28/03/2015

WDA Launches SkillsFuture Earn And Learn Programme To Provide Career Headstart For Fresh Polytechnic And ITE Graduates

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, which provides a headstart for fresh polytechnic and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) graduates¹ in their careers.

2. Announced in the Budget 2015 statement by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn programme is designed to match fresh polytechnic and ITE graduates with suitable employers related to their disciplines of study.

3. The SkillsFuture Earn and Learn programme for the Food Manufacturing Industry will commence next month. This will be followed by the rollout of the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn programme to another 7 other sectors in 2015 – Food Services, Games Development, Logistics, Infocomm Technology, Marine & Offshore Engineering, Retail, and Precision Engineering.

4. Fresh polytechnic and ITE graduates may apply for the programme through the sectoral Programme Managers (i.e. the polytechnics and ITE). Subject to the hiring and interview processes of participating employers, they may then be offered full-time employment under the programme.

5. Under the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn programme, individuals will undergo structured on-the-job training and mentorship, leading to industry-recognised certifications at the end of the programme. They will also be supported with structured training and career development pathways in accordance with their employer's talent development plan. The programme spans 12 to 18 months depending on the sector, job and training requirements.

6. WDA will provide a $5,000 sign-on incentive to Singaporean citizens who have been placed on and successfully complete the programme. Employers who sign on for the programme will also be eligible for a grant of up to $15,000 per participant enrolled.

7. Mr Ng Cher Pong, Chief Executive of WDA, said: "WDA is pleased to work with the polytechnics and ITE to roll out the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn programme across various sectors. Fresh polytechnic and ITE graduates can tap on the programme to continue to build and deepen their skills, and to get a head start in their careers. We are encouraged by the strong interest in the programme from employers and graduating students. In particular, 61 employers have confirmed their participation in the programme, and I would like to urge more employers and fresh graduates to come forward and sign up for it."

8. The launch of the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn programme was held in conjunction with a roadshow offering 100 to 150 vacancies under the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn programme. The roadshow was held at the Lifelong Learning Institute and was attended by graduating students, fresh graduates and parents.

About Singapore Workforce Development Agency

The Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) enhances the competitiveness of our workforce by encouraging workers to learn for life and advance with skills. In today's economy, most jobs require not just knowledge, but also skills. WDA collaborates with employers, industry associations, the Union and training organisations, to develop and strengthen the Continuing Education and Training system that is skills-based, open and accessible, as a mainstream pathway for all workers – young and older, from rank and file to professionals and executives – to upgrade and advance in their careers and lives. For more information, please visit www.wda.gov.sg.

About the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn programme

• The SkillsFuture Earn and Learn programme is a work-study programme designed to give fresh graduates from polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) a head-start in careers related to their discipline of study. It provides them with more opportunities to build on the skills and knowledge they acquired in school after graduation, and to better support their transition into the workforce.
• Participating employers can also recruit local fresh talent and prepare them to take up suitable job roles within the organisation and participants can look forward to a structured career progression pathway.
• The SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme is designed in collaboration with industry to ensure relevance to employers. Commencing in 2015, the programme will be progressively implemented in different sectors, eventually covering up to one in three polytechnic and ITE graduates.

Key Features of SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme

• Participants will be matched to suitable employers related to their disciplines of study, thus allowing them to deepen skills acquired in school, through workplace learning and mentorship.
• Participants will undergo structured on-the-job training and mentorship, leading to industry-recognised certification.
• Participants will be assigned mentors and be supported in continual skills development in accordance with the company's talent development plan.
• Participants will have a well-structured career development pathway in the company.

How does the programme work?

How can individuals benefit?

Fresh Polytechnic and ITE graduates of the Programme can benefit by getting a head-start in their careers through:

• Acquiring relevant work experience and skills valued by the industry
• Attaining industry-recognised qualifications / certificates²
• Enjoying skills-based wage increments³ and meaningful career advancement pathways upon programme completion and satisfactory job performance

¹ Fresh graduates are defined as individuals who are hired by the participating companies within 12 months after their graduation from the polytechnics or ITE. For male participants who serve National Service (NS), the 12-month period will start from the operationally-ready date (ORD).

² The industry-recognised qualifications/certificates will vary by sector and job. They may include Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) qualifications, or qualifications issued by the polytechnics and ITE such as Advanced or Specialist Diplomas.

³ Participants can receive a wage increase upon completion of programme if they perform well and take on enlarged job scopes through the skills they acquire in the programme