Author: Hu Jiemei Xu Xiangyu
In an era of rapid change, enterprises and employees are facing major disruptions, skills are being eliminated at a faster rate, and investment in pre-employment education is no longer sufficient to ensure individual competitiveness in the workplace.
The government has stepped up efforts to promote continuous education and training, so that people in all stages of life can improve themselves according to their needs and aspirations, and advance towards the goal of "lifelong learning participation rate".
In this issue of "Fact Report", we learned from universities, enterprises and office workers what challenges office workers have encountered and what they have gained in this increasingly diversified continuing education market.
More employees choose continuous education and lifelong learning. (Lu Fangkai)
Dr. Wang Deqin, director of Continuing and Professional Education Center of Singapore University of Social Sciences, gave his observations and views on continuing education and training when interviewed by Lianhe Zaobao. He pointed out that a few years ago, colleges and universities generally "pull out" the original courses for adult students to take, which is called adult education. Nowadays, universities and colleges pay more attention to starting from demand, understanding market needs from enterprises, and then designing and launching courses accordingly, aiming to enable students to apply what they have learned in the workplace.
Yueda is a "pioneer" in adult education, originally affiliated to Singapore Institute of Management . The Singapore Institute of Management has been appointed by the government since 1992 to provide open university courses for adults. The institute later established a university department - SIM University. When SIM University was established in 2005, it mainly offered part-time courses for working people. Since 2014, it has also offered full-time bachelor courses.
The Ministry of Education announced in 2016 that SIM University would be upgraded to the sixth public university in my country. It was later renamed SIM University of Social Sciences, focusing on cultivating professionals in the field of social sciences and continuing its position of providing lifelong learning opportunities for working people. Yueda University is regarded as a pioneer in adult education, but in recent years, other tertiary institutions have also stepped up their efforts to promote continuing education.
Continuing education and training courses in colleges and universities reached 13,000 last year
The Ministry of Education pointed out that as of the end of last year, local colleges and universities provided about 13,000 continuing education and training courses, including universities, polytechnics and crafts Part-time courses, post-baccalaureate courses, work-study professional diplomas, and short-term unit courses of SkillsFuture offered by the School of Education. The number of adult students in
colleges and universities has increased from about 168,000 in the 2018 academic year to about 350,000 in the 2020 academic year. The data released by the Singapore Advanced Skills Development Agency this year also reflects that about 660,000 people passed the training programs funded by the Advanced Skills Agency last year, including the "SGUnited" skills improvement program. Last year, more than 247,000 people used training subsidies to offset course fees, about 30% more than the 188,000 the year before.
Wang Deqin believes that Singaporeans are generally a "hard-working" and practical group. "They are concerned about whether they will be helpful in the workplace after taking courses, so we will understand the demand for skills from the industry before designing courses. Now, the entire continuing education and training market is an era in which a hundred flowers are blooming, not only part-time diploma courses, but also unit courses. There are also international online platforms such as Coursera.
"Everyone has different needs and motivations for learning. Some people may think that learning on online platforms is enough to understand the content, but they don't think it is necessary. Take a test or get a certificate. The key is that the trainees have to see the meaning of the training, and different kinds of learning modes can let people get what they need. "
When planning courses, Yueda considers the needs of adult students to take care of other responsibilities, and allows them to spend eight years to complete part-time diploma courses. Wang Deqin pointed out that most lecturers come from related fields, and teaching is a side job. The experience brought into the classroom to ensure that learning keeps pace with the times. The curriculum must also be reviewed and updated every few years, especially the courses in technology.
In order to promote lifelong learning,National University of SingaporeIn 2018, the National University of Singapore launched the "NUS Lifelong Learning Plan", Extend the validity period of alumni's places to 20 years, and encourage them to return to their alma mater for further study after graduation. Professor Liang Huisi, NUS Vice Provost (Master's Program and Lifelong Education), said in an interview that alumni have responded well to the plan. The curriculum is aligned with the blueprint for industry transformation in different fields.
NUS makes use of a variety of teachingThe method provides more practical courses for adult students, combining face-to-face teaching and online formats, which is quite popular. Classroom teaching focuses on allowing students to discuss and communicate with each other and solve practical problems. NUS has also formulated a quality assurance framework and a coordinating committee to ensure the quality of the courses. New courses must be reviewed and approved by the committee before launching. The school will also conduct surveys with the participants after the course, and the feedback can be used to improve the course content.
Huang Jianchang, director of the School of Professionals and Adult Continuing Education under of Singapore Polytechnic, pointed out that the school attaches great importance to the training of teachers. In addition to regularly reviewing work performance with them, it also organizes workshops and seminars for them to support them in adopting the latest technology and Continuing education pedagogy. Popular courses on
include digital and technology, data analysis and digital media courses, etc. Singapore Polytechnic also cooperates with corporate partners, including setting up a training center with Bosch Rexroth in the Jurong Innovation District to support local employees in upgrading their skills.
The Ministry of Education stated that it will support tertiary institutions to develop continuous education and training and become "continuous learning institutes", including reviewing course options and strengthening teachers' capabilities. In addition to providing training subsidies, the Bureau also assists enterprises in enhancing their capabilities, such as launching the "Leadership Program" with industry leaders to promote skills training.
Enterprises cooperate with schools to tailor courses for employees.
Private education institutions are also an important promoter of continuous education and training. In addition to tailoring courses for companies, they also design diverse and convenient learning modes for employees.
Su Huiping, Director of Special Projects and Corporate Development Strategies of NTUC Hengxi, responded to the inquiry of Lianhe Zaobao and said that NTUC Hengxi worked with SMRT to design a set of courses to improve service quality, so that frontline service personnel can understand the needs of passengers with special needs and how to Provide appropriate support.
She pointed out that courses currently popular with adult students include courses related to key core skills proposed by the Advanced Skills Development Bureau, such as adaptability and collaboration skills, and "light technology" courses such as data analysis. This year, NTUC Hengxue launched "technology-heavy" courses such as the basics of programming languages, which are also very popular. "The epidemic has accelerated the digital transformation of various industries, and employers are also recruiting employees with key core competencies and technological skills. Many students enroll in these courses for career advancement or transfer to the technological field."
Chief Learning Officer of Singapore Institute of Management Dr. Yang Wanfu He said that the academy organized a design thinking training course for United Overseas Bank employees last year, as well as helping them understand new financial trends in the industry. The college also offers different learning programs, including on-the-job learning, for personal career advancement and corporate transformation needs.
The year before last year when the epidemic broke out, the enrollment rate of the college’s courses dropped, but last year’s enrollment rate increased by 39%. In addition to digital and industry skills, specialized courses on how to deal with complex problems are also favored.
Enterprise training "leaders" assist peers to improve employee capabilities
On the other hand, enterprises that perform outstandingly in training are also appointed by the government as industry "leaders". Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital was appointed at the end of last year as the SkillsFuture Queen Bee, an enterprise in the field of community nursing (SkillsFuture Queen Bee), to assist peer enterprises in transformation and enhance the professional capabilities of employees.
Guanghui Shiu Liu Hospital Assistant Director Luo Weinian said that the hospital has a special team responsible for designing training courses and promoting a lifelong learning culture in the hospital. In recent years, an average of 60% of hospital staff have completed 20 hours of training each year. He emphasized that on the premise of ensuring that the daily operation is not affected, the hospital encourages employees to participate in training, and introduces multiple modes such as "small block" unit courses, on-the-job training, face-to-face and online courses, to provide convenience for employees as much as possible.
VRCollab, a tech start-up that provides technical software for the construction sector, has its staff attend a training session in the SkillsFuture Industry Leaders program. The content of the training course planned by Boustead Group (Boustead) is about converged digital services, and Boustead is also one of VRCollab's clients. Liu Yurong, president of
VRCollab, said: "The purpose of arranging employee training must be clear, and the content can allow them to apply what they have learned. Some employees have no experience in the construction industry. Participating in courses formulated by customers allows employees to understand the needs of the construction field, and they can better understand the needs of the construction industry. Serve the customer base and support the digitalization of the construction industry."
Huang Shuk-kwan (right) won the Xinyue exam last yearAn honorary degree in psychology from the University of Social Sciences, her husband Xu Zhenyan would drive her to and from her during her work-study period. (Provided by the interviewee)
A stewardess got off the plane and took her luggage to class
After graduating from university, she became a flight attendant. At the age of 32, Huang Shujun returned to school to study psychology and worked while studying. Once she got off the plane, she took her luggage to the university for class, or went straight to the airport after class.
Huang Shujun (38 years old) said with a smile that during that period of work and study, when the plane arrived at the destination, she did not feel as relieved as before, because what was waiting for her was the homework that had to be reviewed. At work, she brings study materials with her and uses her free time to review or complete homework, and it is difficult for her to have the opportunity to go out with colleagues for entertainment.
She majored in Mathematics at university, and went to Singapore University of Social Sciences to study Psychology about 10 years after graduation. From digital to text, she has to adapt to the study of reading and writing articles, and also has to take care of work. It is inevitable that she will give up. But the support of her family allowed her to stick to her ideal and continue to work hard. She obtained an honorary degree in psychology within five years and wore the top hat again last year.
Huang Shujun said in an interview that in the 10th year of working as a flight attendant, she began to think about the future direction and decided to study in the field she is passionate about. Interested in counseling and concerned about mental health, she chose to study psychology. At that time, she received a bonus for reaching a certain number of years of service, and she felt that she should make good use of it and enrich herself.
She jokingly said that as long as she thought that the tuition fee was not cheap, she never thought of dropping out of school no matter how tired she was. The company also has a sponsorship program for employees who want to further their education to apply, which helps cover part of her tuition.
classes are scheduled in the evening, and she usually has two days a week to go back to the university for classes. Some units have online learning content. For Huang Shujun, face-to-face communication is indispensable for learning to achieve better results. Universities also put class content online for students who miss class or want to revisit the content.
She said: "Part-time work-study taught me self-discipline. I have to arrange my schedule and finish it on time after work. When there is a conflict between the work schedule and the class time, I try to find someone to change shifts. Fortunately, there is technology. If you miss class, I can still study by myself. In order to reduce the absence of classes, I sometimes go to class with my luggage after returning from a business trip. I will be tired if I am tired, but as long as I think of the goal, I will be motivated to move forward.”
Huang Shujun said frankly that during that period, there was little I have gained a lot of joy in life, so I am very grateful to my husband for his understanding. The husband is a considerate driver, who takes her home after class, sometimes helps her carry her luggage, and drives to the university to pick her up at the airport to start work.
Part-time work and part-study is not easy, but she feels that she has gained a lot, and the knowledge she has acquired can open up more opportunities for her future career planning.
After Liu Qiuxia was laid off last year, she enrolled in five short-term courses offered by NTUC to add value to herself. (Provided by the interviewee)
The manager told the child: Mom also needs to "tutor"
Last April, she said "golden farewell" to the multinational company she had served for 17 years. Liu Qiuxia, whose self-esteem was hurt, came to the intersection of her life.
Choosing the choice between slumping and starting all over again, she resolutely chose the latter and returned to the classroom to equip herself with new knowledge and skills. In December of the same year, she was hired by another multinational company and also won a better salary package.
Liu Qiuxia, 44, previously worked as the Asia-Pacific regional operations manager for an American multinational test and measurement company. Although she guessed that the company was going to lay off employees, she didn't expect that she would be laid off along with her team, and she was shocked in her heart. "I used to travel abroad on behalf of the company, set up regional offices and participate in exhibitions. I was used to the challenges and excitement brought by work. I was suddenly at home and felt very vulnerable and depressed. I also worried about the financial situation at home."
Liu Qiuxia With her husband who is a marketing manager, they have two sons who are 8 and 12 years old. After two months of rest, she decided to return to the workplace, but in two or three months, she sent nearly a hundred cover letters to no avail.
She decided to rethink her strategy, so she consulted with the course consultant of NTUC Constant Learning to discuss which skills should be improved and how to use her experience in operations, customer service, marketing and project management to plan her career path.
About half a year later, she enrolled in five short-term courses jointly organized by NTUC and professional training partners, including workplace management and flexible coping skills, project management, digital marketing and data analysis, to master transferable skills and add value to herself. point.
Put down your figure and study hard
Since most of her classmates are working people, the biggest challenge for her is to let go of her figure and bravely face her unemployed status. "As an adult student, you need to adjust your learning attitude. The more homework you do before class, the more you will gain in class." In addition to properly planning her time and taking care of her homework and family,
also made good use of the marketing skills she learned. Use specific words to highlight your strengths when writing your resume and updating job networking sites, and reach out to recruiters proactively. At the end of last year, Liu Qiuxia was selected by a headhunting company and joined a British multinational company that manufactures parts as the Asia-Pacific regional marketing manager and is also responsible for promoting the digital marketing platform. When
stood up again after being unemployed, Liu Qiuxia's biggest inspiration was to be brave enough to ask for help when encountering setbacks. "At the beginning of the course, I told the children that just like they go to cram school, mothers also need 'teaching'. Only by learning new knowledge and moving forward will there be new opportunities."
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