NTUC LearningHub Announces New Partnership and Training Programmes to Elevate Singapore’s Tourism Sector
• Forging new partnership between NTUC LearningHub and Tourism Management Institute of Singapore to launch six courses for tourism professionals
• Announcement of Curated Training Series as part of the refreshed Tourism Careers Hub initiative to equip tourism workforce with in-demand and emerging skills
• Unveiling new ‘NTUC LearningHub for Tourism’ brand identity to champion Singapore’s tourism sector
Singapore, 16 November 2023 – NTUC LearningHub (NTUC LHUB) enters into a partnership with the Tourism Management Institute of Singapore (TMIS) to launch a series of new courses in support of the tourism sector. In addition, NTUC LHUB announces a Curated Training Series for in-demand and emerging skills under the Tourism Careers Hub initiative, and unveils the new ‘NTUC LearningHub for Tourism’ brand identity to champion the sector through continuous skills development. These announcements were made at the “Reskilling for the New Tourism Economy” event held at Sentosa Golf Club, which was graced by Guest-of-Honour Mr Desmond Tan, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).
New Courses for Tourism Professionals to Acquire In-Demand and Emerging Skills
Under the NTUC LHUB and TMIS partnership, four new professional certificate courses and two specialised courses will be rolled out to help professionals upskill in various areas of tourism namely sustainability, holistic wellness, regenerative tourism, as well as digital and technological enhancements for tourism. The four professional certificate courses are Certificate in Green Butlering, Certificate in Hosting in a Sustainable Environment, Certificate in Sustainable Tourism Product and Services Development and Certificate in Digital Marketing (Travel Services), and the two specialised courses are Wellness Travel: Sleep Tourism and Foundations in Asian Spirits. Refer to Annex A for more information on these courses.
Designed with insights from Singapore’s tourism industry experts, the courses are aimed at addressing the growing trend in wellness tourism1, and the need for the industry to integrate sustainability2 and digital technologies. Through hands-on demonstrations and practicum, professionals can acquire in-demand and emerging skills to develop and manage tourism products and services. In addition, the four professional certificate courses also provide learners with a stackable credential pathway, where they can choose to take individual modules to obtain a Statement of Attainment (SOA) which will be reflected in their MySkillsFuture’s Skills Passport or stack the few modules to obtain a certificate jointly issued by NTUC LHUB and TMIS, which can be used towards advanced qualification for diploma courses offered by TMIS.
Dr Steven Chua, CEO of TMIS, said, “We are seeing an increasing demand for wellness tourism and sustainable services from international travellers to Singapore, as well as the use of technology and digital tools within the sector. While tourism professionals will certainly face challenges in trying to keep pace with the changing preferences, it also provides opportunities for Singapore’s tourism industry to rejuvenate itself with new offerings and options for discerning travellers. By leveraging the strengths of both parties – the industry expertise of the Tourism Management Institute of Management, and the reach of NTUC LearningHub among Singapore’s workforce and the quality of curriculum delivery, we aim to empower our tourism professionals to keep themselves abreast of the latest developments in the global tourism industry and contribute to the rejuvenation of Singapore’s tourism sector.”
Curated Training Series Under the Tourism Careers Hub Initiative
NTUC LHUB also announces a Curated Training Series for in-demand and emerging skills under the Tourism Careers Hub (TCH) initiative. Launched in January 2022, TCH is an initiative led by the Singapore Tourism Board, together with partners from NTUC and the five Tourism Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs)3. This tripartite partnership aims to provide job support for displaced workers, develop manpower capabilities and drive workforce and business transformation within the tourism sector. TCH is a single integrated touchpoint comprising a network of employers, government agencies, unions, trade associations, NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) and NTUC LearningHub to render proactive employment and employability assistance to all tourism workers and businesses.
Within the Curated Training Series, NTUC LHUB will develop training courses under three key pillars of the refreshed TCH initiative, namely Technological Enablers, Sustainability and Service Experience Excellence. For a start, three of NTUC LHUB’s current courses will be placed under two pillars, with more courses for all three pillars to be available in 2024:
- Technological Enablers: Digital Event Strategist Certification Course and Technical Meeting & Event Production Course
- Sustainability: Certified Sustainable Event Advocate Certification Programme
Ms Dong Limin, Director, Tourism Capital & Sustainability of Singapore Tourism Board, said, “When we started the Tourism Careers Hub initiative, we were focused primarily on placement and recruitment, offering support to workers in their job search and tourism firms in filling their vacancies. With a good level of achievement in placement, we are now channelling our focus to helping the workforce upskill with in-demand and emerging skills to meet the needs of the tourism industry. With that, we are excited to have NTUC LearningHub onboard as our partner to curate a series of courses for the refreshed Tourism Careers Hub. We believe that the quality of NTUC LearningHub’s delivery of curriculum will be pivotal in helping to elevate the skills of our tourism workforce, to build a resilient and future-ready workforce.”
Mr Jeremy Ong, CEO of NTUC LearningHub, said, “NTUC LearningHub is proud to be at the forefront of training for in-demand and emerging skills in various sectors, including tourism. Our partnership with the Tourism Management Institute of Singapore and our contributions to the Tourism Careers Hub initiative demonstrate our unwavering commitment to collaborate closely with key players in the industry, alongside government agencies and the Labour Movement to develop programmes that will help to elevate the professionalism of the tourism workforce in the new economy. Ultimately, we hope to help Singapore establish itself as a top tourism destination of choice through a skilled workforce that seeks to constantly reinvent and rejuvenate the sector.”
Championing Singapore’s Tourism Sector Through New Brand Identity
To reinforce NTUC LHUB’s commitment to the tourism sector, the sector branding for tourism, titled “NTUC LearningHub for Tourism”, is also unveiled today. The brand logo features a triumvirate to reflect a collaborative approach that represents employers, along with learners and partners to transform together, and drive skills training and continued employability of workers in the sector. Refer to Annex B for more information on the brand identity.
Mr Desmond Tan, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress, said, “I am heartened that NTUC LearningHub is driving initiatives with tripartite partners to launch new training programmes and champion lifelong learning in the tourism sector. NTUC LearningHub is well-poised to pave the way in helping workers to take on new or redesigned jobs by equipping them with industry-relevant and future-ready skills. Through close collaboration with leading partners in the tourism sector and leveraging the Labour Movement network, as well as through NTUC Company Training Committees, NTUC LearningHub will be able to help our workers in the tourism sector secure better jobs and work prospects through continuous upskilling and reskilling.”
Mr Ong adds, “The launch of the tourism sector brand is part of NTUC LearningHub’s refreshed strategy that is hyper-focused on evolving with the changing economic landscape. By having a distinct and unique brand identity for the tourism sector, it will help NTUC LearningHub to better position itself as an active contributor to the sector.”
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[1] Wellness economy is projected to reach nearly USD$7.0 trillion in 2025: https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/press-room/statistics-and-facts/
[2] About 51.5 to 61.6 million visitors are interested in travelling to Singapore in a sustainable manner over the next decade: https://www.stb.gov.sg/content/stb/en/assistance-and-licensing/tsp.html
[3] The 5 TACs are the Association of Singapore Attractions (ASA), National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS), Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS), Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) and Society of Tourist Guides Singapore (STGS)
