New upskilling initiative for experience design professionals in Singapore

Mid-career professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) who seek to take on emerging roles related to experience design - a collective term for skills including user experience (UX), user interface (UI) and spatial design - can now do so through a new Professional Conversion Programme (PCP).

The PCP for UX/UI digital design and UX/UI spatial design professionals was launched yesterday (24 June) by Workforce Singapore (WSG), Methodology, and DesignSingapore Council (DSG). With the support of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), the PCP aims to meet the increasing demand for talent with experience design skills.

Celia Sia, Director, Hub Services, EDB, said: "As companies adopt design to evolve their business and innovation models, we are seeing increasing demand for specialised services including UX Design. The launch of the PCP for UX/UI Digital Design or UX/UI Spatial Design complements the Professional Services ITM, in developing a strong talent pool to catalyse innovation within the sector.

"This is part of a series of industry-wide programmes the EDB is developing with partners such as WSG and DSG, to strengthen Singapore’s competitiveness as a global marketing and Creative Services Hub."

ALSO READ: The top three sectors that have used Professional Conversion Programmes

The PCP is in line with WSG’s Adapt and Grow initiative and the recommendations outlined within the Professional Services Industry Transformation Map (ITM).

It is a six-month place-and-train programme developed in consultation with practitioners, and validated by industry experts and stakeholders with specialisations in either UX/UI digital design or UX/UI spatial design. The PCP also references the new Skills Framework for Design.

The six-month programme [840 hours] will be split into structured on-the-job training (80%, or 671 hours) as well as formal training and mentoring/coaching (20%, or 169 hours).

The 20% formal training and mentoring/coaching will be divided as follows:

• Formal training:
  • 22 hours of UX/UI research at NAFA.
  • 41 hours of digital/spatial specialisation at NAFA.
  • 32 hours of UX/UI management module.
  • 32 hours of masterclasses at Methodology.
• Mentoring/Coaching:
  • 30 hours of collective projects.
  • Eight hours of roundtable mentoring.
  • Four hours of bootcamp/conferences.

Selena Huynh, Director, Creative & Professional Services Division, WSG, said: “The digital design landscape is constantly evolving, and there is an increased demand from employers to build a strong pipeline of local talents in experience-making.

"We are pleased to launch this new PCP together with our strategic partners to allow more mid-career Singaporeans to reskill, and equip themselves with relevant Experience Design skills to move into growth careers in UX/UI Digital Design or Spatial Design. We also encourage employers to tap on this PCP to train local talents with deep UX/UI skills, to augment their business needs."

Companies looking to participate in the PCP must be actively hiring UX/UI or related-UX/UI positions paying S$2,500 or more, and offer employment to suitable individuals on permanent terms or on contract terms of no less than 12 months.

Eligible hiring employers will receive funding for salary support and course fees during the PCP period. This includes:

Salary support

• Standard rate: Up to 70% salary support for Singaporean/PR PMET hires aged 21-39 capped at $4,000 per month.
• Enhanced rate: Up to 90% salary support for Singaporean PMET hires aged 40 and above and/or long-term unemployed capped at $6,000 per month.

* Note: Unemployed in this case is defined as being unemployed and actively seeking employment for six months or more.

Course fee support

• Up to 70% course fees funding for Singaporean/PR PMET hires aged 21-39.
• Up to 90% course fees funding for SMEs and/or mature Singaporean PMET hires aged 40 and above.

Photo / 123RF