SINGAPORE: Polytechnic graduates who need to refresh their knowledge can soon do so by taking up Enhanced Post-Diploma Certificate courses, announced Senior Minister of State for Education Indranee Rajah on Monday (May 18).
The courses are targeted at mid-career workers and those who may have pursued a job unrelated to their field of study. The programme will be offered by all five polytechnics, starting from October.
This is part of the SkillsFuture initiative, to enable individuals to reach their full potential, regardless of their starting points.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony at Temasek Polytechnic, Ms Indranee said: “While your diploma prepares you well to embark on careers in related fields, those who had not done so immediately after graduation, whether to serve National Service, or to pursue jobs in other fields, found it daunting to return to the field for which they were trained. This was particularly so for fast-moving industries like the IT sector.”
The new courses aim to address this. They will be more intensive and run for shorter durations, of about one to two months.
Ms Indranee said polytechnic graduates who wish to re-enter the industry for which they were trained will be equipped with relevant skills in a much shorter time.
Singaporeans who had graduated for at least two years from a relevant polytechnic diploma and are taking up the course for the first time only need to pay an administrative fee of S$50.
The Enhanced Post-Diploma Certificate courses will be conducted twice a year, with classes starting in July and October each year. The courses can also be used for credit exemption and count towards the attainment of corresponding Advanced or Specialised Diplomas.
For a start, the five polytechnics will launch 10 courses in areas such as applied sciences, maritime, engineering and IT.
news source & image credits: channelnewsasia.com
