National University of Singapore Act

(CHAPTER 204)

(Original Enactment: Act 21 of 1980)

REVISED EDITION 1985

(30th March 1987)

An Act to give effect to the merger of the University of Singapore and the Nanyang University by the establishment and incorporation of the National University of Singapore and for matters connected therewith.

Whereas the University of Singapore was established and incorporated by the University of Singapore Act [1970 Ed., Cap, 181] and the Nanyang University was established and incorporated by the Nanyang University Act [1970 Ed., Cap, 178]:

And Whereas it is desirable for the better development of university education in Singapore that the University of Singapore and the Nanyang University be merged as one institution to be known as the National University of Singapore.

[8th August 1980]

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the National University of Singapore Act.

Interpretation

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —

“Council” means the Council of the University;

“officer” has the same meaning as in the University Constitution;

“Nanyang University” means the Nanyang University established by the Nanyang University Act, repealed by this Act;

“University” means the National University of Singapore established and incorporated by this Act;

“University Constitution” means the Constitution of the University;

“University of Singapore” means the University of Singapore established by the University of Singapore Act, repealed by this Act.

Establishment and incorporation of National University of Singapore

3.—(1) There is hereby established a University to be known as the National University of Singapore which shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal and shall, by that name, be capable of —

(a)	suing and being sued;
(b)	acquiring, owning, holding and developing or disposing of property, both movable and immovable; and
(c)	doing and suffering all such other acts or things as bodies corporate may lawfully do and suffer.

(2) The full name of the University shall be the National University of Singapore (incorporating the University of Singapore and the Nanyang University) and the University may use its full name for such purposes as it thinks fit.

Common seal

4.—(1) The common seal of the University shall be kept in such custody as the Council directs.

(2) All deeds, documents and other instruments requiring the seal of the University shall be sealed with the common seal of the University, and the instruments to which the common seal is affixed shall be signed by the Vice-Chancellor or a Deputy Vice-Chancellor and by another member of the Council.

(3) All courts, judges and persons acting judicially shall take judicial notice of the common seal of the University affixed to any document and shall presume that it was duly affixed.

Functions and powers of University

5.—(1) The functions of the University shall include —

(a)	the provision in Singapore of educational facilities at university standards for persons enrolled therein;
(b)	the advancement and dissemination of knowledge and the promotion of research and scholarship; and
(c)	the conferring and awarding of degrees, diplomas and certificates, including honorary degrees and other distinctions.

(2) The University may, for the purpose of discharging its functions —

(a)	provide such facilities for its students as it considers desirable;
(b)	institute professorships, lectureships and other posts and offices and make appointments thereto;
(c)	regulate conditions of service of officers and employees of the University, including schemes of service, salary scales, leave and discipline;
(d)	provide for pension or superannuation or provident fund schemes for the benefit of officers or employees of the University;
(e)	fix, demand and receive fees and other charges;
(f)	promote the formation of or acquire any interest in any undertaking; and
(g)	do all such things as may be necessary, incidental or conducive to the attainment of all or any of its functions and powers.

Constitution of University

6.—(1) The University shall be governed by the provisions of the University Constitution set out in the First Schedule.

(2) The Minister may, on the advice of the Council, amend the University Constitution by order published in the Gazette.

(3) Statutes and regulations of the University made under the University Constitution shall not be deemed to be subsidiary legislation.

Grants-in-aid

7.—(1) The Minister for Finance shall pay to the University such moneys as may be provided by Parliament from time to time as grants-in-aid to the University.

(2) All moneys paid to the University under subsection (1) may be applied or expended by the University for all or any of the purposes of the University.

Accounts and financial statements

8.—(1) The University shall keep proper accounts and records of its transactions and affairs and shall do all things necessary to ensure that all payments out of its moneys are correctly made and properly authorised and that adequate control is maintained over the assets of, or in the custody of, the University and over the expenditure incurred by the University.

(2) The University shall, as soon as practicable after the close of each financial year, prepare and submit financial statements in respect of that year to the auditor of the University.

Audit of accounts

9.—(1) The accounts of the University shall be audited by the Auditor-General or such other auditor as may be appointed annually by the Minister in consultation with the Auditor-General.

(2) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as an auditor under subsection (1) unless he is an approved company auditor under the Companies Act [Cap. 50].

(3) The auditor or any person authorised by him shall be entitled at all reasonable times to full and free access to all accounting and other records relating directly or indirectly to the financial transactions of the University.

(4) The auditor shall in his report state —

(a)	whether the financial statements show fairly the financial transactions and the state of affairs of the University;
(b)	whether proper accounting and other records have been kept, including records of all assets of the University whether purchased, donated or otherwise;
(c)	whether the receipts, expenditure and investment of moneys, and the acquisition and disposal of assets by the University during the financial year were in accordance with the provisions of this Act; and
(d)	such other matters arising from the audit as he considers necessary.

(5) The auditor shall, as soon as practicable after the accounts have been submitted for audit, send a report of his audit to the University. He shall also submit such periodical and special reports to the Minister and to the University as may appear to him to be necessary or as the Minister or the University may require.

Presentation of audited financial statements and auditor’s report to Parliament

10.—(1) The University shall, as soon as the accounts of the University and the financial statements have been audited in accordance with the provisions of this Act, send to the Minister a copy of the audited financial statements, signed by the Vice-Chancellor and the Bursar, together with a copy of the auditor’s report.

(2) Where the Auditor-General is not the auditor of the University, a copy of the audited financial statements and any report made by the auditor shall be forwarded to the Auditor-General when they are submitted to the University.

(3) The Minister shall as soon as practicable cause a copy of the audited financial statements and of the auditor’s report referred to in subsection (1) to be presented to Parliament.

Annual report

11.—(1) The University shall, as soon as practicable after the end of each academic year, submit to the Minister an annual report of the activities of the University during that year.

(2) The Minister shall as soon as practicable cause a copy of every such report to be presented to Parliament.

[11

Grant and acquisition of land for purposes of University

12.—(1) The President may by order grant to the University any State land for the purposes of the University subject to such restrictions, conditions and prohibitions relating to the use, occupation or disposition of the land as may be specified in the order.

[7/83]

(2) Where any immovable property, not being State land, is needed for the purposes of the University, the University may request and the President may if he thinks fit direct the acquisition of that immovable property; in such a case the immovable property may be acquired in accordance with the provisions of any written law relating to the acquisition of land for a public purpose, and any declaration required to be made under any such written law that the property is so needed may be made (notwithstanding that compensation is to be paid out of the funds of the University) and the declaration shall have effect as if it were a declaration that the property is needed for a public purpose made in accordance with that written law

(3) Expenses and compensation in respect of any immovable property acquired under subsection (2) shall be paid by the University.

(4) All State land granted or immovable property acquired under this section shall vest in the University and an entry to that effect shall be made in the appropriate register by the appropriate registering authority.

(5) ^*No compulsory acquisition of any immovable property before 15th April 1983 shall be called in question in any court on the ground that the acquisition was not in compliance with subsection (2) as in force before that date.

[12

^*See section 3 of the Statutes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1983 (No. 7 of 1983).

Application of Societies Act to student bodies

13.—(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Societies Act [Cap. 311], the provisions of that Act shall have effect in relation to the National University of Singapore Students’ Union and its constituent bodies constituted in accordance with the University Constitution.

(2) The appropriate Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, exempt the National University of Singapore Students’ Union and any of its constituent bodies from all or any of the provisions of the Societies Act subject to such conditions as may be specified in the order.

Protection of benefits under University provident fund scheme

14. The provisions of the Second Schedule shall apply to any provident fund scheme established by the University under the provisions of the University Constitution or any provident fund scheme continued in force by any rules made under section 17.

Transfer of property and staff to University

15. The provisions of the Third Schedule shall have effect for the purpose of the transfer to the University of property and staff of the University of Singapore and the Nanyang University and for other transitional purposes specified in that Schedule.

Construction of contracts, gifts, etc.

16. On and after the commencement of this Act, any reference to the University of Singapore or the Nanyang University contained in any contract, agreement, bequest, will, trust or other instrument shall have effect as if it were a reference to the University.

Rules relating to transitional provisions

17.—(1) The Minister may make rules —

(a)	to provide for the continuance in force of any provident fund scheme established and administered by the University of Singapore and to impose upon the University all or any of the obligations or duties in respect of such provident fund scheme;
(b)	to provide for the removal of any difficulty which may arise by reason of the establishment of the University and the dissolution of the University of Singapore and the Nanyang University; and
(c)	generally for the purpose of effecting the transition from the University of Singapore and the Nanyang University to the University, including the initial appointments of the Vice-Chancellor, Deans of Faculties and heads of institutions and appointments to the first Council.

(2) Any rules made under subsection (1) shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the University Constitution.

Repeal

18.—(1) The University of Singapore Act [1970 Ed., Cap. 181] and the Nanyang University Act [1970 Ed., Cap. 178] are repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, the University of Singapore and the Nanyang University and the Senates and Boards of Examiners of those Universities will continue to exist, and the officers of those Universities will continue to hold office, for the purpose of granting or conferring degrees and diplomas —

(a)	to students of the academic year 1979-1980 who have passed the examinations conducted by those Universities for the award of degrees and diplomas; and
(b)	to higher degree students who have passed their examinations provided their theses or dissertations were submitted on or before 30th June 1980.

(3) For the purpose of subsection (2)(a), the University of Singapore and the Nanyang University may, within 6 months after the commencement of this Act, continue to conduct supplementary examinations to be taken by students of the academic year 1979-1980 which will qualify them for the award of degrees and diplomas of those Universities.

(4) The provisions of the Fourth Schedule shall have effect in relation to all persons whose names are on the register of the Guild of Graduates of the University of Singapore and all persons whose names are on the register of the Guild of Graduates of the Nanyang University and to the register of subscribers of the Nanyang University.

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