About > Chairman's Message Chairman's Message A New Reality in Singapore Forty years ago, if you had an A level qualification, it was possible to rise to the top of any organisation simply based on your own ability and competence. In the last decade, the situation has changed. Even highly competent and effective individuals are routinely exceeded in promotion by colleagues of lesser abilities but who possess college degrees. Don’t let this unfortunate situation happen to you! Scarcity Creates Value One of the fundamental truths about life is that ‘scarcity creates value,’ and the more distinctive our qualifications the higher the demand or remuneration for our skills. For example, research has shown that good looking people get paid higher salaries as they are naturally able to differentiate themselves in the employment market! For most of us, however, the opportunity to differentiate ourselves exists through better qualifications such as undergraduate and post-graduate college degrees. I also sometimes hear a mistaken notion that a good education is incompatible with entrepreneurship and innovation. Whilst courage and a risk-taking attitude are important to entrepreneurship, it should not be forgotten that equally important are self-discipline and self-confidence, both of which are natural outcomes of achieving a quality education. Not All Degrees are Created Equal Keep in mind that not all degrees are granted equal weight by employers. Unfortunately, in Singapore and around the world, there are now many unscrupulous organizations that award so-called university degrees far too easily. Many of these disreputable organizations are called ‘degree mills’ and promise far more than they can deliver. You can be sure that employers are aware of these dubious schools and think-twice before hiring individuals with such degrees. With this situation in mind, I want to stress that the University of London degree programmes offered at Stansfield College are granted by an internationally respected university. Created in 1858, the University of London consists of many acclaimed colleges such as the London School of Economics, Imperial College, London Business School, and Queen Mary’s College (to name but a few). The system of external study we offer at Stansfield has been available for over 150 years and many prominent people around the world have benefited from holding UOL degrees. Finally, consider that the University of London has a higher international reputation than most Singapore universities. Thus a degree from Stansfield College helps you establish yourself on the international stage. Rest assured that ‘external study’ does not indicate a degree inferior to one earned on the University of London campus. Under the statute of the UOL, it is assured that anyone studying for the degrees, whether in London or abroad, is regarded as the same. To this extent, the syllabus and the examinations are set and marked by the respective colleges of University of London (such as London School of Economics for the Economics, Business and Management degrees). Choosing the Degree that Best Suits Your Career Path It is important that you choose a degree which is relevant and appropriate to your areas of interest. At the undergraduate level, it is best to take a more broad-based course unless you are very clear about your career. For example, the B.Sc Law with Management allows you to qualify for the UK Bar in as much as the LL.B allows you - with the added advantage that you also have a Management undergraduate degree. (It took me nearly seven years to have both a Business and a Law degree which you can now complete within just three years!) If your desire is to be successful in the commercial world, it is important that you obtain a good degree that demonstrates your desire to work hard. Why Stansfield? Stansfield College was founded in 1993 and since then thousands have benefited from our student-focused learning environment. The college’s central location in the Arts and Heritage District provides a dynamic community for our students, while our distinguished 24/8 Learning System ensures that you always have access to your lecturers and never are isolated in discussion groups. Stansfield’s commitment to personal education enhances the inherent benefits of the University of London degree programmes, as is proven by over 45 First Class students and top students being produced for the University of London examinations over the last sixteen years. Will you be the next to earn a First Class honour degree? I look forward to seeing you on Stansfield College’s University of London programmes! Kannappan Chettiar BA (Business) Michigan State, LL.B (Hon) London, LL.M (S'pore), FCIM Chairman & Chief Learning Officer Rotary-ASME Top 10 Entrepreneur of the Year 2002 Phoenix Award Finalist 2002/2003 SICCI-DBS Entrepreneur of Year 2005