Now that you have completed another phase in your educational path, you are likely to face a plethora of options from various academic institutions jostling for your attention. After navigating through this sea of choices, you will discover that the Center for American Education (CAE) is a safe port of call.

By David Kuoh

If you are considering pursuing an American degree, look no further. Since 1997, CAE has been offering local and international students quality American tertiary education through partnerships with accredited schools from the United States...

The advantages of enrolling with CAE are numerous and hard to ignore. A faster track towards a degree, savings in time and money, and a successful approach to teaching are merely the tip of the iceberg.

The degree expressway
In partnership with Broward College, an accredited school based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, CAE offers an Associate of Arts programme which sees students taking up general education modules such as Humanities, Social Science, Mathematics, and English, amongst other electives.

“Students are put through a stringent programme and, in the process, benefit from a broad-based education,” said Ken Lee, Director of Administration at CAE.

After earning an Associate Degree, students simply need to study for two more years with CAE to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with the University of South Florida, another partner institution. This degree programme, offered since June 08, requires students to complete business modules in basic marketing, marketing management, international marketing, and law, amongst others.

However, this four-year track is not compulsory for all students. Here’s a piece of good news for polytechnic graduates—through CAE, it is possible to earn a business degree within two to two-and-a-half years, depending on your previous course of study. Polytechnic graduates with Business diplomas are allowed direct entry into the third year at CAE (i.e. the first year of the Business Administration programme). As Ken puts it, an education with CAE translates into less time and money spent on earning a degree from a reputable university.

On the other hand, students who crave the opportunity to rough it out in the “land of the free” are not restricted to Singapore’s shores. The school gives its Broward College graduates the option of transferring their credits and pursuing their degree in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Students are spoilt for choice, with the school’s extensive network of more than 100 institutions from these three countries.

A fruitful start
Following the American education system, the curriculum structure at CAE is uniquely set apart from other models in local institutions. Though some might think spending two years on general education is unnecessary, this broad-based education model actually plays a vital role in equipping students for a major decision in the future—their area of specialisation.

“Many of them discover their interests and inclinations for their future career in the process of working on general education modules,” Ken explained, noting how students at other institutions are required to select their majors without having had a foretaste of the different specialisations available.

This structure certainly has benefited Michael Sung, an 18-year-old student who is close to attaining his Associate Degree at CAE. He has found his niche in life and discovered things about himself that he never knew before, all of which he attributes to the broad-based education he received in the first two years. His growing interest in Economics is a case in point. “I fell in love with Economics, which is in no small part due to the flexibility of the programme which allowed me to choose what I want to do in the future,” he fondly related. His healthy understanding of the economic realities confronting businesses in today’s challenging climate will definitely be a plus in the eyes of a prospective employer.

Up close and personal
This premier education centre, located at the outskirts of the central business district, comprises five lecture halls and classrooms, one American education resource centre, and a reference library—all this catering to more than 100 undergraduates and up to 20 part-time master’s students.

With each class ranging from 10 to 25 students, classes at CAE are guaranteed to adopt a personal approach where students enjoy personal attention from dedicated staff. The school boasts a faculty of western-trained lecturers with master’s or doctorate degrees, all of whom have treasure troves of work experience.

“The professors are ever so willing to share knowledge and experience that they have accumulated through the course of their careers,” said Michael, full of praise for the way his lecturers have integrated their real-world experiences into their classroom teaching.

He also appreciates how each lesson is made relevant and practical for students. Using inquiry-based learning and reflective thinking, this student-centric curriculum hones students’ problem-solving skills, equipping them for entering the workforce. For example, one of his modules required him to prepare and present a business plan in class. “This experience has helped us to learn the process of how to make a proper business plan and how to make a business successful,” he recounted. It is no wonder that his time spent at CAE has helped him decide to become an entrepreneur in the near future.

A mini United Nations
With a mix of students from Singapore, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, China and Indonesia, campus life at CAE will be an interesting experience for polytechnic graduates considering their options for further studies. The fact that majority of CAE’s students come from China and Indonesia is hardly surprising, as the school has representative offices in both these countries.

Despite the differences in nationalities and background, the students at CAE thrive in a closely-knit environment which grooms them into all-rounded individuals. As President of the Student Government (the school’s equivalent of a student council), Michael juggles work and play in his stride. The flexibility in curriculum structure has given him leeway to develop his interests and strengths. Passionate about increasing the vibrancy of campus life, he has spearheaded the start up of activity-based groups such as dance and basketball.

A valuable head start
As a beneficiary of an education with CAE, Michael is enjoying a head start towards earning that much sought after qualification which is essential in today’s highly competitive labour market. Having gone through the primary and secondary school system in Singapore, he is no stranger to the local education scene and believes he made an intelligent choice when selecting CAE as the next stepping stone in his academic pursuit.

Never mind that American degree programmes are not marketed as aggressively as other programmes offered by other institutions and countries. Ken firmly believes there is a place for the American brand name in the local education landscape. “We see the potential for the centre to grow as the products we offer here are very unique and specialised, and highly flexible for many parties,” he said, confident in the CAE strategy.

The Center for American Education is located at Bestway Building along Prince Edward Road. The school accepts applications at any time of the year, but only enrols students during the start of each term in August, January or June. For enquiries about undergraduate programme admissions, contact Ms Grace Chock at grace@cae.edu.sg or visit www.cae.edu.sg

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