NUS Institute of Systems Science marks 35th anniversary with new initiatives to prepare Singaporeans for a smart nation
NUS-ISS to introduce professional conversion programmes, stackable programmes and employment services to support the national SkillsFuture movement
The National University of Singapore Institute of Systems Science (NUS-ISS) today announced new programmes and initiatives at a gala dinner event to mark the institute’s achievements in nurturing infocomm technology (ICT) professionals over the last 35 years. Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Mr Ong Ye Kung was the Guest-of-Honour for the event, which was attended by about 300 business leaders, industry professionals, educators, NUS staff and alumni.
NUS-ISS, which was conferred the pinnacle status of National Continuing Education & Training (CET) Institute in 2013, will expand its collaboration with WDA to include professional conversion programmes, a stackable graduate degree programme, as well as matching, placement and advisory services. These new initiatives, which are designed to meet industry needs, will support the national SkillsFuture movement.
Mr Ong said, “NUS-ISS can play a pivotal role in the ICT sector by showcasing to current and aspiring ICT professionals the new digital world and its opportunities, and equipping them with the necessary knowledge and relevant skills to bolster their confidence to ride the new wave of technological advancements.”
NUS-ISS also expects to introduce about 30 new courses over the next three years in areas including Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Deep Machine Learning and Robotics, to prepare Singapore’s workforce for the disruptive technology trends that are transforming the industry.
“Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs) trust NUS-ISS as the institution of choice to sharpen their skills and improve their employability. We are well positioned to be the beacon of the CET industry, to play a key role in alleviating the talent shortage in the industry, and to unlock the digital potential of the wider PME workforce,” said Ms Janet Ang, Chairperson of NUS-ISS Management Board.
“NUS-ISS is proud of our long-standing partnership with WDA as we embark on the next phase of our collaboration. In addition to these new initiatives and programmes, the new courses that NUS-ISS will roll out over the next three years will also help to meet the emerging needs of the industry, and enable radically new ways of learning and practice for future jobs. NUS-ISS will work very closely with all stakeholders to deliver even greater impact to the industry in the years to come,” said Mr Khoong Chan Meng, Director and CEO, NUS-ISS.
Professional Conversion Programmes for Data Analyst and Full Stack Software Developer
NUS-ISS and WDA will jointly introduce two new Professional Conversion Programmes (PCP) for Data Analyst and Full Stack Software Developer in response to growing interest from mid-career professionals looking to enter the ICT industry. As part of the ADAPT and GROW initiative, the PCPs aim to help mid-career Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs) to reskill with the necessary competencies and match them with employers. They will be rolled out in the last quarter of 2016.
Each PCP consists of bite-sized learning bootcamps, followed by on-the-job training. Participants of the PCP for Data Analyst can expect to complete the programme in five months, while the PCP for Full Stack Software Developer can be completed in six months. Please refer to Annex A for more details.
Stackable Graduate Degree Programme
NUS-ISS will also be launching a new stackable graduate degree programme in digital solutions development. The programme is a series of four certificates which will stack up toward its existing Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis. It will be conducted in a modular format to provide participants with bite-sized learning opportunities and enable them to pick up new skills to prepare them for various digital solutions development job roles.
Participants will be awarded NUS-ISS certificates upon the completion of each module of the programme, which can be taken over a period of up to five years. This stackable approach promotes a culture of lifelong learning, while allowing PMEs to upskill without disrupting their careers, and be recognised by their employers for their learning. Please refer to Annex B for more details.
Enhancement of Job Matching, Placement and Advisory Services
Currently, NUS-ISS’ internship programmes and career fairs help to match and place graduate degree students with potential employers. NUS-ISS also offers employment advisory to displaced PMEs who attend its executive education programmes.
By the first quarter of 2017, NUS-ISS will be scaling up these existing efforts and provide enhanced matching, placement and advisory services to both PMEs and employers. The services will be data-driven and supported by research on job and skill trends, and will also shape NUS-ISS’ future education portfolio. The executive education programmes will also be extended to a wider PME workforce to include PMEs from digital businesses which will connect more digital talents to the needs of the industry.
On top of matching and placement services, NUS-ISS will also be collaborating with social enterprises and trade associations to provide career counselling clinics, personalised coaching and mentorship programmes.
Celebrating NUS-ISS’ Achievements
Since its inception in 1981, NUS-ISS has been fully committed to training and developing IT professionals. In its early days, the institute only offered one graduate diploma and a handful of short courses. Today, NUS-ISS has grown to be a National CET Institute, offering five graduate degree programmes and more than 80 executive education programmes. In recent years, NUS-ISS also offers executive education programmes in Design Thinking, Digital Innovation, Analytics, Cybersecurity, Agile and Full Stack Software Development to meet emerging industry needs.
To date, NUS-ISS has trained more than 107,000 ICT PMEs, who make up a significant portion of the ICT PMEs in Singapore today. In 2015, more than 6,000 PMEs had participated in NUS-ISS’ executive education programmes, and its staff and students had participated in 195 projects with industry organisations. Please refer to Annex C for more details.
At the gala dinner, NUS-ISS presented appreciation awards to 15 organisations from sectors including banking, healthcare and telecommunication, for partnering the institute in its initiatives and programmes which have inspired and nurtured digital talent. Please refer to Annex D for the list of industry partners.
