Forum: Broaden SkillsFuture support for industry-specific training
A few months ago, I attended a Singapore Maritime Foundation forum on global industry trends. Expert speakers urged the attendees – mostly in their late 30s or 40s – to seize opportunities and upgrade their knowledge and skills to remain relevant. Motivated, I searched for relevant courses on the SkillsFuture platform, but was disappointed.
First, the courses I was interested in were not eligible for additional funding under the SkillsFuture Credits (Mid-Career), or SCMC, scheme. While Singaporeans still receive fee discounts for these courses, the lack of subsidies under SCMC means a significant cash outlay for an independent applicant without company sponsorship.
Second, it is baffling that none of the shipping courses offered by the Baltic Academy is available under the SkillsFuture platform. As the educational arm of the Baltic Exchange – an organisation first established in 1900 to represent the global shipping community and acquired by the Singapore Exchange in 2016 – its courses would be suitable for mid-career shipping professionals looking to deepen industry expertise.
I hope the SCMC scheme can be extended to more courses, including those outside the local education eco-system but which are industry-specific and recognised internationally. This would make SkillsFuture a more relevant and useful platform for mid-career professionals looking to reskill or upskill.
Sim Eng Cheong
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