Measuring Employment Outcomes of Part-time, Mature-entry and SkillsFuture-funded Students at Institutes of Higher Learning
Ministry of EducationSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns whether employment outcome tracking for part-time, mature-entry, and SkillsFuture-funded students at Institutes of Higher Learning aligns with the framework for full-time students. Mr Cai Yinzhou inquired about tracking mechanisms, and Minister Desmond Lee responded that while the Graduate Employment Survey covers all full-time graduates, continuing education is monitored via administrative data. Econometric studies are used to assess causal links such as wage premiums, with a 2024 study showing an 11% increase for certain part-time polytechnic graduates. Additionally, SkillsFuture Singapore administers the Training Quality and Outcomes Measures survey to evaluate non-wage indicators like job effectiveness and the ability to take on enhanced responsibilities. These diverse mechanisms provide a comprehensive view of how training supports job retention, performance improvements, and the transition into new roles for adult learners.
Transcript
37 Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for Education (a) whether employment outcome tracking under the Graduate Employment Survey framework covers part-time, mature-entry and SkillsFuture-funded students at the Institutes of Higher Learning on the same basis as full-time students; and (b) if not, what separate mechanisms exist to measure their employment outcomes.
Mr Desmond Lee: The Graduate Employment Surveys conducted by the various Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) cover graduates from all full-time Pre-Employment Training programmes, including adult learners.
The Ministry of Education monitors the outcomes for other funded continuing education and training (CET) programmes, including part-time programmes at the IHLs, via surveys and studies using administrative data.
For part-time full qualification programmes at the IHLs, given the diversity in adult learner profiles, we conduct econometric studies to understand the causal links between their participation in the programmes and employment outcomes. For instance, the Ministry of Trade and Industry published a study in 2024 that used administrative data to show that learners who completed Academic CET post-diploma programmes at the Polytechnics, which are generally conducted on a part-time basis, enjoyed a wage premium of up to 11%, when compared to a control group of individuals with similar profiles.
Wage and employment outcomes do not tell us the full picture. Reskilling may have helped workers, who were otherwise at risk of displacement, keep their jobs or take on new job roles within their existing organisations. To complement employment outcomes reporting, SkillsFuture Singapore also administers the Training Quality and Outcomes Measures survey for SkillsFuture funded programmes, which includes whether the training has helped learners to be more effective at their jobs, improved their work performance or allowed them to take on enhanced responsibilities at work.