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 Scholar and Trade Customer Programme (SEVP) certification.
Singapore can be monitoring the influence of the measures on the tutorial prospects of Singaporean college students, stated the Ministry of Overseas Affairs (MFA) on Tuesday (Might 27) in response to CNA queries.
A ministry spokesperson added that Singaporean college students at Harvard ought to stay in touch with its Worldwide Scholar Providers for updates.
On Might 22, the Trump administration moved to dam Harvard from enrolling overseas college students, however a choose 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 tutorial 12 months. Current worldwide college students should both switch to different colleges or threat shedding their authorized standing within the US.
Based on college statistics, 151 Singaporeans are enrolled in Harvard’s present tutorial 12 months. This consists of 12 Public Service Fee scholarship holders, extensively thought to be certainly one of 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 overseas college students, in addition to change its admissions and hiring practices to fight antisemitism on campus.
MFA stated its Consular Division and the Singapore World 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 Might 30, and extra particulars might 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 residence nations for the summer time holidays, Singaporean college students instructed CNA.
Probably being unable to re-enter the US is a “large concern” for a lot of worldwide college students, and the results of the brand new measures will most likely turn out to be clear solely within the subsequent few weeks, college students stated.
