 Relevant
Industry Profile and Prospects
School
of Applied and Health Sciences, and List of Courses
Graduates'
Employment Performance
RELEVANT
INDUSTRY PROFILE AND PROSPECTS
The
School of Health and Applied Sciences conducts courses
to support the following industries:
Chemicals
& Biomedical
Food Manufacturing
Healthcare
Singapore
has identified the healthcare, chemicals & biomedical
industries as one of the growth industry in its economic
development strategies. Thus, one can expect a career
in these sectors to be very promising in future.
CHEMICALS
& BIOMEDICAL
Singapore continues to rank among the world's top three oil trading locations and is recognised as a global leader in oil refining. Singapore remains unwavering in its focus on relevant infrastructure, technology and a total-solutions approach - integrating innovation, manufacturing, regional distribution, marketing and other services. Singapore offers a cost-competitive and synergistic environment for some of the world's leading petroleum, petrochemicals and speciality chemicals giants, including ExxonMobil, Shell and Sumitomo Chemical. A dedicated and vertically integrated Chemicals complex on Jurong Island currently plays host to world-scale oil and chemical plants.
Singapore is one of Asia’s fastest growing bioclusters and has firmly established itself as a leading manufacturing hub in Asia with its strong track record, sophisticated infrastructure, superior IP protection and reliability. Since the start of its focused effort to develop the biomedical sciences industry in the year 2000, Singapore has attracted many top biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies which include Applied Biosystems, Aventis, Baxter, BD (Becton Dickinson), CIBA Vision, Fischer Scientific, GlaxoSmithKline, Japan Medical Supply, Kaneka, Leica, Merck & Co., Novartis, 1800-Contacts, Perkin Elmer, Pfizer, Schering-Plough, Siemens Medical Instruments and Wyeth to set up commercial-scale manufacturing facilities. Singapore is now host to top companies whose facilities are validated by regulatory authorities from the US and Europe and produces for the global market.
Sources: Extracted from publications from Ministry of Manpower and EDB, Singapore
FOOD MANUFACTURING
The emergence of a more sophisticated and well educated consumer provides new challenges for the development of new food products. Quality, safety, health benefits and nutritional value are but a few of the many factors which need to be taken into consideration from the point of view of the consumer. The food manufacturing sector has become a multidisciplinary field that requires the application of innovations in science and technology, and business and marketing. New products need to be appealing to the consumer from many points of view: using all 5 senses, nutritional and lifestyle benefits and value for money. This creates even more opportunities for research and innovation strategies for the development of food industry.
Three key areas of development have been identified, setting the future directions for the food industry.
Innovation in Products, Processes and Design - New manufacturing processes and technologies to allow companies to improve their productivity as well as manufacture products that are of higher value and better qualities like longer shelf lives, ready-to-eat food etc.
Quality and Food Safety - Continual effort by food companies to upkeep the high standards in quality and food safety, especially in this current time of increasing global concern on food safety.
Branding - The limited domestic size of the local market is the main impetus for Singapore food companies to be export-oriented. Hence there is a strong need to build a strong brand for the Singapore food products to allow for product differentiation and distinction in the global market.
A direct manifestation of the 3 areas of development would be the endless launch of food products with elevated value and appeal in the following areas: aesthetically attractive, good sensorial experience, nutritionally-packed and safe for consumption. Increasingly, new products need to be aligned to new trends in lifestyles, branding, aesthetics, sensory perception, nutritional value and safety.
A continual supply of a highly skilled and innovative workforce is required to drive the growth of the evolving food industry. As a graduate of this course, you will be contributing to support Singapore’s role as a vital regional food hub and as a base for the development of Asian foods, as well as products and technologies.
HEALTHCARE
Singapore has identified the healthcare industry as one of the growth industry in its economic development strategies. Thus, one can expect a career in the healthcare industry and supporting industries and services to be very promising in future.
The healthcare industry in Singapore plays an important role in ensuring the health of Singaporeans. The primary aim of the healthcare industry is to provide preventive, curative and rehabilitative health services in Singapore. There are plans to develop Singapore into a medical hub for a whole spectrum of healthcare services, such as integrated healthcare services, hospital management, laboratory services, healthcare consulting, medical informatics, pharmaceutical research and clinical trials. These efforts will make the healthcare industry even more vibrant and enhance career prospects of health care workers.
The services provided in the healthcare sector can be categorized into primary care (clinics), specialist care, hospital care, residential long-term care, day rehabilitation, home healthcare services and dental services. Those who are considering a career in healthcare should have a strong desire to help others, concern for the welfare of patients, and an ability to deal with stressful situations and diverse people.
It is expected that employment in the healthcare sector will continue to grow on the back of an increased demand for health care services due to an ageing population and the move towards developing Singapore as a healthcare hub.
Sources: Extracted from publications from Ministry of Manpower and EDB, Singapore
back
to top
SCHOOL
OF APPLIED AND HEALTH SCIENCES
The School of Applied and Health Sciences aims to provide our students with practical knowledge and skills in science to enable them to become ethical and professional members of the workforce. Our students are well prepared to face the challenges of the workplace after going through the practice oriented curricula delivered by dedicated, qualified and experienced professionals in the field.
The school provides niche training course for school leavers as Biochemical Technicians, Enrolled Nurses, Food Technicians or Process Technicians to serve the booming healthcare, food manufacturing and biomedical sectors of Singapore.
|
