Address by Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State, at the Work-Study Diploma Graduation Ceremony

Mr Andrew Chong, Chairman, ITE

Ms Low Khah Gek, CEO, ITE

Members of the ITE Board of Governors

Employers and Company Representatives

Graduands and Parents

Ladies and Gentlemen

1.            Good morning. I am very glad to join you at this year’s ITE Work-Study Diploma Graduation Ceremony. 

2.            Congratulations to the 892 Work-Study Diploma graduands from the Class of 2025! You should all be very proud of your personal and professional growth on this journey.

a. I also want to give special mention to the 57 top graduands among you, who will be receiving course medals for your outstanding performance. Well done!

Positive Outcomes for ITE Work-Study Diploma Graduates 

3.            The ITE Work-Study Diploma programme provides an applied educational pathway for trainees to learn not just through classroom instruction, but also through substantial on-the-job training. Employer mentors and trainers play a key role to equip trainees with knowledge and skills, alongside our dedicated ITE lecturers.

a.    In this way, our trainees gain valuable work experience, and a head start in their careers, together with the skills that they learn. And as full-time employees, you also earn a salary while studying.

b.    Employers benefit too, with a pipeline of talent that can address skills and manpower shortages. And because the Work-Study Diploma course curriculum is co-developed by ITE and the employers, the training can directly address each employer’s needs.

4.            So, I am very glad to see that the take-up of the Work-Study Diploma has grown significantly over the years, and it has delivered concrete and positive outcomes for our graduates.

a.    The Work-Study Diploma began in 2018 with just 4 courses and 100 trainees. Today, there are more than 40 courses available and the annual intake is more than 1,600 trainees in 2025 – and more than 700 employer partners.

b.    The latest graduate employment survey shows that WorkStudy Diploma graduates earn a median monthly starting salary of $2,975 – this figure has been rising steadily over the years and matches the earnings of full-time polytechnic diploma graduates. It is a significant increase compared to trainees’ initial median monthly salary of $2,000 when they first started this programme. This shows the value of the skills you have learnt, and your ability to take on higherlevel jobs and tasks. 

5.            I am going to share two stories. These two individuals are exemplars and role models who represent all of you, in integrating working and studying. 

a.    The first story is about, Ms Yvette Tan. Congratulations to Yvette who is graduating today with a Work-Study Diploma in Community Engagement & Development.

Yvette first discovered her passion for social services while interning at a school for children with special needs. She  pursued her passion as a Work-Study Diploma trainee with Inclus Pte Ltd, where she supported Persons with Disabilities. Inclus later selected her to be a Main Lifeskill coach at the newly established InSchool Special Needs Student Care Centre – this is a responsibility typically taken on by more experienced employees. In acknowledgement of her excellence in both the workplace and classroom, Yvette is receiving the Gold Course Medal today, an award given to the top trainee in each course. Congratulations and well done, Yvette!

b.    My second story is about Ms Qistina Masyitah Binte Mazlan. She is receiving her Work-Study Diploma in Architectural Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Design today. Congratulations Masyitah! With her skills in BIM software, she was selected to represent ITE at the WorldSkills Singapore 2025 Competition where she earned a Medallion of Excellence.  After graduation, she is continuing on with her Work-Study Diploma employer, Kyoob Architects Pte Ltd, where she has contributed meaningfully to complex BIM tasks on projects such as the upcoming Tanglin Halt Polyclinic and Costa Riviera HDB BTO development. Looking ahead, she is hoping to pursue a degree in Landscape Architecture, to build on her WorkStudy Diploma. Once again, congratulations Masyitah for your work and your excellence!

Importance of Industry Partners and Mentors in Co-delivering Work-Study Diplomas

6.            The achievements and strong outcomes of our Work-Study Diploma graduates would not be possible without the dedication of our industry partners and mentors, many of whom are present here today. 

a.    I thank all of you for guiding and supporting our trainees – starting from attending ITE’s Train-the-Trainer programme. The trainers and the employers – they have to go back and learn as well, in order to be able to support this programme. This ensures that our trainers have the necessary skills to deliver meaningful workplace training. Thank you for putting in the hours to nurture and train them.

7.            So, it is very fitting that we are recognising 11 outstanding mentors at today’s ceremony, with the Advanced Certified Industry Trainer Certificate.

a.    One recipient is Ms Norhidayah Binte Jamsuri from Sathya Sai Social Service. Thank you Ms Norhidayah for being here today and for committing to this important work. She tailors her teaching methods to different learner profiles and implements structured systems to benefit the trainers and the trainees at her workplace – and these are skills that she picked up from ITE’s Train-the-Trainer programme.

b.    Congratulations and thank you to all our outstanding mentors!

Growing The Work-Study Diploma Programme

8.            We want to continue growing the Work-Study Diploma pathway. I am happy to share that ITE will be launching a new Work-Study Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing in 2026. This will equip trainees to drive innovation in modern manufacturing, including designing and producing precision components using advanced technologies and computer-aided design tools.

9.            ITE will also be launching a new Wholesale Trade specialisation for the Work-Study Diploma in Integrated Supply Chain Management, as an addition to the existing Logistics specialisation. Given Singapore’s role as a global trading and logistics hub, we want to help more trainees take up good jobs in the sector. This dual specialisation will allow trainees to choose the path that best suits their needs, while they gain an understanding of how both functions interconnect to optimise supply chain efficiency. 

10.        Beyond launching new programmes, I am also glad that ITE and community partners are working together to provide both prospective and currently enrolled ITE Work-Study Diploma trainees with enhanced career mentoring support and resources, over and above the mentorship provided by their employers. 

a.    Earlier this year, ITE launched the JumpStart mentoring initiative in collaboration with Quantedge Foundation Singapore and the local career guidance charity, The Astronauts Collective. ITE Higher Nitec final-year students taking part in internships, applicants for Work-Study Diplomas, and Work-Study Diploma first-year students – these three groups can tap on this initiative to seek support from industry professionals who volunteer as career mentors. So, this is part of that support and resources for career mentoring, how to make the right choices for the pathway that suits your training needs. 

b.    One example is Mr Soh Weng Hong, a Work-Study Diploma in Facilities Management trainee. He shared how his JumpStart mentor, Ms Lim Yu Xian, a Building Infrastructure Manager in the sector, has made a real difference. Yu Xian offers him encouragement and advice in adapting to the steep learning curve of his new job when he is tackling a challenging project. It’s very important to give that mentorship and scaffolding. Beyond the information that is provided, it’s also about the relationship, the advice, and the role modelling that a mentor provides to a trainee, as the trainee is finding their way into the workforce, finding out about themselves and their aptitude. 

So, thank you to all our mentors for doing this.

Conclusion

11.          To conclude, let me thank ITE and our industry partners once again for your efforts in supporting our Work-Study Diploma trainees, and in expanding this very meaningful educational pathway. I urge all our industry partners to continue strengthening your talent development pipeline through the Work-Study Diploma programme, and go and tell your partners, colleagues and friends in the industry. We want to welcome more companies to come on board and make more pathways available for our trainees

12.          To our graduands, today marks not just an achievement, but the celebration of your hard work, excellence and the beginning of your new journey. Carry forward the determination and resilience that you have and that have brought you to this moment. Remain curious learners, seek out new opportunities for growth, and create meaningful contributions in all of your chosen fields.

13.          Once again, congratulations to the Class of 2025!

14.          Thank you very much.