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With its emphasis on critical thinking rather than vocational skills, some have questioned whether it will be a hit in Singapore.

But the upcoming Yale-National University of Singapore (NUS) College has received a positive response as it gears up for the first round of admissions, said its acting executive vice-president of academic affairs.

Professor Lily Kong told The Straits Times: "Feedback from prospective students, parents, teachers and employers so far shows that Yale-NUS' top-quality education in the humanities and sciences... is very attractive."

The liberal arts college is a collaboration between the local university and America's prestigious Yale in New Haven, Connecticut. Classes start in August 2013 but students can apply for places as early as February next year.

This first round of admissions will be for those who are doing their national service or have completed their A levels and International Baccalaureate diplomas this year. The college expects to enroll about 40 students from the February round. It will start with 150 in August 2013, growing to 1,000 later.

Skeptics have questioned whether the kind of liberal arts education on offer will win favor with employers and those thinking of taking up courses.

However, Prof Kong is pleased with the response so far. A few thousand students, parents and teachers have attended outreach events at the college.

She said part of its appeal is that it will offer small group learning within a close-knit residential campus, adding: "Even more than that, there has been a lot of excitement about overseas and internship opportunities that will be available."

Students gunning for places at the college say they are aware some critics feel a broad-based liberal arts education does not help graduates land work.

But they believe a narrow, job-specific education will not prepare them for a fast-changing marketplace.

They see an undergraduate education as the "starting point of their higher education journey" and plan to pursue master's degrees.

Victoria Junior College student Yip Ning Xuan, who is interested in studying accountancy, said: "It is difficult to predict the needs of the economy in the future."

The 17-year-old added: "I feel that a specialized course may not prepare me well for a job as by the time I graduate, some of the things that I have learnt may be outdated."

Rocco Hu, 19, who is doing his national service, said: "It is difficult to decide what job you would like to do right after your A levels. A liberal arts education allows me to take on different modules from philosophy to science and then I can decide on what I like."

Yale's student newspaper reported earlier this month that there has been strong interest in teaching positions at the new college. More than 1,500 applications have been submitted so far.

The students will study and stay in three residential colleges to be built next to NUS University Town in the former Warren Golf Club premises.

They will take general education courses in the first two years promising Western and Asian perspectives, before going on to concentrate on a major.

The students will graduate in four years, with a bachelor of arts or science (honors) degree. Their scrolls will include the Yale-NUS College name.

Reprinted courtesy of Straits Times Indonesia. To subscribe to Straits Times Indonesia and/or the Jakarta Globe call 021 2553 5055.