Speech - Welcome Address by Ms Low Khah Gek, CEO/ITE, at the Inaugural ITE Aviation Symposium at ITE College East on 14 February 2025

Jobs in Aviation Sector for ITE Graduates

1. It is my pleasure to welcome all of you to ITE’s Inaugural Aviation Symposium 2025. Singapore’s aviation sector continues to grow as passenger traffic returns to pre-pandemic levels this year and air cargo around the world increases 30% above pre-pandemic levels. Jobs in the aviation sector are abundant and the number is set to increase as Changi Airport expands its infrastructure with an extended third runway, a mega Terminal 5 and a new aircraft maintenance facility, in anticipation of more flights, passengers and cargo. We look forward to hearing more specifics on the ongoing trends and developments from our two keynote speakers, Angela and Roger, as well as from Minister.

Attracting Talents into the Aviation Industry

2. At ITE, we could feel the recovery and expansion of the aviation sector. Employers have come to us looking for ITE students and graduates to take on job-roles in airport operations, passenger management, cargo handling, aircraft engine maintenance and cabin maintenance.

3. Our response to employers is to invite them to come onboard and partner ITE for the Work-Study Diploma. Employers will have immediate access to a talent pipeline. Our latest WSDip publicity pitch to employers is, “WSDip - Your Secret Sauce to a Talent Pipeline’. To our ITE graduates, our pitch is, ‘WSDip - Your Secret Sauce to a Career Headstart.’

4. In the last three years, 2022-2024, 535 ITE graduates have joined the aviation industry via the WSDip pathway. They are employed by various companies to take on different job-roles and undergo structured training to upskill, achieve a diploma and be ready for higher responsibilities. The five WSDips are:

• Airport Operations (cargo handling) – key employers like Dnata, GTRSG, SATS, Singapore Aero Support Services

• Customer Experience Management (Aviation Services) (passenger service on the ground) – Dnata, GTRSG, SATS

• Security Operations (border control) - ICA, SATS

• Aircraft Engine Maintenance (maintenance of engines) – GE Aviation Engine Services; ST Engineering Aerospace Engines, Mindef, ST Engineering Services

• Aircraft Cabin Engineering (maintenance of functions inside the cabin - electronics of door, ventilation, emergency features, inflight entertainment) – Singapore Aero Support Services

A New WSDip

5 The International Air Transport Association or IATA in short, has projected that post-COVID air passenger volume will double by 2040 and that Asia-Pacific will be a key engine of this increase. Airlines have been rapidly expanding their fleets and flying to new destinations. Intensifying the recruitment of air crew is imperative.

6 To meet this demand for air crews, ITE is launching a new Work-Study Diploma in Customer Experience Management (Cabin Services). This programme equips our students with not just customer service skills but also the ability to harness technology and data-driven insights to deliver exceptional passenger in-flight experience.

7 Our students and graduates are excited to have the opportunity to achieve a diploma while learning on the job and flying around the world. We already have 123 first-choice applicants vying to be selected for the April Intake. Besides Scoot supporting this WSDip, Jetstar Asia is also coming onboard to be our WSDip partner. Today, we will be formalising this ITE-Jetstar collaboration with an MOU. (Thank you, Jetstar Asia)

Showcase of Technological Innovations

8 The aviation industry is abuzz with innovations to improve safety, efficiency and service. Our industry partners, SATS, dnata, SASS (Singapore Aero Support Services) and SAAA (Singapore Aircargo Agents Association) will be sharing at the exhibition booths outside on how they have stepped up to harness technology to create new value, be more competitive and build capability and capacity. In addition, ITE students who participated in the Aviation Innovation Challenge and Digitalisation Challenge will also be showcasing their ideas and projects.

Conclusion

9 In conclusion, I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our industry partners for your strong support for ITE and for providing opportunities for ITE students and graduates to access good careers in the aviation sector. Together, let us build a robust pipeline of talents ready to work, thrive and contribute to the growth of Singapore’s aviation sector.

10 I hope today’s Symposium will inspire all of us to ‘take to the skies’ with renewed purpose and determination. Thank you.