65 years on, Singapore Polytechnic has expanded its role to help local enterprises digitalise and train their workforce for a new age

03 Dec 2019

Singapore, 3 December 2019 – In 1954, Singapore Polytechnic (SP) became Singapore’s first polytechnic to train a new generation of workers to meet the needs of the economy. Over the years, SP continues to evolve to ensure its relevance to Singapore. Besides equipping youths via a skills-based approach to ready them for the workforce, SP has also expanded its role to help local enterprises transform and train their workforce for the digital age. 

At its 65th anniversary dinner today, graced by Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Education, SP’s Principal and CEO, Mr Soh Wai Wah shared the polytechnic’s commitment to remain relevant to support Singapore’s transformation journey: “Singapore Polytechnic is a polytechnic for all ages, both in the sense that we will always transform ourselves to remain relevant to Singapore in every age, and we have also systematically expanded our student base to include adults in the workforce.”

Over the past three years, SP has ramped up its efforts to help local enterprises stay relevant through:
- Consultancy services and job re-design to help companies in their transformation process 
- Joint research facilities with industry
- Lifelong learning for adults in the workforce

Consultancy services and job re-design to help companies in their Industry 4.0 Workforce Transformation 
Many local-based manufacturing companies are journeying towards Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and one common challenge is getting their workforce ready for this transformation. To help companies overcome this issue, SP has set up a Centre for I4.0 Workforce Transformation at its Dover Road Campus. 

Supported by SkillsFuture Singapore, the centre will focus on developing capability roadmaps, innovative training solutions and toolkits to enable companies to measure the effectiveness of their workforce transformation alongside job re-design projects that will prepare the workforce for I4.0. It will also drive the Company Workforce Transformation programme, supporting companies through job re-design projects and performance support resources to develop the skills sets of its workforce.

As part of the programme, SP will start with a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) and curate a customised set of training programmes that is integral to the job-redesign projects to upskill its workers and supervisors. Employees will also have access to Advanced Manufacturing micro learning courses which are aligned with the Smart Industry Readiness Index. A train-the-trainer programme will also be put in place to impart coaching techniques or on-the-job training to supervisors.

Since the introduction of the Company Workforce Transformation programme in March 2019, more than 20 companies, including Fong’s Engineering & Manufacturing Pte Ltd, Tai Sin Electric Ltd and SIA Engineering Company Limited have signed up for the programme. 

To support companies in the various capability areas, SP has set up 13 Consultancy and Technology Centres, including the new Data Science & Analytics Centre, Advanced Manufacturing Centre and this Centre for I4.0 Workforce Transformation. Companies interested to incorporate the latest technologies into their daily operations to improve their productivity, can consult these Centres.  

Joint research facilities with industry
In an effort to expose students and staff to the latest technologies or solutions used in the industry, SP has partnered 14 companies including those from the telecommunications, chemicals, marine or creative arts industry, to establish joint research facilities on the poly’s campus. These facilities are used by the companies to test or develop cutting-edge solutions with SP students and staff. 

One joint research facility is the Singtel-Ericsson 5G Garage - Singapore’s first live 5G testing facility. As part of the collaboration, 250 final-year students from the Diploma in Electrical & Electronic Engineering and Diploma in Computer Engineering are learning about 5G wireless technology and how to harness and apply it as part of their coursework. 

Singtel and Ericsson 5G experts have also trained SP staff and students to apply 5G wireless technology to their projects. One such example is the Autonomous Electric Vehicle (AEV) that was developed over nine months by 15 students from five engineering diploma courses. Tapping on 5G technology, the AEV is able to detect and avoid obstacles on the roads in real-time – a feat that was impossible with 4G technology.

Future generations of lifelong learners
Recognising the need to upskill the adult workforce in Singapore, SP has been working closely with industry partners to develop new and effective courses tailored to their needs.

Currently, SP offers a total of 463 Continuing Education & Training (CET) courses across different industries, such as digital analytics, cyber security, advanced manufacturing, digital media, artificial intelligence, FinTech and I4.0. 

Over the past three years, SP has also worked with more than 4,500 companies, to equip more than 67,000 adult learners with the latest skillsets or digital capabilities for their industry.