The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and SIM University (UniSIM) will launch new SkillsFuture Work-Study Degree Programmes in selected growth sectors this year. These new programmes will feature increased employer involvement, and are co-developed and co-delivered with 12 partner companies. The 12 companies comprise a mix of local companies (including small and medium-sized enterprises), Multi-National Corporations (MNCs), and government agencies.

SIT’s programmes will be in information security, software engineering, hospitality business, electrical power engineering, and civil engineering, while UniSIM’s programmes will be in finance and business analytics. Most of these programmes will start during the second half of 2017, with about 65 places available.

Distinct Advantage

In these new SkillsFuture Work-Study Degree Programmes, employers will play a more involved role in developing the talent pipeline for their industry. The role of the employer will include the following:

• Jointly assessing, with SIT or UniSIM, the placement of potential candidates on these programmes
• Co-designing the programme curriculum with universities to align the curriculum content with industry needs.
• Co-delivering the programmes by mentoring and guiding student-trainees in the workplace through structured On-the-Job Training (OJT) curricula. This will allow students to apply and extend knowledge acquired in the classroom with skills required at the workplace
• Assessing the student-trainees during their OJT based on feedback from their mentors, with some of these OJT forming credit-bearing portions of the programme.

See: Targeting More Than 400 Placements under the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme in 2017

Students will benefit from the experience in the following ways:

• During their undergraduate studies, they will spend a significant amount of time alternating between working in companies and studying on campus, thereby gaining useful working experience relevant to their industry of choice.
• They will be given a stronger grounding of theory in real work environment, making them more effective and job-ready upon graduation.
• While learning in school and applying theory at work, they will be supported by their companies. This may include, for example, tuition fee sponsorship, stipends, and sign-on bonuses.
• They gain the opportunity to learn more about and be part of the company’s work culture.
• They may be offered career opportunities with the partner company upon graduation.

When assessing candidates for entry to these new SkillsFuture Work-Study Degree Programmes, individual companies may also look out for specific qualities such as passion for the industry, good leadership track records, and performance in entrance tests. While the programmes are meant to target mainly current undergraduates, they are also open to in-employment staff.

The list of participating companies and details on the new SkillsFuture Work-Study Degree programmes are available here.

Also read: Singapore Budget 2017: Heng Swee Keat to Help Workers with New Skills Training and E-Learning Courses

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