FROM its humble beginnings in 1956 as the Supervisory and Management Training Association of Singapore, the Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) has grown internationally, with campuses in three other countries.
Turning 60 this year, Singapore’s oldest not-for-profit professional institute has over 13,000 students from more than 80 countries such as Vietnam, France, Malaysia, China, India and Indonesia.
Said MDIS secretary-general Dr R. Theyvendran (below): “Education in Singapore has a stellar reputation not just in the region but globally.
There is demand from students around the world to pursue programmes with the Singapore brand. We have students from all over who come to study at MDIS here.”
He added that many dignitaries’ children have graduated from the institute, namely the late president Yusof Ishak’s granddaughter, the Zimbabwe president’s daughter and Indonesian president Jokowi’s second son.
MDIS collaborates with renowned universities in Australia, France, UK and US to offer globally-accredited programmes.
There are courses in business and management, engineering, fashion design, information technology, health and life sciences, mass communications, psychology and travel, tourism and hospitality management.
In addition to the institute’s main Singapore campus on Stirling Road, there are three overseas campuses – Tashkent in Uzbekistan, Johor in Malaysia and Chennai in India.
Its latest campus in Chennai was set up as a joint venture with Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (VELS) University and offers two diploma programmes – business management and tourism and hospitality.
Eventually, students will be able to pursue a variety of programmes from diploma to master’s in the field of business and management.
Currently, MDIS India will operate out of VELS University as it begins its first intake in July.
Students will be required to complete their semesters in both the Singapore and India campuses.
Construction for the new campus in Chennai, which is estimated to cover 70,000 sq ft, will commence in July.
Dr Theyvendran said: “Students from India who cannot afford to come to Singapore can go to our campus in India. At the same time, we’ll also offer scholarships for brighter students to study at the campus in Singapore.”
There are plans to expand the Tashkent campus – which currently takes in 2,500 students – and bring its total enrolment to 5,000. Said Dr Theyvendran: “Last year, over 1,000 students couldn’t get a place at MDIS Tashkent due to space constraints.
“The Uzbekistan government has allocated the land for its expansion and it should be ready to take in more students in about 1½ years.”
In July, the institute’s Johor campus and its more than 370 students will move to its permanent 30-acre campus in EduCity Iskandar. “It’s close to Singapore – only an eight-minute drive from the Second Link,” said Dr Theyvendran.
MDIS is considering expanding into Kuala Lumpur. Dr Theyvendran noted that it will be a hot spot for students from Singapore and Malaysia with the introduction of the bullet train from Singapore to Malaysia.
The institute also intends to improve its courses, particularly its diploma and degree programmes in fashion and design. Said Dr Theyvendran: “We’re looking at how students can sell their designs and creations through the school.”
Students will learn how to run and manage a retail store. While there are no plans for MDIS Singapore to expand its campus, Dr Theyvendran said the institute is always looking out for relevant programmes so more universities can partner with MDIS to offer students more options.
One new programme is the Bachelor of Science in Safety, Health and Environmental Management, awarded by Leeds Beckett University and recognised by the Ministry of Manpower.
It has received 300 applications so far and will start in May. The course will support students’ career aspirations as health and safety practitioners.
In line with the Government’s SkillsFuture programme, the Service Quality Centre, a subsidiary of MDIS, provides a list of Workforce Skills Qualifications-approved courses for executives.
It offers 200 to 300 short courses such as The Art Of Persuasion At Work, Effective Presentation Skills and Fashion Drawing for Merchandising.
Annual scholarships MDIS has been offering annual scholarships to its students for the past 20 years – based on academic merit, leadership potential, special talents or other personal characteristic in students.
Every year, it also gives students from lower-income homes 16 need-based degree scholarships and 36 need-based diploma scholarships.
The institute also hands out the MDIS Bursary to students from secondary schools, ITE and junior colleges while the MDIS Academic Bursary is offered to MDIS students. Said Dr Theyvendran: “We allocate $2 million in scholarships every year, including bursaries.”
This is a special year for MDIS as it celebrates its diamond jubilee. It will hold a gala dinner at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore on April 23 in which the guest of honour will be MP for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC Dr Halimah Yacob. A book that chronicles the institute’s milestones and achievements will be launched at the dinner.
It also opened the MDIS Heritage Gallery at its Stirling Road campus on Jan 14. Much like a time capsule, visitors are treated to a trip down memory lane from the institute’s early beginnings in 1956.
“The strong foundation, strengths and core competencies that MDIS have established since 1956 have given its name a distinctive place and role, not just in Singapore but to the places we’ve expanded to,” said Dr Theyvendran.
amritak@sph.com.sg
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