By
Rosemary Pang
|
By
Rosemary Pang
|
| Breaking
News Our
Graduates and Students ITE-Industry
Partnership Community
Service Network
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ITE
Launches New ReNEW Initiative Unveiling the ReNEW initiative at a news conference, Dr Law Song Seng, Director & CEO, ITE, said: “Our CET system must be realigned to the changing needs of the job market. We see an increasing need to refocus our efforts to facilitate lifelong learning for our graduates and working adults. With Singapore having achieved mass further education, where more than 90% of a school cohort progress to a post-secondary education and beyond, the demand of working adults who have a basic education and need a formal education is decreasing. The greater demand in CET will be for reskilling and updating courses as a result of economic restructuring, changing technology or new industries.” ReNEW supports one of the recommendations of the Economic Review Committee, which stresses the need to provide Singaporeans with skills and competencies for lifelong learning and employability. Three
Features of ReNEW Running on an intensive schedule, the Fast Track Programme enables adult learners to acquire a Nitec certificate in less than two years, instead of four, under the regular part-time or Modular Skills Training (MOST) Programme. This benefits adult learners who want to learn a new skill in a short time in order to enhance their employment prospects. Employers can also
arrange to send their employees for training. Under a pilot scheme for
companies, Murata Electronics Singapore Pte Ltd sent its first batch of
16 employees to study Mechanical Technology through the Fast
Track Programme. The Top-Up Certification Scheme offers adult learners the attractive option of acquiring multiple Nitec certificates by topping up with additional specialisation modules. An adult learner studying Chemical Process Technology, for example, can earn two Nitec certificates, in Petrochemicals and Pharmaceuticals respectively. This will enable him to be versatile so that he can perform and handle varied tasks and responsibilities at the workplace. A survey conducted in 2002 on ITE graduates who have been working for some years indicated that 50% do not go beyond ITE qualifications for their career development. The Post-Nitec Programme, therefore, provides timely opportunities for ITE graduates to update their knowledge and skills in a short time to ensure their relevance in the job market. Its focused and in-depth curriculum covers skills and knowledge in specialised or new technological areas that could meet the existing or emerging needs required by industries. ITE graduates can also benefit by gaining modular exemptions for courses offered under the Higher Nitec and Master Nitec Programmes. An estimated 1000 adult learners and ITE graduates are expected to benefit from ReNEW annually. "It is challenging
for me to learn under the fast track mode. Despite the tight schedule,
I cope by learning and studying together with my team-mates, and we help
each other in our studies." "The Fast
Track Programme will definitely benefit working adults to equip them with
the relevant skills and knowledge to enhance their employment prospects.
It adopts a more customised approach to scheduling of courses, to also
meet the needs of companies. The course objectives can be achieved at
a faster pace and yet there is no dilution of course contents." "The option
to learn and gain a Nitec certificate in a short time is very attractive.
I can obtain a Nitec certificate in about eight months." "Generally,
I am able to cope with the pace of the programme. I want to acquire a
skill-based certificate, to be technically competent so that when there
are machine problems, I can identify the faults and solve them, instead
of the company having to call for external service help."
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From September
2003, adult learners, including ITE graduates can expect greater choices
as well as faster and flexible learning options to suit their learning
needs. This is made possible through ReNEW or Reskilling for New Economy
Workforce, a strategic move to ensure the future employability of
ITE graduates and working adults. ReNEW was launched on 28 July 2003.
