Building the future workplace
Prof Ho (left) and Mr Ong signing the NUS-Keppel O&M MOU
NUS signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with ST Engineering and Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M) on 23 November as part of the “NUS All-You-Can-Learn” (NUS AYCLTM) initiative to foster and promote continuing and lifelong learning within the two organisations.
NUS AYCLTM is a customisable training programme for businesses to upskill and reskill their workforce, and the latest step in the University’s advocacy of lifelong learning and continuing education. It is administered by the NUS School of Continuing and Lifelong Education.
Speaking at the MOU signing ceremonies, NUS Senior Deputy President and Provost Professor Ho Teck Hua noted that the continuing education and training landscape in Singapore is quickly evolving, and disruptions in the workplace have mandated that the workforce upskill and reskill in order to stay competitive.
The MOU with Keppel O&M will give about 2,000 to 3,000 training places for employees to upgrade themselves via a range of NUS academic modules and executive programmes on topics such as data analytics, finance and business, and environmental engineering. These topics are aligned with Keppel O&M’s drive to optimise operations and strengthen capabilities in their workforce to ensure they remain competitive and relevant. NUS is also working with Keppel O&M to develop an organisational training plan for the entire organisation to enhance employee capabilities, as well as provide seminars to encourage upskilling and reskilling, and degree-level programmes for selected employees.
Keppel O&M is a supporter of lifelong learning, said Mr Chris Ong, CEO of Keppel O&M, who signed the MOU on behalf of the organisation. “We are glad to partner NUS to introduce a range of initiatives that will encourage upskilling and reskilling. As we leverage technology in our business, we are also investing in our employees so that they are empowered to be agents of change and innovation…These initiatives enable us to strengthen our capabilities and stay ahead in the offshore and marine industry,” he elaborated.
Prof Ho (left) and Mr Chong after the signing of the NUS-ST Engineering MOU
Meanwhile, the MOU with ST Engineering will see the latter for a start, send 1,000 of its employees for a series of fully-sponsored continuing education and training programmes in digital and future technologies, spanning topics such as data analytics, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. The company is also exploring plans with NUS to continue strengthening its workforce through the development of bespoke undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in digital and future technologies.
ST Engineering hopes these courses will equip its senior managers with a deeper knowledge to lead the digitalisation efforts as well as further develop the skill sets and expertise of its engineers as they create new possibilities in this fast-growing domain. As of October, courses and workshops centred on data analytics have already begun.
“People are our core strength. We are building a world-class workforce that is future-ready and equipped with both breadth and depth in technology and engineering capabilities. The signing of the MOU marks our commitment to further invest in our employees’ growth, in areas critical to our digitalisation drive,” said Mr Vincent Chong, President and CEO of ST Engineering, who signed the agreement MOU on behalf of the Group.
NUS Vice Provost (Lifelong Education) Professor Susanna Leong shared in her speech at the ceremony that NUS champions continuing and lifelong learning and these MOU signings further cement the University’s commitment towards the education and retraining of the workforce to help them stay competitive amid the disruptions in the digital age.
