NTU students have reported instances of tourists peering into classrooms during lessons, with some even sitting in on lectures.
NTU students have reported instances of tourists peering into classrooms during lessons, with some even sitting in on lectures.
Two of Singapore’s top universities, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the National University of Singapore (NUS), are facing disruptions caused by an influx of foreign tourists eager to explore their campuses. NTU has responded by imposing a fee to manage the surge in sightseers.
Inconvenienced students?
Recent discussions on online forums like Reddit have seen students from both NTU and NUS expressing concerns over the inconveniences caused by tourists. Long queues at canteens during peak hours, noise pollution in common study areas, and traffic congestion due to tour buses have been among the main grievances voiced by students.
NTU students have reported instances of tourists peering into classrooms during lessons, with some even sitting in on lectures, thereby hindering qualitative learning. Cathryn Wong, an English literature student at NTU, recounted an incident where a group of tourists casually joined a lecture for the last 20 minutes.
“Last week, one group just walked in, sat down, and listened to the lecture for the last 20 minutes,” Wong said.
In response to these issues, NTU announced on February 1 that all travel agencies organizing tours to their campus must seek prior approval, with tourist groups required to pre-register online and schedule visits in advance. Additionally, an entry fee will be charged to support campus maintenance and regulate vehicle flow, although specific details regarding the fee have yet to be disclosed.
Influx of campus visitors
The allure of visiting these campuses stems from their consistent rankings as top universities in Asia. Times Higher Education ranked NUS third and NTU fifth overall in Asia in 2023, with global rankings of 19th and 36th. Tourists, particularly from China, expressed a desire for their children to experience campus life at these prestigious institutions.
During a visit to NUS, it was observed that the Flavours@UTown canteen was overrun with tourists, leading to long queues and limited seating for students. Similar issues were reported at NTU, including overcrowded food establishments, traffic congestion, and disruptions in classrooms.
A 21-year-old first-year student simply identified as Daniel said, “If I only have 30 minutes to eat before my next lesson, I don’t want to queue an hour for my food.”
Sophia Chen, a 23-year-old third-year law student at NUS, observed an uptick in long queues since late last year, particularly noting a recent surge in tourist numbers over the past few weeks.
“As students, we rely on the short pockets of time we have in between our classes to have our meals and commute to our next class. With the ever-increasing number of tourists, there are now barely seats in our dining areas and our internal shuttle buses,” she said.
While some students tolerate tourists as long as they behave respectfully, others find the situation increasingly burdensome. The influx of visitors has impacted students’ ability to navigate campus efficiently, with reports of students being late for classes due to overcrowded shuttle buses and traffic jams.
Tour operators note that interest in visiting NUS and NTU stems not only from their academic reputation but also from a desire to experience university life in Singapore.
NUS said, “It is aware of the seasonal flow of visitors including tourists, and are monitoring the situation closely,”
Parents, in particular, see these visits as an opportunity for their children to gain insight into campus culture and facilities.
NTU explained that while the campus welcomes visitors, maintaining a conducive learning environment for students remains a priority. The university aims to balance the influx of tourists with the needs of its student body.
The university said it is “frequently recognized as one of the world’s most beautiful with its unique architecture and lush green spaces.”
“However, the primary purpose of the NTU campus is to provide a conducive learning environment for our students, and the needs of our students must come first,” it noted.
