In Singapore, the narrow definition of success usually includes which schools you managed to enter, and which university you graduated from.
In 2000, about 20% of each cohort of about 35,000 students (born in the same year) managed to enter the 3 publicly-funded universities – NUS, NTU and SMU.
By 2020, over 40% of each cohort will enter publicly-funded universities.
Many of the new university places opened up because they were offered by the Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore University of Technology and Design, and the Singapore Institute of Technology.
These institutions were established to offer niche degrees to polytechnic graduates.
Another 15 to 30% of each cohort will earn their degrees from non government-funded universities, made available by the numerous readily-available private institutions in Singapore. This would total to 55% and up to 70% of each cohort receiving a university degree.