Press Release - Swiss Brand BERNINA and ITE Launch World's First Combined Service Training Centre and Makerspace for Sewing Machines

ITE-Bernina Service Training Centre to provide training in digital sewing and machine servicing skills

Singapore, 1 April 2022 – BERNINA (Singapore), a subsidiary of Swiss international sewing machine brand BERNINA, has partnered the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) to set up a service training centre for BERNINA machines, which doubles as a makerspace and learning centre for digital sewing, at ITE College East. Called the ITE-BERNINA Service Training Centre, it is the first-of-its-kind in the world.

At the facility, ITE students are trained to perform servicing and troubleshooting of BERNINA machines. Its makerspace segment is equipped with BERNINA’s digital sewing and automated embroidery machines, and functions as a space where ITE students could learn digital sewing and embroidery. This space is also used to conduct ITE’s SkillsFuture Certificate of Competency (CoC) in Introduction to Digital Sewing & Online Marketing course for members of the public. 

Ms Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State, Ministry of Education & Manpower, and Mr Fabrice Filliez, the Ambassador of Switzerland to Singapore, officiated the launch of the facility at ITE College East today.

Besides nurturing interest in digital sewing and embroidery, the partnership serves to build skilled talents that support BERNINA’s expansion in the region. Trained ITE students will be provided opportunities for employment as BERNINA’s after-sales service providers, upon graduation. One such student, Muhammad Zainul Arifin, who recently graduated from Higher Nitec in Electronics Engineering, ITE College East, received a sponsored trip for further training at BERNINA’s headquarters in Switzerland. Upon his return, Zainul will be officially employed by BERNINA (Singapore) as a Technical Executive.

Ms Low Khah Gek, Chief Executive Officer of ITE, said, “With the rise of advanced machinery and automation across all industries, knowledge in the maintenance of high-tech machines has become an increasingly valuable skillset. Such machines include BERNINA’s digital sewing machines, with each of them containing many highly complicated parts. What is special about the ITE-BERNINA Service Training Centre is that it allows our students to gain practical experience in troubleshooting and servicing actual machines of BERNINA’s customers. This helps our students to build work-ready skills that open up employment opportunities for them.”