SINGAPORE: As more workers seek to update their skills, SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) – the statutory board tasked to coordinate and promote lifelong learning – is looking to improve standards in the training and adult education (TAE) industry.
A transformation plan for the sector was launched on Thursday (Nov 3) targeting three areas: Changing business models, strengthening technological infrastructure and building manpower.
Speaking at the Adult Learning Symposium, Education Minister (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung said: “As TAE providers, you will have to rethink your own business models. Many of you know that businesses and individuals are now looking for more than trainers or subject matter experts.
“TAE professionals must be able to understand the challenges of businesses, their skills requirement, and play a part to help them raise their game.”
Aside from existing measures which TAE providers can tap on, the plan called on providers to review their current business strategies and operating models against the skills and manpower needs of the industries they serve.
A Training Exchange platform will be set up by the end of 2017 to publish training outcomes and quality indicators of individual providers who receive direct funding.
To help TAE providers become more operationally efficient, SSG will be developing a National Training Management System. This system, to be ready in 2018, will help relieve cumbersome administrative procedures for providers.
As for addressing the sector’s manpower skill needs, the plan called on providers to encourage continuous learning and professionalisation among its pool of adult educators and trainers.
The range of certifiable programmes offered by Institute for Adult Learning has also been broadened to include four Masters programmes.
More recognition will also be given to those in the industry through initiatives like the SkillsFuture Study Award, which will be made available to TAE professionals, and the Adult Educators’ Professionalisation initiative launched last year to recognise adult educators with different levels of skills and experiences.
“As the SkillsFuture movement gathers momentum, a high-quality TAE sector is critical in providing Singaporeans with a wide range of training opportunities to effectively re-skill and up-skill themselves,” said SSG Chief Executive Ng Cher Pong.
