Modular Courses at Institutes of Higher Learning that Teach Future Economy Skills
Ministry of EducationSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the expansion of modular courses at Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) in future economy skills such as STEM, coding, and data analytics. Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng inquired about the scaling of these programs and the communication of their costs and availability to the public. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim responded that MOE/SSG supported courses increased to 2,600 in 2016, providing 105,000 training places for working adults. He stated that these numbers would be ramped up significantly as part of a major shift in the education landscape toward lifelong learning. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim also assured that outreach efforts are being enhanced with training providers to ensure that information on these courses is easily accessible to consumers.
Transcript
2 Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng asked the Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) whether our Institutions of Higher Learning can offer more courses in modular form that are relevant to the future economy, such as subjects in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), coding, robotics, cybersecurity and data analytics.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministers for Education (Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim) (for the Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills): Madam, lifelong learning is part of the core mission of our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs). Over the years, they have been increasing the number and range of short modular courses that are aligned to industry needs and in support of SkillsFuture. These are generally delivered in short modular format and adopted teaching methods that are suitable for working adults.
Between 2015 and 2016, the number of MOE/SSG supported courses offered by our Autonomous Universities and Polytechnics increased from about 2,200 to approximately 2,600. Many of these courses are in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, including information and communication technology. This translated to about 90,000 and 105,000 training places in 2015 and 2016 respectively.
We can expect this number to be ramped up significantly in the coming years. This will be one of the major changes in our education landscape in the near future.
Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng (Pioneer): It is said that "it is not the strongest of species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change". So, it is good to hear that MOE and the IHLs are offering many modular courses. Many a time, one needs inter-disciplinary skills to achieve effective solutions for the customers. May I know if the cost and availability of such courses are made known so that consumers can access them?
Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Madam, I thank the Member for the supplementary question. I agree that we need to make sure that our courses are widely spread out in terms of the outreach as well as communication to the people. I want to assure the Member that we have been doing this, not only with the AUs and the Polytechnics, but we have also been doing this with all the training providers. We will continue this approach and process to make sure that we want to facilitate how we want to change the educational landscape in the future. We are at the beginning stage; I am confident we will be able to do that with the support of partners and all our education institutions.