page_title: Changi University
section_title: Background
hierarchical_section_title: Changi University / Background
caption_attribution_description: English: Sketch - Selarang Barracks Changi Singapore - before WW2
context_page_description: Changi University is the nickname given to a program of education for prisoners of war in the Changi Prisoner of War camp in Singapore during World War II. The program's aims were to raise the morale of the prisoners of war and mitigate boredom.
context_section_description: After the capture of Singapore by the Japanese during World War 2, all allied prisoners of war (PoWs) were sent to Changi Prison which for the PoWs included part of the adjacent military Selerang Barracks. Allied civilian prisoners, men, women and children were kept inside the Changi Prison, while the PoWs were kept in the surrounding barracks.
  The 15 Feb 1942 surrender resulted in the imprisoning of over 45,000 allied prisoners of war, including approximately 15,000 Australian PoWs. Due to the large number of PoWs and interned civilian prisoners, there was a need to maintain morale and mitigate boredom.
  An education program was initiated within 4 days of the allied capitulation. Within 3 weeks of the men becoming PoWs and moving to Changi as prisoners, Brigadier Harold Burfield Taylor of AIF Headquarters initiated an extensive range of education classes for the PoWs. The AIF Education Unit was unofficially dubbed the "Changi University" by PoWs and others.  Taylor became known as the Chancellor. Captain Adrian Curlewis, a Barrister,  was one of the key people who implement the program, became known Dean of Law.
  A booklet from the War Office in London, “The Soldier’s Welfare”, had been issued in 1941 and sent to all unit welfare officers. It suggestioned for sports and games, entertainment, and education.  While the booklet was targeted at enlisted men on active service, its advice was particularly pertinent to PoWs.  Changi PoWs began using sport, entertainment and the extensive education of "Changi University" organised with its well resourced library.
caption: Seralang Barracks Changi, before WW2, designed for 600, housed thousands of PoWs.
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