By Fawwaz Baktee
As part of an effort to advance the professional development of Singapore’s workforce in preparation for future challenges, NTUC will be raising $50 million for its NTUC-Education and Training Fund (NETF), while the Government is committed to tripling the amount and provide an additional grant of up to $150 million.
This was announced by Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong in his May Day Rally speech held at Downtown East on 1 May 2016.
The investment income from the $200 million will be used to fund course fees subsidies aimed at helping workers, including professionals, managers, executives (PMEs), upgrade and reskill.
NTUC said: “As the workforce evolves, it is crucial that the Labour Movement evolves in tandem. The Labour Movement sees the importance of meeting the changing needs and aspirations of our working people to pursue career development opportunities.”
NTUC added that it will tap into its network of unions, U Associates, partners and NTUC Social Enterprises to mobilise workers to upgrade and reskill for better jobs.
NTU-NTUC Collaboration
NTUC also said it will collaborate with suitable institutes of higher learning (IHLs) to bring relevant courses to all working people looking to upgrade to fulfil their career aspirations. The first collaboration will be between NTUC and Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
Through NTU’s upcoming College of Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE), workers will be provided with 28 Technology Enabled Learning (TEL) courses that were jointly identified by NTUC and NTU.
For a start, workers will be able to take up part-time modular courses for key growth sectors such as Biomedical Instrumentation, Data Analytics, Digital Electronics, Nanomaterials fundamentals and applications, and advanced Molecular Genetics. The 13-week courses will commence in August this year.
NTUC Secretary-General Chan Chun Sing said: “This is the first time that NTUC is collaborating with an IHL. We believe such a partnership creates a win-win-win outcome for working adults, the NTU and the Labour Movement.
“With strong support from the Government, this collaboration will encourage more working people to embrace continuous lifelong learning as the economy transforms. We hope to work with more IHLs to bring an even wider range of courses to prepare our workers for future opportunities.”
NTUC said it aims to reach 30,000 people per year and plans to identify courses according to the needs of workers.
NTU’s Senior Associate Provost (Undergraduate Education) Professor Kam Chan Hin said: “TEL enables participants to learn wherever, whenever and however they want, using any device. TEL will provide a rich source of data on student learning and facilitate high-quality, individualised feedback between the professors and learners.”
Funding for Courses
For courses under this partnership, union members are eligible for a $250 subsidy under the Union Training Assistance Programme on top of the $500 SkillsFuture Credit provided by the Government.
Source: NTUC This Week
