Polytechnic schemes see some success in helping recession-hit fresh graduates land jobs

18 Sep 2020

Polytechnics are seeing some success in their efforts to help about 26,000 of their fresh graduates gain new skills and land a job, even as the market continues to worsen. They're pushing for alumni to take up work-study programmes and even giving needy graduates priority to some of their own vacancies. An example is TP’s Alumnus from the Diploma of Mechatronics Tan Yong Heng who graduated two years ago. After completing National Service, he was unable to secure a job after five months and 70 applications. With the help of his alma mater, Yong Heng finally landed himself a job as a technician in a global tech firm under the graduate career kick-starter initiative, a yearlong programme that enables participants to work and receive training to enhance their skills. TP’s Director of Corporate Communications, Tan Kim Siew, shared that the programme has been well-received. In SP, a virtual career fair has helped about 5,000 participants connect with 50 employers that are still looking to hire under the work-study programme. Fresh graduates also have the option to choose 2 out of 40 upgrading courses for free, focusing on emerging industries such as data analytics and cyber security. SP’s Director of the PACE Academy Wong Jian Chang shared that the courses are specially curated to boost the graduates’ employability. \

[Channel NewsAsia]