"Describe an issue or problem that you would like to research."
I am interested to do a research on increasing hostel fee in NUS. For the benefit of those who do not know, monthly hostel fee was $240 for the academic year 07/08. From 08/09, it will be $300; $360 from 09/10; and finally $400 from 10/11. With an increase of $60 (without GST) per month every year, the hike in hostel fee may put a huge burden on many students, especially foreign students and Singaporean students whose homes are too far away from NUS.
The Office of Students' Affairs stated that the rise is due to higher maintanence cost and it has been a long time that they increase hostel fees. No evident help from OSA was offered to students with financial difficulties.
The hypotheses is that many NUS students cannot cope financially with the hike in hostel fees and therefore, they decided not to stay in campus. The objective of this research study is to determine if the increase in hostel fees makes students unwilling to stay on campus.
A survey is required to study this topic because we need to know how the students feel, what they are thinking so as to come out with solutions to overcome their stated difficulties. As the target group is NUS students, emails will be sent for them to participate in our online survey. Face-to-face interviews will also be conducted to gather more insights.
Possible survery questions to ask include:
1. Do you stay in campus now?
2. Did you stay in campus for the past academic year(s)?
3. Why did/did not you move out of hostel?
4. Are you able to cope with the increased hostel fees?
The objective of the final report is to inform OSA the unhappiness (if any) of the students and possible solutions to this problem. Besides OSA, potential readers include NUS students and companies offering off-campus hostels.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
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5 comments:
“Increase in hostel fees makes students unwilling to stay on campus?” I like your research topic.
However, there may be difficulties in carrying out the survey. Due to personal reasons, some students may not like to admit that they have financial difficulties because of a $60 increased in hostel fee. More importantly, students may choose to avoid this survey as they do not want to be seen as protesting against official school’s policy. Great sensitive is needed for the survey.
I feel that the main reason for students not staying on campus is not due to the price increment, but more to do with the CCA points. After all, there seems to constantly be a long waiting list of those trying to get accomodation on campus.
Maybe instead of the hypothesis being specifically on the price increment, it could be more general as to why students choose not to stay on campus, and from the results, see if it is actually due to the price increment or otherwise.
The idea however of your research question is really good since from the results, it can be shown to OSA and thus, enabling them to look into such matters.
I am staying in one of the halls on campus myself, and I find this topic of research rather interesting. The increase in fees has definitely impacted many foreign students who came here with limited funding. Personally, I know of friends who rather stay in rented flats near school.
However, I also agree with Dominique, that these friends of mine form only a minority. To many people, especially the Singaporeans, the increase in fees is not a problem at all; they do not mind paying extra for the experience and convenience they enjoy from staying on campus. Most people are more worried about earning enough CCA points to stay.
Yes I think the topic on CCA points is a better one. Thanks for the comments!
Teresa- do you live on campus too? I'm sure the rent increase must have made some sort of dent in students'finances but for a country with such valuable land, the rents are still not too bad and rents/real estate prices have rocketed in the Republic in recent years. At least food, transport and leisure (cinema, swimming) activities are still reasonable compared to other countries with a similar GNP.
Teacher-Fiona
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