Participation of Autonomous University Undergraduates in In-person International Exposure Opportunities in Last Five Years

5 Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Education for local undergraduates at the Autonomous Universities, what is the proportion of students who have participated in in-person international exposure opportunities such as student exchange programmes and overseas internships in each year over the last five years.

Mr Chan Chun Sing: The Autonomous Universities (AUs) provide opportunities for undergraduates to gain in-person overseas exposure through exchanges, internships, entrepreneurial attachments and short-term immersion programmes.

From Academic Year (AY) 2017 to 2019, an average of around 20% of local undergraduates in the AUs participated in an in-person overseas exposure programme annually.

In-person overseas programmes were mostly halted in AY2020 and AY2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the easing of international border restrictions, the AUs are resuming overseas programmes, taking into consideration prevailing travel advisories and guidelines.