The Institute of Technical Education (ITE), together with NTUC, has committed to upskill their staff and sharpen the work-readiness of their students.
The educational institution signed two memoranda of understanding (MOU), witnessed by NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng, affirming this on 13 October 2020.
The first MOU, signed by ITE, the Union of the ITE Training Staff (UITS) and the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees (AUPE), will see an them set up a company training committee (CTC).
The second MOU, signed between ITE, NTUC Club, and NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute), will see the three entities collaborating to nurture students holistically.
Both MOUs aim to develop people through training initiatives co-developed with staff unions and youth programmes that provide work exposure and promote character building.
The ITE-Union CTC will provide a platform for ITE and its staff union to keep abreast of emerging skills and technology, and identify developmental needs and learning opportunities for staff.
It will also complement ITE’s Staff Capability Development Framework, which consists competency programmes specific to ITE staff.
The CTC will focus on three priorities such as skills relevance, workforce agility and lifelong learning.
In collaboration with NTUC Club and e2i, ITE will focus in areas such as student internships, learning journeys and job placement services.
The partners will also work on Youth Club leadership and character-building initiatives under nEbO’s Headstart programme.
Through NTUC Club’s extended network of unionised companies, ITE students will be offered internships for a duration of up to six months. It will also source for individuals to participate in ITE’s CET courses where relevant.
Meanwhile, e2i will help facilitate the job placement services, learning journeys, seminars or workshops for eligible students to help increase their job prospects.
nEbO will partner the ITE Youth Club to develop a series of leadership and character-building programmes that may further enhance the students’ soft skills.
In response to the signing, Mr Ng said: “While we continue to introduce CTCs with our partners, it is also important to take the lead in providing the students with internship opportunities and cultivate their spirit of learning and development.”
He also said that e2i will continue to assist members in matching their broad skillsets with available jobs as the ecosystem manager for the NTUC Job Security Council.
“Whatever your age, NTUC will be here for you,” he said.
