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Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
New mentoring programme encourages more ITE students to pursue Work-Study diplomas
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Senior Minister of State for Education Janil Puthucheary speaking at the launch of the mentoring initiative for the work-study diploma programme at ITE East College on Aug 12. SINGAPORE – Students at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) will now be able to receive guidance from mentors, in efforts to encourage more Higher Nitec students to pursue a Work-Study Diploma (WSDip) after graduation. Funded by non-profit Quantedge Foundation Singapore for five years, JumpStart, ITE's first mentoring initiative for its WSDip programme, will be done in collaboration with youth organisation The Astronauts Collective. Calling the timing of this partnership significant, Senior Minister of State for Education Janil Puthucheary said that career mentoring comes at a crucial time in an uncertain economic climate. 'Rising trade tensions and technological shifts are reshaping jobs, industries and the nature of work,' he said. He was speaking to 300 ITE students at the signing of the memorandum of understanding between ITE and the two partner organisations at the WorldX event – an annual career exploration festival for ITE students – at ITE College East on Aug 12. Dr Janil, who is also Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, said the increasing challenge of securing jobs that meets students' expectations may cause anxiety, but the Education Ministry is 'closely monitoring the employment situation'. Students can enter the six-month mentorship programme at three points – during their internship in the final year of their Higher Nitec course, the application period for the WSDip programme or the first year of their WSDip course. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NEL, Sengkang LRT resume service after hours-long power fault; Punggol LRT being restored Singapore Live: Services on Punggol LRT being progressively restored Singapore Luxury items seized in $3b money laundering case handed over to Deloitte for liquidation Singapore Plan to base Singapore's F-15 fighter jets in Guam cancelled Singapore Hyflux investigator 'took advantage' of Olivia Lum's inability to recall events: Davinder Singh Singapore Scoot to launch flights to Chiang Rai, Okinawa, Tokyo-Haneda, boost frequency to other places Singapore Off-duty SCDF officer dies after accident in Punggol; 15-year-old pillion rider taken to hospital Business Goh Cheng Liang, Nippon Paint billionaire and richest Singaporean, dies at 98 Voluntary mentors, comprising industry professionals and senior ITE alumni, will provide students with ongoing support and career guidance as they transition into the WSDip programme and start working. There will be a minimum of six mentoring sessions throughout the programme. An ITE spokeswoman said the programme has supported over 150 students across the three ITE colleges since it began in March 2025, and aims to support 100 more by the end of 2025. ITE's chief executive, Ms Low Khah Gek, said ITE hopes to expand the number of mentees each year, to support their target of an intake of 2,000 WSDip students by 2030. 'This is a significant increase of 400, compared to this year's intake of 1,600,' she said. The ITE spokeswoman said its first mentorship programme is targeted at WSDip trainees to jump-start the process of students gaining meaningful employment and skills upgrading via the WSDip programme. (From left) CEO of Quantedge Foundation Xie Yao Quan, Senior Minister of State for Education Janil Puthucheary, CEO of ITE Low Khah Gek, Chairman of ITE Andrew Chong, and the executive directors of The Astronauts Collective Wong Yi Fong and Marvin Kang during the MOU Signing between ITE, Quantedge Foundation and The Astronauts Collective. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO She added that with positive employment outcomes for WSDip graduates in terms of starting salaries and full-time employment rate, the ITE hopes to encourage more ITE graduates to pursue this progression pathway. Dr Janil said that with the median starting salary for ITE WSDip graduates being comparable to those of full-time Polytechnic diploma graduates, more students should have access to the WSDip programme. He added that mentoring is crucial to help students discover their interests and equip them with the confidence and skills needed to better transition into work. 'Having someone who can share their experience, provide practical advice and offer encouragement can make a significant difference in helping our youth make informed decisions about their education and their career path,' he said. Mr Muhammad Zulfaqar Muhammad Rizal, 21, joined the mentoring programme on the first day of his WSDip course in Facilities Management at ITE College West in April 2025. He will graduate in April 2028. Muhammad Zulfaqar Muhammad Rizal, 21, at ITE East College on Aug 12. He has met his mentor at least five times to discuss the challenges he has faced. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO He has since met his mentor, Miss Goh Ying Xuan, 28, at least five times to discuss the challenges he has faced during the programme and how to overcome them. Miss Goh, a former ITE student and polytechnic graduate, is currently pursuing a degree in Project and Facilities Management at the National University of Singapore under a scholarship from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Mr Zulfaqar said Miss Goh was able to use her own experiences working in facilities management during her five-year stint as a public servant to advise him on how to overcome challenging situations at work. 'There are times when I have to speak to clients, like tenants and contractors on-site. And some of them can be hard to handle. She told me not to take it personally as they come and go,' he said. He said that during their discussions, which can last between one and three hours over a meal, Miss Goh taught him how to speak and interact with others more confidently. Apart from discussing workplace scenarios, she also checks on his well-being and imparts other skills like time management. 'Although I'm in school, I'm actually at work. So she taught me how to differentiate between the two and manage my time better by focusing on one thing, instead of letting work and school interfere with each other.' He noted that having a mentor was especially beneficial in building his confidence to enter the workforce, as he had never experienced what it was like to work before starting the WSDip programme. 'A mentor can help emotionally and in hard times... especially to teach how to handle stuff that we don't usually experience when we are in school. '
Chicago Tribune
07-08-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Editorial: Brandon Johnson and friends think it's ‘a privilege to do business in Chicago.' Wrong.
In the later years of Richard M. Daley's mayoralty and especially during the tenure of Rahm Emanuel, the city of Chicago served as a magnet for corporate headquarters relocations, particularly from the suburbs. United Airlines moved its headquarters to Willis Tower from Elk Grove Village, shifting thousands of employees to the city. Kraft Heinz consolidated its base in Chicago from Northfield. McDonald's moved its home office to the West Loop from its longtime base in west suburban Oak Brook in 2018. These are just a few of the examples. At the time of these moves, the city was perceived as hot. Even companies that didn't go so far as to relocate their headquarters to Chicago opened satellite offices in the city, believing that they needed a physical presence to attract younger workers. The era we're talking about wasn't that long ago — less than a decade — but it feels like ancient history. Post-pandemic, downtown Chicago lost its mojo and, unlike New York City, has failed to recover adequately in the midst of relentless fiscal crises and poor municipal leadership. Chicago's progressive mayor, Brandon Johnson, routinely describes the corporate decision-makers in his city as the 'ultra-rich' (when he refers to them at all). With Johnson declaring on Tuesday that the city's finances are at a 'point of no return' — whatever that means — the mayor and his progressive allies believe they may have found the answer to their seemingly never-ending quest for massive revenue infusions that affect only the wealthy. A heretofore obscure advocacy group, the so-called Institute for the Public Good, has proposed a new city tax on companies and other large employers that would require them to pay 5% of their total payroll for anyone working in the city who makes $200,000 or more (including noncash compensation like stock options). The group estimates such a levy would generate $1.5 billion a year. Voila! A Chicago budget deficit now topping $1 billion in 2026 would disappear thanks to something this group pitches as a 'tax on the privilege of doing business in Chicago.' The group in a July release said the initiative was based on a similar tax Seattle passed several years ago. Seattle's 'JumpStart tax,' as that city branded the levy, 'has exceeded revenue expectations since 2020 — generating $1.2 billion in four years,' the group claimed. What the Institute for the Public Good neglected to disclose was that revenue from the JumpStart tax fell short of projections in 2024, with Mayor Bruce Harrell acknowledging that major corporations had moved 'thousands of high-paying jobs' out of Seattle to evade the tax. Amazon, for example, shifted jobs from Seattle to Bellevue, Washington. 'Large corporations should pay their fair share … but we also must recognize businesses will make choices based on their bottom line,' Harrell said. Indeed. That's how a competitive economy works. Its rules apply to municipalities just as much as they apply in the business world. The predictable corporate response to Seattle's tax, it should be noted, came even though the rates Seattle is charging are considerably less than the 5% Johnson and some progressive aldermanic allies are contemplating. In addition, the state of Washington doesn't charge an income tax on individuals or businesses. Illinois, of course, already charges a corporate income tax exceeding 9% — the second highest in the country. Imagine how much more quickly Chicago corporate employers would respond to such an egregious tax given the tax burden they already shoulder 'for the privilege of doing business in Chicago.' Such a tax would be aimed straight at the heart of companies that in the past have stuck by this city through thick and thin. Think Northern Trust. Think law firms like Jenner & Block. And, yes, United Airlines. So far, at least. For the last several years, there's been speculation about a potential United headquarters move to Denver, where the company acquired 113 acres near one of its hubs and has major growth plans. United has denied plans to move, but a tax along these lines easily could have Chicago's hometown airline calling another city home. Who could blame them? This tax could also be such a boon for the likes of Evanston that it boosts the market for high-rise office towers, soon to be filled with new offices for companies that used to base their high earners in Chicago. Suburban municipalities will be licking their lips. Already, Chicago in recent years has lost an alarming number of major corporate headquarters to locales perceived as friendlier to business. Three years ago, Caterpillar moved to Texas. Boeing decamped for the Washington, D.C., suburbs the same year. And, perhaps most famously, Citadel, one of the nation's most prominent hedge funds and market makers, left Chicago — where it was born — for Miami in 2022. Citadel's workforce once numbered 1,100 in downtown Chicago, most of whom were compensated above the $200,000 threshold Mayor Johnson now wants to tax. In a few short years, Citadel's Chicago headcount now is at just 250, we understand. Once company bosses make up their minds that the 'privilege of doing business' in a certain place is no longer worth the expense and headache, it doesn't take long for them to act. Progressives who lack respect for billionaires like Citadel CEO Ken Griffin may feel they can afford to sniff at the loss of hundreds of his highly paid employees. But the departure of those 850 Citadel workers has meant hundreds of millions in lost spending power, including tax receipts. Keep chasing folks like that out of town, and that 5% tax soon will need to be raised to something like 7.5% and surely more later. That's how once-flourishing cities like Chicago end up circling the drain.
Business Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Accenture supports mentorship programmes for pre-employment youths
[SINGAPORE] Professional services company Accenture announced that it is supporting youth mentorship programmes this year, at its 50th anniversary dinner at Raffles Hotel on Monday (Jun 2). In partnership with The Astronauts Collective (TAC), the programmes target pre-employment youths and aim to provide them with skills and exposure to the digital economy. TAC is a charity that helps youths explore the working world and find meaningful careers. Through the programmes, Accenture employees will act as mentors and provide career guidance. They plan to commit 5,000 hours over two years and work mainly with secondary and tertiary students who are still in school. Mark Tham, country managing director of Accenture Singapore, said: 'Globally, many developed countries are struggling because of problems with youth. This is something we want to prevent from happening. With the right infrastructure and education system we have here, there's no reason for us to leave the youth unmanaged.' In particular, youths will learn about cybersecurity, problem-solving, critical thinking, digital literacy and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). 'As a net talent creator, we are focused on growing Singapore's digital talent pipeline – equipping individuals with future-ready skills and creating opportunities that extend beyond our own workforce,' he said. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Tham added that the company will draw on its 'global expertise in AI, skilling and digital transformation' while supporting Singapore's Smart Nation 2.0 strategy, which aims to position the country as a global hub for innovation and technology. Accenture is supporting TAC's Day X Program, a hands-on workshop that introduces youths to opportunities in tech and consulting. It is also partnering TAC for the JumpStart Career Mentoring Programme, which provides personalised support for students. JumpStart will run for six months and assist youths in their school-to-work transition. It aims to help them search and explore career options, secure opportunities, start a new job on good footing, and sustain their career while growing their skill set. After Accenture volunteers sign up, TAC trains them and pairs youths with a mentoring case manager who gives personalised support. Participants in JumpStart also have access to individual mentors, with a 1:1 mentor-to-mentee ratio. Day X started in May, and will roll out again in October. Meanwhile, JumpStart will commence later this year. Tham said there is potential for the programmes to be scaled up and for the volunteers to commit more hours. TAC has benefited more than 40,000 youths since 2015. It connected with Accenture via Mentoring SG, a movement launched by then deputy prime minister Lawrence Wong in end-2022 offering mentoring opportunities to youths. On Monday, Accenture also announced that it would donate S$500,000 to the President's Challenge, in line with its 50th anniversary and SG60 this year. The initiative will support 60 programmes from 52 organisations in 2025. The company will join Community Chest's Share programme, which allows employees to donate to social causes on a monthly basis. Accenture has around 3,600 employees and has partnered government agencies such as the Ministry of Health and Changi Airport for digitalisation initiatives.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Launches JumpStart Initiative, Bringing Louisiana High School Students to Chicago for Immersive Experience at the National Restaurant Association Show
ProStart students from W.D. & Mary Baker Smith Career Center selected for a weekend of restaurant-focused learning and interaction through the first-ever JumpStart grant. CHICAGO, May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its commitment to empower the restaurant and foodservice leaders of the future, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation will bring a group of high school students from the W.D. & Mary Baker Smith Career Center in Lafayette, Louisiana, to Chicago for an immersive, industry-focused learning experience during this weekend's National Restaurant Association Show – part of its first-ever JumpStart initiative. JumpStart – will give students a front-row look at the trends and people shaping the restaurant and foodservice industry, showcasing the limitless opportunities that are available in the sector that currently employs more than 15.7 million Americans. Imagined and brought to life by former National Restaurant Association Chair Scott Redler, co-founder of Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, JumpStart was created to augment the ProStart classroom experience through real-world interaction with the restaurant industry and its leaders. The Foundation created the program in the fall of 2024, and students from W.D. & Mary Baker Smith Career Center were selected for the Foundation's inaugural JumpStart grant. As part of the application process, students were asked to explain how the JumpStart experience would benefit their restaurant career aspirations, while educators explained how the trip would improve their ProStart classroom experience. Learn why the experience is important to these young ProStart students here. "JumpStart is a unique way to cultivate and invest in the next generation of restaurant industry talent – a mission that is a cornerstone of the Foundation's work," said Rob Gifford, president of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. "I'm excited to witness the ways this immersive experience sparks imagination and wonder in these students around the excitement in our industry – along with the knowledge that they can be part of it." Highlights of the JumpStart experience include: Industry Immersion: Students will visit The National Restaurant Association Show, where they will have the chance to see the latest trends, innovations, and technologies in the restaurant industry. Expert Interactions: The students will meet with industry experts, including Chef Carla Hall, gaining insights and advice that will help them begin their career journey in the culinary field. Comprehensive Coverage: The grant covers all essential expenses, including travel, accommodation, and participation fees, ensuring a stress-free and enriching experience for the students and their educator. ProStart – the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation's nationwide career and technical education program – has equipped more than 1 million high school students with career-ready culinary and restaurant management skills. The program is designed to equip students with restaurant-specific certifications and competencies, over 400 hours of practical work experience, and access to restaurant and hospitality apprenticeship and scholarship opportunities. Students complete the ProStart program ready to join a professional kitchen or advance to higher education. Today, the program reaches 222,000 students at 2,200 schools. Learn more about how ProStart is investing in tomorrow's restaurant and foodservice leaders here. About ProStart®ProStart®, a nationwide, two-year high school career and technical education program uniting the classroom and restaurant industry, reaches nearly 222,000 students at almost 2,200 high schools throughout all states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. ProStart gives students a platform to discover and develop new interests and talents, while teaching employability skills like teamwork, professional behavior, time management and communication. About the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF):As the supporting philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association, the NRAEF's charitable mission includes enhancing the industry's training and education, career development, and community engagement efforts. The NRAEF and its programs work to Attract, Empower, and Advance today's and tomorrow's restaurant and foodservice workforce. NRAEF programs include: ProStart® – a high-school career and technical education program; Restaurant Ready/HOPES – Partnering with community based organizations to provide people with skills training and job opportunities; Military – helping military servicemen and women transition their skills to restaurant and foodservice careers; Scholarships – financial assistance for students pursuing restaurant, foodservice and hospitality degrees; and the Restaurant & Hospitality Leadership Center (RHLC) – accredited apprenticeship programs designed to build the careers of service professionals. For more information on the NRAEF, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Democrats in Washington Legislature reveal sweeping new tax plan
The Washington state Capitol on Nov. 11, 2024. (Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard) Democratic lawmakers in Washington are beginning to lay out the buffet of tax increases they want to use to fill most of a $16 billion state budget shortfall. There are hikes in business and capital gains taxes, new sales taxes on services and greater property tax collections by the state and local governments. Other selections include an increase in a surcharge on technology companies, an expanded tax on nicotine products, and a mandate for some large businesses to make a one-time pre-payment of sales tax owed to the state. Major financial institutions will pay a little more, too. And there's a surcharge on corporations with more than $250 million in annual revenue that starts Jan. 1, 2026, and lasts four years. Among those exempted from that surcharge is Boeing. A pivotal question now is whether Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson endorses the slate of tax measures. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last month, House and Senate Democrats rolled out separate packages to raise up to $21 billion. But Ferguson threw cold water on their desire to tax those with more than $50 million, a pillar in both approaches. The governor said this proposal was 'untested, difficult to implement, and most importantly, for purposes of adopting a sustainable budget, will face an immediate challenge in court.' That sent legislators searching for new options. They came up with a whole bunch. They also discarded a payroll tax modeled on Seattle's JumpStart tax that would have been levied on companies with large payrolls and highly-paid employees. This was another central plank in their earlier tax plans. The new approach still relies on many of the state's corporate and banking giants to pay more. It also still targets wealthier individual taxpayers with the addition of a second tier of the state's capital gains tax, which took effect in 2022 and has been upheld in court. Washington imposes a 7% tax on gains over $270,000 from the sale or exchange of long-term assets like stocks, bonds and business interests. Senate Bill 5813 and House Bill 2082 call for a new 9.9% tax on gains greater than $1 million, an idea Senate Democrats discussed in December. This would bring in an additional $280 million for the budget, $560 million over four years. The Senate Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on several bills at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. This is a developing story
