The Technology of Technology Transfer. The Case of the Japan-Singapore Technical Institute. Discussion Paper No. 93.

The new economic and industrial policies of the 1980s called for a major restructuring of the industrial profile of Singapore. The government decided to set up three new technical institutes to prepare and supply skilled workers to new investors: French-, German-, and Japan-Singapore Technical Institutes with the collaboration of the government and industries in the respective countries. The technology to be transferred was that of running technical training institutes. The Japan-Singapore Technical Institute (JSTI) was created to provide skilled workers for operation and maintenance jobs. A few critical characteristics of the institutional arrangements were institutional training; educated, experienced staff; and freedom to organize training around workplace needs. Other characteristics of the Japanese style emerged: total immersion in the work and managerial style. Five years after its start, JSTI realized the need for more technical education and less skills training. The addition of a mechatronics course reflected the distinctive characteristics of the institution and the Japanese influence during the development phase. Results included the following: most students received scholarships and were bonded for 3 years after graduation; curriculum changes included offering a higher order certificate and moving into research and development activities; and JSTI was not only a training institute, but also helped promote and sustain Singapore's technological development. (YLB)