Drake University to launch Ed.D. leadership program in Singapore

Drake University will begin offering its Doctor of Education in Leadership in Singapore in fall 2026 through a new partnership with Nanyang Science and Technology College. The hybrid program expands Drake’s transnational education footprint in Asia and is approved by Singapore’s SkillsFuture Singapore and the U.S. Higher Learning Commission.

Why it matters: - The Singapore launch gives Drake University a new foothold in Asia for doctoral education. - The program is designed for educators and leaders across the region who want a U.S.-accredited doctorate without relocating to Iowa. - Drake’s expansion adds to a growing network of programs in China, Panama and South Korea.

What happened: - Drake University will launch its Doctor of Education in Leadership program in Singapore in fall 2026. - The program will run in partnership with Nanyang Science and Technology College, a private education institution in Singapore. - The first student cohort is set to begin in fall 2026. - Students can apply by contacting admission@nstc.edu.sg or visiting Drake’s Singapore program page.

The details: - The program has been approved by Singapore’s SkillsFuture Singapore and by the U.S.-based Higher Learning Commission. - Drake will deliver the program through a hybrid model that combines online coursework with in-person sessions. - The degree is structured as a 36-month program, with an accelerated path that can shorten completion to as few as 21 months. - Drake faculty will teach the curriculum. - The program is aimed at students across Asia. - Drake says the curriculum prepares graduates for leadership roles with globally recognized skills. - Drake’s School of Education has long offered a campus-based Ed.D. in Leadership that focuses on leadership, theory, ethics, technology, program evaluation and research methods.

Between the lines: - The Singapore program extends Drake’s transnational education strategy beyond single-campus recruiting. - The hybrid format suggests the university is targeting working professionals who need flexibility. - Drake is using overseas partnerships to create new degree pathways while keeping academic control with Drake faculty. - The school is also signaling that its global growth strategy is tied to leadership training, not only undergraduate expansion.

What’s next: - Drake will enroll its first Singapore cohort in fall 2026. - The university plans to keep expanding international programs, including a data analytics and AI program in Panama City, Panama, in fall 2027. - Drake also plans to open a third cohort semester study abroad site in Seoul, South Korea, in spring 2027, joining existing locations in Spain and England. - Drake’s global portfolio already includes QU-Drake United College in Qingdao, China, where 337 first- and second-year students are enrolled in dual-degree programs.

The bottom line: - Drake University is turning Singapore into its latest launch point for global graduate education, with a doctorate designed to blend U.S. accreditation, Asian access and flexible delivery.