29/04/2015

WDA Launches SkillsFuture Earn And Learn Programme For Food Manufacturing Focused On Food Product Innovation, Food Processing As Well As Food Safety And Quality Management

Fresh Polytechnic Graduates To Get A Headstart And Competitive Wages With Exciting Careers

1. The Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) today launched the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn programme for the food manufacturing sector to provide a career headstart for fresh polytechnic graduates1 in areas with fast-growing industry needs.

2. To date, WDA and programme manager Singapore Polytechnic (SP) have placed 20 polytechnic graduates in 12 food manufacturers comprising multinational corporations and local small and medium-sized enterprises under the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme for Food Manufacturing. The programme comprises three main components:

• Classroom training at SP coupled with e-learning
• Structured training at their workplace, using In-house Structured Training Plans (ISTP) developed by SP, Nanyang Polytechnic (NP) and Temasek Polytechnic (TP)
• A company-specific project (known as a capstone project) supervised by company mentors and SP facilitators

3. All components of the programme have been designed to strengthen the local talent pipeline in areas that will underpin the sector's next phase of growth:

• Food Product Innovation, which entails developing new food products for the local or international markets
• Food Processing, which involves utilising sustainable processing methods, innovative packaging materials and technologies to reduce food waste and extend product shelf-life
• Food Safety and Quality Management, which ensures that food manufacturing processes comply with safety and quality standards

4. Participants who successfully complete the 18-month SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme for Food Manufacturing will receive an Advanced Diploma in Applied Food Science awarded by SP.

5. Participants can expect a competitive starting salary of minimally $1,900 at the start of the programme. Upon completion of the programme, they may receive a 10 per cent wage increment subject to their performance, and progress to become Senior Food Technologists, Senior Food Process Engineers or Senior Food Quality Assurance Officers.

6. Mr Goh Eng Ghee, Acting Chief Executive of WDA, said: "The food manufacturing sector is aiming to move higher up the value chain by growing their capabilities in food product innovation, food processing as well as food safety and quality management. The SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme for Food Manufacturing, a collaboration between WDA, SP, NYP, TP, industry, relevant economic agencies and union stakeholders, will help support the industry to develop a pipeline of skilled local talent and accelerate the learning curve for fresh polytechnic graduates."

7. Mr Tan Choon Shian, Principal and Chief Executive Officer of SP, said: "SP looks forward to providing good practical knowledge for the participants of SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme for Food Manufacturing. The skills acquired from the Advanced Diploma in Applied Food Science, coupled with on-the-job training in their workplace, will provide an excellent career headstart for these fresh polytechnic graduates."

8. Mr Tan Hock Soon, General Secretary of the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers' Union, said: "The SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme for Food Manufacturing will equip our polytechnic graduates with the skills and learning opportunities to maximise their potential through structured on-the-job and institution-based training. It will enable them to take up suitable job roles with career advancement opportunities and progression pathways. The advanced diploma will give our polytechnic graduates a grounded headstart in their careers."

9. The food manufacturing sector is the first sector for which WDA has rolled out the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn programme. WDA will roll out the programme for another seven sectors – Food Services, Games Development, Logistics, Infocomm Technology, Marine & Offshore Engineering, Retail, and Precision Engineering – this year. More details will be released in future.