Measurement of Success of SkillsFuture and Related Continuing Education and Training Programmes in Providing Opportunities for New Careers and Employability
Ministry of EducationSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Ms Foo Mee Har’s inquiry into how the success of SkillsFuture and related Continuing Education and Training programmes is measured regarding career opportunities and employability. Minister Lawrence Wong explained that the Government tracks placements, recording 5,140 through Professional Conversion Programmes and 9,554 via Train-and-Place schemes since 2016. Longitudinal studies revealed real wage premiums for graduates, while surveys showed over 75% of employers believe these programmes assist with recruitment and employee responsibilities. Industry alignment is ensured through company-led training under the SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways Programme with partners like Google and IBM. Furthermore, SkillsFuture Queen Bee companies are engaged to co-create skills solutions and support upgrading for small and medium enterprises.
Transcript
36 Ms Foo Mee Har asked the Minister for Education how is the success of SkillsFuture and related Continuing Education and Training programmes measured in providing Singaporeans with opportunities for new careers and employability.
Mr Lawrence Wong: Since the launch of SkillsFuture movement in 2014, the Government has adopted a range of approaches to evaluate the outcomes of training.
We closely monitor placements for all placement-related training programmes. Since 2016, we have achieved 5140 placements via Professional Conversion Programmes, and 9554 placements via SSG's Train-and-Place programmes.
The longer-term impact of training on outcomes such as employability and wages are also reviewed via longitudinal studies conducted every few years. A 2018 MTI study found that individuals who underwent Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) training were more employable and enjoyed a real wage premium of 5.8% in the year after training. A 2019 MTI study found that recent graduates of the SkillsFuture Work-Study post-diploma programme enjoyed a sustained wage premium of about 10% over polytechnic diploma graduates.
Additionally, we conduct surveys to collect feedback from key stakeholders such as employers. In the 2019 SkillsFuture Public Perception Survey, 77% of employers indicated that SkillsFuture training programmes had helped their employees take on more responsibilities, and 75% of them felt that SkillsFuture training programmes could help their company recruit and retain valued employees.
One of the ways we ensure better alignment of training to industry needs, is through training led by companies themselves. Companies such as Google, IBM and PBA Robotics have come on board the SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways Programme, to equip individuals with industry-relevant skills to boost their employability. We have also engaged SkillsFuture Queen Bee companies to train beyond their own needs and support skills upgrading for other companies in their industry and value chains, in particular for SMEs. These SkillsFuture Queen Bee companies help transfer their knowledge and impart their capabilities to employees of smaller companies, by co-creating industry-led skills and training solutions/programmes with SSG.