SINGAPORE: Singapore’s embassy in Washington DC has engaged the US Division of State and the Division of Homeland Safety about Donald Trump’s revocation of Harvard’s Pupil and Change Customer Programme (SEVP) certification.
Singapore can be monitoring the impression of the measures on the educational prospects of Singaporean college students, stated the Ministry of International Affairs (MFA) on Tuesday (Could 27) in response to CNA queries.
A ministry spokesperson added that Singaporean college students at Harvard ought to stay involved with its Worldwide Pupil Providers for updates.
On Could 22, the Trump administration moved to dam Harvard from enrolling international college students, however a decide suspended the order the following day pending a listening to this week, after the college sued and referred to as the motion unconstitutional.
If the directive comes into impact, Harvard will now not be allowed to enrol foreign students for the 2025-2026 educational yr. Present worldwide college students should both switch to different colleges or danger shedding their authorized standing within the US.
In response to college statistics, 151 Singaporeans are enrolled in Harvard’s present educational yr. This contains 12 Public Service Fee scholarship holders, extensively thought to be one in all Singapore’s most prestigious authorities scholarships.
Tensions between Trump officers and Harvard had been building for months over calls for that the college submit conduct data about international college students, in addition to change its admissions and hiring practices to fight antisemitism on campus.
MFA stated its Consular Division and the Singapore International Community have established a gaggle communication channel for the affected college students, and people at Harvard can register online to be added to the channel.
The Singapore Ambassador in Washington DC will maintain a digital city corridor with Singaporean college students in Harvard on Could 30, and extra particulars can be shared with the registered college students by way of the channel.
Most Harvard college students accomplished their semester final week, and lots of worldwide college students have returned to their dwelling nations for the summer season holidays, Singaporean college students advised CNA.
Probably being unable to re-enter the US is a “big concern” for a lot of worldwide college students, and the results of the brand new measures will in all probability change into clear solely within the subsequent few weeks, college students stated.
