The global war for talent: responses and challenges in the Singapore higher education system

This article considers the Singapore government's aims to develop its higher education system into a Global Schoolhouse to tap into a lucrative global market in higher education. To do so, the higher education system in Singapore needs to compete globally for talent. This article examines the responses and challenges of the Singapore higher education system against the backdrop of the global talent war. It first describes the higher education system in Singapore and analyses the system's response to the talent war. Then, it examines the issues and challenges in attracting world class universities and top academics and in attracting talented foreign university students. In particular, although Singapore has been successful in some regards, the challenges are the growth of this education hub in a government-controlled approach, cultural differences between locals and foreign talents and local sentiments to foreign talent.