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Service Slant: Applied Food Science (above) and Culinary Skills (Western) were among the Nitec courses introduced by ITE in FY 2006.
FULL-TIME EDUCATION
Full-time student enrolment rose by 7 per cent in FY 2006, where a total of 24,607 students enrolled at ITE, compared to 23,029 in FY 2005. Among its in-programme students, there was a high 95 per cent Student-Satisfaction Rate recorded in a regular survey carried out by ITE. A record high Student Success Rate of 79 per cent was also attained for the year in review. ITE saw 11,221 students graduate in Academic Year (AY) 2006, compared to 9,528 in AY 2005, which marked a significant increase of 18 per cent in the number of graduates.
On aggregate, ITE’s planned intake capacity for FY 2006 saw 64 per cent being accounted for by its Service-related courses. For the year in review, ITE had rolled out five new Nitec courses geared for the Services cluster, in addition to two others, bringing the total of new Nitec courses to seven. The new Nitec courses were in Aerospace Technology, Applied Food Science, Culinary Skills (Western), Food & Beverage Operations, Digital Audio & Video Production, Fitness Training and Security Technology.
PART-TIME COURSES AND INDUSTRY-BASED TRAINING
ITE is the largest provider in the training of working adults in Singapore. FY 2006 saw 42,018 training places taken up for ITE-conducted part-time courses, while another 120,693 training places were taken up for part-time courses conducted via ITE’s Industry-Based Training (IBT) Schemes, such as the Approved Training Centre (ATC), Certified On-the-Job Training Centre (COJTC) or the Approved Training Provider (ATP).
- In Demand: ITE’s part-time courses find favour with ITE graduates who are already
in the workforce yet are keen to upgrade their skills.
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Compared with FY 2005, the intake for ITE conducted part-time courses went up by 5 per cent. For the year in review, a survey carried out by ITE on the participants of ITE-conducted part-time courses showed a 95 per cent Participant-Satisfaction Rate with the programmes they attended at ITE.
The Basic Education for Skills Training (BEST), ITE’s programme that enables adult learners to upgrade their basic education in English Language up to Primary School Leaving Examination level, saw a 20 per cent surge in intake. The surge, from 10,782 in FY 2005 to 12,936 in FY 2006, could be attributed to adult learners rushing to complete all the modules before BEST is phased out by the end of 2008.
There was a 5 per cent decline in training places under the Industry-Based Training Schemes compared with FY 2005. A number of COJTCs withdrew or consolidated their training resources following the introduction of application and renewal fees. Similarly, a number of ATPs, particularly those offering Business Studies courses, consolidated their operations following their subsequent migration to a separate Licensing Scheme, which is managed by ITE’s subsidiary, ITE Education Services Pte Ltd. In the case of the ATCs, a small number was transferred to the ATP scheme, accounting for the decline in the ATC training places.
