It took home the 'Best International Marketing Effort' at the annual Singapore Education Award ceremony on Thursday evening at the Raffles Hotel.

The awards recognise education institutions and individuals who have succeeding in attracting foreigners and moving Singapore closer to its goal of becoming a 'global schoolhouse'.

Eighteen individuals and organisations received awards from Minister of State for Trade and Industry Lee Yi Shyan.

Mr Lee said Singapore is becoming a popular and preferred study destination for international students, whose number here has risen from 86,000 in 2007 to 97,000 last year.

But more important than quantitative growth is qualitative growth of the education sector, said Mr Lee.

'Our education providers must continue to invest in content development, pedagogy research and industry exchanges to enhance the total learning experience of the students,' he said.

He added that the Private Education Bill, to be introduced later this year, will raise standards of private education institutions here.