Singapore government’s decision to not recognise UTAS medical graduates

Medical students at the University of Tasmania say a foreign government’s decision will harm the institution’s ability to attract overseas enrolments.

The University of Tasmania was one of three Australian universities struck from the Singapore government’s list of recognised medical training institutions. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

MEDICAL students at the University of Tasmania say they are worried the Singapore government’s decision to no longer recognise their degrees will harm the institution’s ability to attract overseas enrolments.

UTAS was one of three Australian universities the Singaporean Ministry of Health this year struck from its list of recognised medical training institutions.

In a statement, the ministry said it had been growing its own capabilities, and had looked at universities’ rankings and the performance of their graduates when choosing who to remove.

“[This was] to ensure that the quality of overseas-trained doctors practising in Singapore locally remains high,” the statement said.

The change will not affect students already part-way through their degrees.

A UTAS spokeswoman said: “Our internationally renowned researchers, innovative teaching and world-class facilities attract students both locally and abroad from a range of countries.

“Globally, the tertiary education sector continues to evolve, where it is not unusual to see significant changes from countries responding to their own needs.”

Tasmanian University Medical Students’ Society president Thomas Webster said the decision would likely lead to a decline in the number of Singaporean students studying at UTAS.

“This creates a deficit in commencing international student numbers, as students from Singapore constitute the majority of international students studying medicine at UTAS,” Mr Webster said.

“As international students make up approximately one-third of a medical cohort at UTAS, we would imagine they are now looking very hard to find another international student population to fill this apparent enrolment deficit for the coming year, and for the foreseeable future.

“We urge them to be open and transparent with the student body moving forward.”

The university’s 2017 annual report — the most recent available online — described Singapore as a “key market” for international students.