22/11/2019

New Programme Aims To Train 300 Smart Estates Talent

SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), with support from the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), launched a new programme today, to train 300 Singaporeans to support the development of the Smart Estates ecosystem in Singapore. Known as the Smart Estates Talent Development Programme (SETDP), the initiative was announced by Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Manpower, Ms Low Yen Ling.

Smart Estates Talent Development Programme

Singapore’s Smart Estates ecosystem will require companies to develop new capabilities, supported by new and emerging skills and competencies across the Built Environment value chain, to design, build and maintain estates of the future.

To address this, SSG and IMDA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with CapitaLand, CPG Corporation, EM Services, the Singapore International Facility Management Association (SIFMA), Singapore Polytechnic (SP), the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), and Temasek Polytechnic (TP), to co-develop and pilot the SETDP. The programme is also aligned with the Built Environment cluster transformation goals to upskill and develop workforce capabilities for a strong Singaporean core.

SSG and IMDA will partner CapitaLand, CPG Corporation and EM Services to redesign jobs and skills to support the Smart Estates ecosystem. The three firms, together with SIFMA, will also work with SIT, SP and TP to jointly develop a training curriculum to build new Smart Estates capabilities, establish new industry standards and equip the workforce with relevant skills and competencies.

Aligned to various Skills Frameworks, including the upcoming Skills Framework for Built Environment, participants will benefit from a cross-disciplinary and skills-based curriculum that will deepen their skills in design, development and management of Smart Estates through a combination of classroom training, blended learning, on-the-job training and mentorship. The pilot run of the SETDP will start in 2020.

Following the pilot run, SETDP will be introduced to the wider industry, including Small and Medium Enterprises, in partnership with industry partners like SIFMA, to enable them to build up and expand their capabilities.

Smart Estates Talent Playbook

As part of the SETDP, SSG and IMDA, together with knowledge partner, Eden Strategy Institute, have also developed a Smart Estates Talent Playbook. This serves as a reference to help companies upskill their workforce, redesign jobs and build up their talent pool. Based on a global scan of emerging areas in Smart Estates development, the Playbook incorporates future scenarios of how emerging technologies and changing consumer demands for Smart Estates may change the way businesses operate and bring new business opportunities across the value chain. 

The Playbook also highlights new and emerging job roles to signal the capabilities and skills that companies and individuals should prioritise in hiring and training, to enable them to be better prepared to build talent and capitalise on global opportunities. The Playbook features an initial set of nine future job roles for Smart Estates, such as Digital Designer, Smart Estate Solution Architect and Smart Sustainability Manager. IMDA and SSG will continue to grow and refine the base of the job roles and skills insights. 

Mr Ng Cher Pong, Chief Executive of SSG, said, “As  Singapore develops Smart Estates, we are committed to helping companies build a skilled talent pipeline to seize opportunities across the Built Environment value chain, both in Singapore and around the region. Through the development of the Smart Estates Development Talent Programme, we are making available useful insights and relevant training required to better prepare companies and their workforce for the digital economy.”

Mr Tan Kiat How, Chief Executive of IMDA, said, “As Singapore’s Digital Economy continues to gain momentum, it is vital to foster strategic partnerships with the industry to develop the Smart Estates ecosystem and understanding the necessary talent and skillsets needed for companies and individuals. I am heartened by this partnership and encourage other companies to come forward to work with us to strengthen talent development to support Singapore’s Smart Estates.”

For more information about the Smart Estates Talent Playbook, please visit https://go.gov.sg/26d4ur