SINGAPORE
- Dr Jim Sleeper's claims on Huffington
Post come across almost like that of a financial thriller - a dinner in Germany
reveals that Yale and the National University of Singapore (NUS) have a secret
deal worth US$300 million (S$384m).
Images
of men dressed in smoking jackets seated a conference table with expensive
glasses of wine, big smirks and handshakes while smoking on fat cigars almost
comes to mind, but that would be the Godfather.
Somehow
kisses on cheeks being exchanged between professors do not seem plausible.
Meanwhile,
The Straits Times reported that no such deal had been the basis to set up the
Yale-NUS liberal arts college.
Dr
Sleeper claimed on Huffington Post, that a source he could not reveal told him
at a dinner in Germany: "There's $300 million for Yale in its deal with
NUS.
"It's
what you call insider trading: Yale will be cut in on prime investments that
Singapore controls and restricts through its sovereign wealth fund. These will
be only investments, not payments, so there's some risk. But you'll Yale's
endowment will swell by several hundred million in consequence of its getting
in on these ventures."
The
source he claims is a senior official from a European university, and he spent
the first half of his article claiming Yale venture with NUS a disgrace.
The
Straits Times also quoted a Yale's press secretary Tom Conroy affirming that
Yale is not receiving any "financial gain other than reimbursement of
expenses".
Conroy
pointed out to The Straits Times on what he said was another falsehood in Dr
Sleeper's piece - that investment consultant Charles Ellis, an ex-Yale trustee,
'maintains an investment business in Singapore'.
NUS
also told The Straits Times, "The reimbursement to Yale University
includes (the cost of) replacing the teaching of Yale faculty actively involved
in the joint planning, faculty recruitment and curriculum development for the
college.
"This
collaboration does not involve any investment arrangements for Yale."
Dr
Sleeper meanwhile continued to believe that Singapore is another Myanmar of
sorts, where citizens are not allowed any social liberties. Perhaps he did not
read about a 17-year-old lashing out at a minister and not being charged for
it.
Edvantage
AsiaOne
Business & Investment Opportunities
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Strategy, Investment and Management, focusing Healthcare and Life Science with expertise in ASEAN. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programmes. Many thanks for visiting www.yourvietnamexpert.com and/or contacting us at contact@yourvietnamexpert.com
No comments:
Post a Comment