Initiatives and Challenges in Infusing Greater Industry Relevance into Academic Curriculum
Ministry of EducationSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui’s inquiry into the status and challenges of infusing greater industry relevance into academic curricula. Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing highlighted that the Ministry of Education regularly reviews curricula to emphasize soft skills, core competencies, and digital literacy across all educational levels. Schools utilize the new Partnerships Engagement Office for industry exposure, while Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) align their programs with industry transformation maps and skills frameworks. Furthermore, IHLs integrate internships and capstone projects to ensure students can apply their learning to real-world business needs and emerging technologies. The Ministry continues to proactively update curricula to keep pace with the fast-changing economy and ensure students are prepared for the future of work.
Transcript
66 Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui asked the Minister for Education (a) what is the status of the Ministry's initiatives in infusing greater industry relevance into the academic curriculum; and (b) what are the challenges encountered.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: The Ministry of Education (MOE) regularly reviews the curriculum across all educational levels so that our students are equipped with the necessary competencies to start work.
To provide our students with the necessary and foundational skills to navigate the workplace, our schools and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) have increased curricular focus on soft skills and core competencies. These include the revised 21st Century Competencies to be developed in schools and the revised LifeSkills curriculum in IHLs. Through enhancements to our harnessing of technology in teaching and learning, our schools and IHLs also aim to equip our students with stronger digital literacy and technological skills.
Our schools also work with industry partners to provide real-world experiences, authentic learning and industry exposure for our students. To strengthen these efforts, the new MOE Partnerships Engagement Office has been set up to serve as a central coordinating platform to connect schools with industry and community partners.
To ensure industry relevance, the IHLs partner industry to validate their curriculum, and refresh and align their curricula when skills frameworks and industry transformation maps are updated. In addition, components, such as internships and capstone projects with industry, are integrated into IHL programmes to provide students with industry exposure and enable them to apply what they have learnt in the working world.
Keeping pace with the fast-changing nature of our economy and business needs is an important priority for the education system. MOE will continue to take proactive steps to ensure our students are prepared for the future of work, by continually refreshing the curriculum to infuse emerging technologies and skills and working closely with industry partners to keep abreast of their latest needs.