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Since their launch in 2017, common entry programmes at Singapore’s polytechnics have gradually expanded to cover more disciplines. Currently, the five local polytechnics offer a total of 25 common entry programmes — a fourfold increase — with the proportion of students enrolled in these programmes rising from 10% to 25% per cohort. These common entry programmes allow first-year students to take foundational modules within a broad disciplinary cluster during their first one or two semesters. After that, they choose a specific diploma course related to the cluster. Initially limited to engineering, the programmes now span business, information technology, media, and science. A spokesperson for NP said the school offers five common entry programmes — in business, engineering, IT, media, and science — and enrolls about 750 students annually, with over 5,500 students having taken part in these programmes so far. RP offers six common entry programmes, including arts and media design, sports and health, business, engineering, IT, and science. SP offers four: business, engineering, IT, and science. The school noted that these programmes have become increasingly popular in recent years, with about 30% of students entering through them. NYP provides five common entry programmes in IT, engineering, business, science, and design and media. According to a spokesperson, past students generally reported that the programmes helped them build a strong academic foundation. SP student Elger Chong (Zhang Jingkai) is one such example. He enrolled via the Common Business Programme, initially torn between accounting and banking and finance. Exposure to basic modules like marketing, economics, and accounting helped him discover his true interest, and he ultimately chose to specialise in accounting. Similar news reported in Shin Min Daily News.

[Lianhe Zaobao]