Singapore and Myanmar launch S$1 million training programme to enhance skills qualification framework

10 Mar 2015

News Release

Singapore and Myanmar launch S$1 million training programme to enhance skills qualification framework

Naypyidaw, Myanmar, 10 March 2015 - Temasek Foundation, Singapore (TF) and Singapore Polytechnic (SP) today announced the launch of a training programme, in partnership with the National Skill Standard Authority (NSSA) of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, to link and align Myanmar’s national vocational qualifications to ASEAN standards. The two-year initiative, which will train about 100 technical specialists, will cost about $1 million and is jointly funded by TF and NSSA.

In 2012, TF, SP and NSSA collaborated on its first joint training programme which focused on establishing academic systems for technical and vocational institutions, and a systematic five-phase approach for curriculum design and development. The new programme is expected to support the NSSA in its efforts to reference Myanmar’s national vocational qualifications to the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF), a regional framework to correlate the individual qualification systems across ASEAN countries. This will be significant in facilitating the mobility of labour and learners within the ASEAN region.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed today in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, between Mr U Win Shein, Director General, Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security and Mr Lee Leck Seng, General Manager of Singapore Polytechnic International. The signing was witnessed by H.E. U Aye Myint, the Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; H.E. U Htin Aung, the Deputy Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; H.E. Mr Robert Chua, Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore to Myanmar; Mr Benedict Cheong, Chief Executive Officer, Temasek Foundation and Ms Chong Phit Lian, member of Singapore Polytechnic’s Board of Governor.

“We would like to thank Temasek Foundation for the strong support they have given us since our first collaboration in 2012 and for the continued support for this new technical cooperation. We are confident that this collaboration will further strengthen the relations between Myanmar and Singapore, and deepen our collective efforts to work towards realising the ASEAN Economic Community,” said U Myo Aung, Director General, Department of Labour, Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

“Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is an important component of education and life-long learning across Asia. By establishing good frameworks, technical and vocational institutions will be able to offer their graduates better opportunities for employment and learning. Temasek Foundation is pleased to support the National Skill Standard Authority in their continuing efforts to enhance the vocational education and training system in Myanmar,” said Mr Benedict Cheong, Chief Executive Officer, Temasek Foundation, Singapore.

Ms Chong Phit Lian, a member of SP’s Board of Governors said, “This new capability development programme in Myanmar marks the first time that Singapore Polytechnic and Temasek Foundation are collaborating on the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF). Through this programme, we aim to equip the NSSA and relevant Myanmar agencies with an in-depth understanding of the AQRF and the capability to interpret and relate the AQRF to the qualifications systems of NSSA.”

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Naypyidaw, Myanmar this morning between Singapore Polytechnic and the National Skill Standard Authority (NSSA) of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Signing the MoU were (extreme left) Mr Lee Leck Seng, General Manager, Singapore Polytechnic International and (extreme right) Mr U Win Shein – Director General, Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Witnessing the signing were (seated from left): H.E. U Aye Myint – Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and Ms Chong Phit Lian – Member of Board of Governor, Singapore Polytechnic; (standing from left): Mr Benedict Cheong – Chief Executive Officer, Temasek Foundation; H.E. U Htin Aung – Deputy Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and H.E. Mr Robert Chua – Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

Officiating at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Naypyidaw, Myanmar this morning between Singapore Polytechnic and the National Skill Standard Authority (NSSA) of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar were: (from left) Mr Lee Leck Seng – General Manager, Singapore Polytechnic International; H.E. U Htin Aung – Deputy Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; Mr Benedict Cheong – Chief Executive Officer, Temasek Foundation; H.E. U Aye Myint – Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; H.E. Mr Robert Chua – Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; Ms Chong Phit Lian – Member of Board of Governor, Singapore Polytechnic and Mr U Win Shein – Director General, Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

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Note: Please refer to attached fact sheet for details of the programme.

About Singapore Polytechnic (www.sp.edu.sg)

Established in 1954, Singapore Polytechnic (SP) is Singapore’s first polytechnic. It has 10 schools that offer 49 full-time diploma courses for close to 16,000 students. SP adopts a proven creative teaching and learning framework and offers students a holistic, authentic and industry-relevant curriculum, innovative and vibrant learning spaces, and enriching overseas programmes.

The Polytechnic is committed to producing competent and versatile graduates who are also imbued with sound values, so that they can be work ready, life ready and world-ready. SP has more than 178,000 graduates and among them are successful entrepreneurs, top executives in multi-national and public-listed corporations, and well-known professionals across various industries and leaders in government.

SP is the first polytechnic to be awarded the President’s Award for the Environment in 2010 and the President's Social Service Award in 2011.

Follow SP on Facebook at www.facebook.com/singaporepolytechnic or Twitter at www.twitter.com/SingaporePoly

About Temasek Foundation (www.temasekfoundation.org.sg)

Temasek Foundation is a non-profit philanthropic organisation anchored in Singapore that seeks to contribute to sustainable growth and a bright future of hope and opportunities for people in Asia. The foundation works with partners to support programmes that develop people through health care, education and research, programmes that build bridges between peoples, programmes that build institutions of excellence through governance and ethics, and programmes that rebuild lives and livelihoods affected by natural disasters.

About National Skill Standard Authority (NSSA) of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar

NSSA is currently chaired by the Deputy Union Minister, Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security with the Director-General for Department of Labour as Secretary, and members comprising Director-Generals and senior management of various government ministries, professional bodies and private sector partners

NSSA is responsible for the four skill levels of the vocational qualifications framework, namely: Level 1: Semi-skilled, Level 2: Skilled, Level 3: Advanced- skilled and Level 4: Supervisory. Its responsibilities include setting national occupational competency standards, training, national skill assessment and certification of occupational skills for these 4 levels in Myanmar. To achieve this, NSSA works closely with various government Ministries, lead industry bodies and private sector organisations in Myanmar.

For more information, please contact:

Singapore Polytechnic

Hafeez Sim Andy Kwan

Corporate Communications Officer Corporate Communications Manager

Singapore Polytechnic Singapore Polytechnic

T: 6772 1347 / M: 9830 6066 T: 6772 1742 / M: 9761 6111

E: sim_hafeez@sp.edu.sg E: andykwan@sp.edu.sg

Temasek Foundation

Ms Caroline Tan

Head, Communications

Temasek Foundation

T: 6828 6739 / M: 9768 4628