_____________________________________________________________________________
2011/SOM/WKSP/013
Overview of Singapore Workforce Development
Agency (WDA)
Submitted by: Singapore
Residential Training Workshop on
Structural Reform
Singapore
10-12 August 2011
1
Overview of
Singapore Workforce Development Agency
(WDA)
Briefing to Delegates of the APEC New Strategy
for Structural Reform Workshop
11 Aug2011
Anil Das
Senior Director
Industry Skills and Planning Office
Overview of Presentation
WDA’s
Workplan and
Key Initiatives
CET Outcomes
WDA and CET
Development
2
2
Our Mission …
To enhance the employability and
competitiveness of Singapore’s workforce
WDA was formed in 2003
3
Our Vision…
A Competitive Workforce, with workers
Learning for Life, and Advancing with Skills
Skills
Standards
CET Masterplan Announced in 2008 –
Building a First Class CET System
Quality
Training
Providers
Career
Centres
Sustained
Funding
(LLEF & SDF)
Quality
Trainers
Standards
Tripartite
Outreach
4
NCI
CET Centre
ATO
2 National CET
Campuses (2013)
3
The Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ)
system is designed based on international best
practices and tailored to local context
Industry Agreed Standards
Validated by industry stakeholders, ISTCs
Adult Learning Principles
Bite-size and portable
Open Access
Alternative entry requirements to
PET qualifications
Recognition of Prior Learning
Certification and experience
Competency-based Assessment
Assessment through doing
y g
5
Competency-Based
Demonstrate attitude, skills and
knowledge
Build CET
Infrastructure
WSQ – Skills Standards with Clear Training and
Progression Pathways
Occupational
Industry X
Framework
Industry Y
Framework
Build CET
Infrastructure
Career
transitions
Industry
Knowledge &
Skills
Upgrading
within
industry
Occupational
Skills
6
Generic
Employability
Skills – ES
(soft skills and
literacy/
numeracy)
Some examples
1.
Problem Solving & Decision Making
2.
Workplace-related life skills
3.
Communication & Relationship Management
4
CET Training Providers
3 NCIs
Build CET
Infrastructure
450 WSQ Approved
Training Providers
50 CET Centres
7
SDF-funded Public &
Private Providers
Comprehensive Range of Services
by CET Centres
- O
pening up government-funded training to individuals who
initiate and pay for their own training
Build CET
Infrastructure
OUTREACH
Career
Roadshows
Career Fairs
SCREEN
Use of
Profiling
Tools
TRAIN
Certificate/ Higher Certificate/
Advanced Certificate/Diploma
Work-Study Model with Industry
A
ti
hi
CAREER
ADVISORY
Career
Counseling
J b
OUTCOME
TRACKING
Placement and
Retention Surveys
Outcome Evaluation
Surveys by WDA
8
Open House
Talks and
Seminars
Pre-
enrollment
Screening
Interview
for
Suitability
Apprenticeship
Specialized Programmes
(Sommelier/Concierge)
Professional Development
Programmes
Job
Placement
through
Industry
Engagement
On campus
job fairs
Surveys by WDA
- Application of skills
- Job Expansion
- Pay Increment
- Career
Advancement
5
Besides Training, Career Services also
Play a Critical Role in Shaping a
“World-Class” Workforce
Workers
Individuals need to make
informed choices based
on knowledge of
O
t iti & Th
t
Career
Services
Opportunities & Threats
Functional
Skills
Soft Skills: resilience,
productive, motivated,
innovative
Labour
Mkt Info
Mindset/
Confidence
Career
profiling /
advisory
Other Learning
/ Prof devt (e.g.
Preparatory
Training
9
“World-Class” Workers
Continuous
Learning/ Upgrading
( g
OTJ, master
classes)
Vocational
Employers
Entry
Peak/Craftsmen
T-shaped
Overview of Presentation
WDA’s
Workplan and
Key Initiatives
CET Outcomes
WDA and CET
Development
10
6
Singapore Ranks 3rd in World Competitiveness
11
Source: IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2011. The scoreboard presents ranking of 59 economies.
Our Human Development Index Ranks 27th
Amongst 169 Economies
12
Source: Human Development Report 2010. The Human Development Report is an independent publication commissioned by
the United Nations Development Programme. The Human Development Index is a summary composite index that measures a
economy’s average achievements in health, knowledge and income.
7
?
94% of companies’ employees apply
Companies found employees applying
skills and performing better after WSQ
training
?
94% of companies employees apply
skills acquired from WSQ courses, and
?
92% of companies’ employees perform
better at work after WSQ training
?
90% of companies indicated WSQ
13
90% of companies indicated WSQ
training was able to address skills gaps
in their employees
Results of WDA’s 2010 Survey on Outcomes of WSQ training
Trainees also reported positive results
at work after WSQ training
?
88% of trainees said that they were able
to apply the skills acquired from WSQ
courses, and
?
87% said they were able to perform better
14
at work after WSQ training.
Results of WDA’s 2010 Survey on Outcomes of WSQ training
8
?
44% of trainees had more or new job
ibiliti
More importantly, WSQ training helps
improve trainees’ career
responsibilities
?
25% received a salary increment
?
21% moved to a new job
15
?
13% were promoted
These outcomes may not be directly attributed to training alone, but a combination of factors, such
as employee’s length of stay and aptitude, company’s performance, economic climate, etc.
Results of WDA’s 2010 Survey on Outcomes of WSQ training
WSQ also Enhances Job Mobility
?
28% of employees with WSQ training, changed
jobs, compared to 19% of employees without
WSQ training
Q
g
?
WSQ significantly increased chances of lower-
skilled machine operators, cleaners, labourers,
to move up to service, clerical, craftsmen and
related occupations
16
?
Enhanced lateral mobility for PMETs and those
in service, clerical, craftsmen and related
occupations
Key findings of WSQ Training Outcome from MOM’s Research Report in 2010
9
Overview of Presentation
WDA’s Work
Plan and Key
Initiatives
CET Outcomes
WDA and CET
Development
17
Vision for CET
Lifelong
Learning Culture
Quality
Training
Professionals
Quality
Training
Professionals
Best-in-
Class
Institutions
Best-in-
Class
Institutions
Good
Access and
Linkages
Good
Access and
Linkages
Relevant
Training
Programmes
Relevant
Training
Programmes
18
Strong Tripartite Partnership
Government Investment of $2.5bn over 5 years
10
Focus Attention on Specific Target Groups
– Professionals, Managers, Executives,
Technicians (PMETs)
Address
specific skill
Qualifications
Short
Modular
Courses
Industry
Scholarships
Master-classes /
Seminars
Industry Skills
Development
Advisory
Services
Enable career
Keep abreast of latest
ideas concepts and
Nurture and
Plan skills pathway
19
specific skill
gaps
moves
ideas, concepts and
developments
in profession
Nurture and
groom talents
p
y
for career
progression
60,000 PMETs over 3 years
Focus Attention on Specific Target Groups
– Low-Wage Workers (LWWs)
English@Workplace
20
Workfare Training Support
(WTS) Scheme
11
Support Productivity Enhancement for
Enterprises – Productivity Improvement
PRoductivity Initiatives in Services & Manufacturing (PRISM)
?
Specialist Core of
Embedded
Capability
PRODUCTIVITY
PYRAMID
–
Certified Productivity Practitioner
by SPA
–
WSQ Certified Productivity &
Innovation Manager (Services &
Manufacturing tracks) by SMa
–
Operations & Process Management
Executive Programmes by Warwick
U i
it
?
Training Interventions
?
Specialist Core of
Productivity Managers
p
y
21
?
Talks/seminars/masterclasses
PYRAMID
University
–
COS/COP by SMa/LHub/ELITC
Awareness
Strengthen CET Infrastructure
– Enhance Career and Training Advisory Services
Online
Directly Managed /
Leveraged
Career Services for whole workforce
-
Reach out to all segments of workers and employers
- Influence based on areas of growth or priority
?
Self-service for the
majority
?
Website / Individual
portals
Online
Services
?
East (WDA) and West
(e2i) campuses
?
WDA career centres at
various locales,
including CDCs, for
Directly Managed /
Funded Services
?
Influence labour
market entities (e.g
self-help groups,
MPs, commercial
agencies)
Leveraged
Services
22
?
Learning directory
with labour market
information to
influence workers’
decisions
intensive screening and
assistance
?
CET Centres focus on
sector-specific career
services
?
Support specialised
agencies for niche
segments (eg.
MCYS, NCSS,
SCORE, IMH)
12
Overview of
Singapore Workforce Development Agency
(WDA)
Briefing to Delegates of the APEC New Strategy
for Structural Reform Workshop
11 Aug2011
Anil Das
Senior Director
Industry Skills and Planning Office
