Counselling Partnership In Singapore Launched By Flinders University
Flinders University will contribute its expertise in advanced counselling studies to the Asia Pacific region, in a new, exclusive transnational education partnership with the Executive Counselling & Training Academy (ECTA) in Singapore.
Leveraging the strength of Flinders’ innovative teaching programs in health and behavioural sciences, the transnational partnership will see Singapore-based students able to study a Flinders Master of Counselling, delivered in collaboration with ECTA, with Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma options also available.
President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling with Dr Tan Chue Tin, Chairman of the Executive Counselling and Training Academy at the official launch of the partnership.
Flinders University President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling says in addition to advancing counselling and research skills across education, mental health and other community sectors, the unique partnership will provide new opportunities to collaborate with industry, government and academia in Singapore and the broader Southeast Asian region.
“Flinders has a growing reputation in psychology, with the prestigious Times Higher Education world subject ranking placing us within the global top 150 in this discipline. This partnership is another great opportunity to share our world-class expertise outside of Australia, and to attract more students to study at our campuses across South Australia and the Northern Territory, working alongside our leading researchers.”
“Importantly, this initiative speaks to our determination to be ‘Making a Difference’. The world is confronted daily with challenges, from personal and business pressures to major disasters. Our ambition is to help people, organisations and nations to be resilient and dynamic,” says Professor Stirling.
The collaboration will also allow for the opportunity for Flinders’ Australia-based students to undertake study tours and industry placements in Singapore, reflecting ECTA’s noted connections with both industry and government.
Established in 2002, ECTA has an enviable student satisfaction, student experience and completion record that can be attributed to its dynamic leadership and highly qualified academic and professional staff.
Further complementing ECTA’s reputation is its strong connections to numerous industry sectors, including the prestigious Mount Elizabeth Hospital operated by the IHH Health Group, one of the largest hospital groups in Asia.
Professor Colin Stirling with Yong Yih Ming, CEO of Mt Elizabeth Hospital following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions.
Flinders University Vice-President & Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) Sebastian Raneskold says the collaboration reflects Flinders’ strength in developing industry connections around the world for the benefit of students, staff and research.
“Discussions are already underway for visiting Flinders academics who will be teaching the Counselling program to form collaborative research alliances with the ECTA academic practitioners and the medical institutions that they work with,” says Mr Raneskold.
“Industry and research symposiums are also in development as part of the collaboration strategy, further enhancing the profile of our research expertise to a global market.
“There exists significant scope within this partnership, and this is only just the beginning. I look forward to working with ECTA and Flinders staff on expanding the course offerings as the partnership progresses, with further courses to be offered from 2024.”
Accredited with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and using accountable evidence-based treatments and practice principles, the Master of Counselling and associated Graduate Certificate and Diploma will begin from January 2023.