In a facebook post on Friday, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat happily announced that there are an additional 14,000 University places available in local, subsidized universities.
This comes as the Singapore Institute of Technology officially became Singapore's newest autonomous university.
SIT now officially joins NUS, NTU, SMU and SUTD to make up the 5 autonomous universities of Singapore.
Heng explained that with the new openings, 30% of each cohort will now be able to enter local universities.
He also wrote about the fact that it is quality as well as quantity: "This expansion is done in a careful way, to match students’ aptitudes. Even as we create more places, we want our students to be able to meet the rigours of the programmes, and at the same time, to make the best use of opportunities as our economy grows and becomes more diverse."
Talking more about the future plans, he said that they are continuing to expand Universities with a goal of providing local Uni spaces for 40% of each cohort by 2020.
"It will take hard work from MOE, our universities and our partners, but it is a most worthwhile goal and I look forward to pouring our energies into this." He wrote.
While promoting the opening of new university places, Heng also advised that Singaporeans should not "chase a piece of paper".
"What is more important is to build deep skills and have the right values that will enable you to succeed in the long haul. Don’t go for short-cuts. Put your heart into learning more about yourself and others around you too, to find out your own strengths, to learn the needs and hopes of others around you, and to build up the truly special things that you have to offer the world." he explained.