SkillsFuture expands Earn and Learn programme to provide more opportunities for Singaporean students

According to a press release yesterday, SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) will be expanding the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn programme (ELP) to provide more polytechnic and ITE graduates with opportunities to pursue their learning and career goals.

This year, SSG will be increasing the number of ELP programmes to 60, which is a 50% increase as compared to the 40 programmes available in 2016.

Programmes will be available in new sectors such as building services, human resource, medical technology, as well as sports and wellness. With the expansion, SSG aims to place 1,000 ELP participants in 2017 - which would be a significant increase from 2016 where 500 students were placed in the programme.

As a work-lean programme, the ELP enables polytechnic and ITE graduates to concurrently deepen their skills and gain a head-start in their careers. ELP participants have the opportunity to build on the skills and knowledge acquired in school, and enjoy a smoother and structured transition into the workforce through on-the-job-training and mentorship.

Ng Cher Pong, chief executive, SkillsFuture Singapore said: “A key component of SkillsFuture is providing more opportunities and pathways for Singaporeans to achieve their learning and career goals, so that there is a seamless continuum between working and learning.”

“The enhancements to the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn programme will allow more polytechnic and ITE students to combine gaining work experience with pursuing more structured learning,” he added.

SSG has also extended the window for ELP enrollment from one year to three years; after polytechnic or ITE graduation, or national service’s operationally ready date (ORD) for male Singaporeans. This will immediately increase the number of eligible polytechnic and ITE graduates for the ELP.

To better support male Singaporeans who will be entering NS, provisional acceptance will also be offered into ELP. As such, they may now apply for the ELP prior to entering NS and embark on the ELP immediately after the completion of their NS.

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With more options available, ITE graduates can look forward to ELP leading to an ITE technical diploma. The autonomous universities (AUs) will also be involved in ELPs that are targeted at polytechnic graduates.

Together with the polytechnics, the AUs will jointly develop and deliver ELP in consultation with the industry partners. Participants can undertake some modules in the AUs as part of the ELP. This will facilitate articulation to the universities.

Upon completion of the ELP, participants can continue to pursue a relevant university degree programme, with credit exemptions.

As a start, Temasek Polytechnic will partner with Singapore University of Social Sciences and Singapore Institute of Technology to deliver ELP in sectors such as Building Services, Facilities Management, and Infocomm Technology.

More details will be announced at a later stage.

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