On 28th July 2022, SMU Academy hosted its first ever SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme (SCTP) Orientation Night, marking the commencement of our inaugural (SCTP) Advanced Certificate in Driving Sustainability for the Future: The Future of Work through a Sustainable Lens programme.
What is the SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme (SCTP)?
The SCTP course is a train-and-place programme that supports mid-career individuals in acquiring industry-relevant skills to improve employability and pivot to new sectors or job roles. The national initiative was introduced during Budget 2022, and replaces the SGUnited Skills and SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways - Company Training programmes.
Available on a part-time or full-time basis, trainees in the SCTP would attend modular training courses, gain actual industry experience through work attachment or industry projects, and receive employment facilitation over the course of a period ranging between three to 12 months.
SMU Academy has since launched the following two SCTP courses in support of the national initiative spearheaded by SkillsFuture Singapore:
- (SCTP) Advanced Certificate in Driving Sustainability for the Future: The Future of Work through a Sustainable Lens, with its 2nd intake currently open for application and;
- (SCTP) Advanced Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain, which is also now open for application.
SCTP Orientation Night
Conceptualised with the aim of making meaningful impact for our trainees and key stakeholders, the orientation night took on an informal approach to networking, providing a platform for the trainees, trainers, mentors and industry partners to be better acquainted. It also gave trainees the opportunity to find out more about the SMU Academy way of learning as well as the various professions, companies and opportunities available within the Green Economy.
The sustainability sector in the Asia Pacific region is on the rise. In Singapore, the Green Economy forms one of the five pillars of the Singapore Green Plan 2030, a nationwide agenda that charts the ambitious targets and concrete initiatives to catalyse Singapore’s sustainability movement. A survey conducted by Schneider Electric found that companies in Singapore are highly supportive of Singapore’s Green ambitions, with 9 in 10 business leaders surveyed supportive of the Singapore 2022 Budget green transition plan. The "Singapore Green Pulse” survey also revealed increasing momentum among local companies to advance their sustainability agenda. As companies begin to implement ESG and sustainability strategies to support the Government’s plans to advance the green transition, green skills are imperative for the success of these initiatives and to achieve the nation’s green targets.
Introduction to key stakeholders and components of the programme
The evening officially opened with the SCTP briefing which gave aspiring trainees an overview of their 6-months SCTP journey and how the programme will help them acquire new skills in areas such as ESG reporting and governance. By applying the principles for effective adult learning that are key features of SMU Academy’s andragogy, trainees will acquire these skills through case study discussions, guided facilitation, corporate site visits as well as demonstrate their learning through presentations and a capstone project.
A key component of the SCTP course is the employment facilitation and career advisory services that would help trainees enhance their employment prospects and conquer their professional goals. Some of the support offered include career consultation, resume critique, building a strong personal brand on social media, mock interviews, networking advisory and job matching. Through various frameworks, tools and consultation, participants will work with our career strategist from the onset of the programme to help them achieve their professional and personal goals.
Demand for the skills and talent to do sustainability-related work has grown in leaps and bounds. Programmes like (SCTP) Advanced Certificate in Driving Sustainability for the Future: The Future of Work through a Sustainable Lens programme will give working adults, who have left formal education, the opportunity to gain highly sought-after skillsets to support organisations in their sustainability initiatives, reshape companies and save the planet. These were sentiments which were echoed by Mr John Lee of Infracrowd Capital, a corporate sponsor of the inaugural SCTP, and Ms Helene Li, CEO of GoImpact Capital Partners and trainer of the SCTP, when they addressed the room.
Minister of State for Education and Manpower Ms Gan Siow Huang’s address to the cohort
The Orientation Night welcomed Minister of State for Education and Manpower Ms Gan Siow Huang, who delivered a short address. She offered words of encouragement and support to the trainees as they embark on their 6 months SCTP learning journey. Emphasising on the importance of continuous learning, she noted how programmes like SCTP open doors of opportunities to new and emerging industries for them no matter their motivation – be it in their pursuit of a career transition or to upskill to perform better in their current role.
Networking session
One of the highlights of the evening was the networking opportunities for the trainees with corporate partners and potential employers, giving them an opportunity to expand their industry network and build relationships with industry leaders in the green sector.
That evening, MOS Gan also spoke with the trainees, industry and corporate partners, and SMU Academy staff to understand how the SCTP course can help both trainees, organisations and the overall ecosystem build and develop the talent and skills that they need.
A big thank you to Minister of State for Education and Manpower Ms Gan Siow Huang, industry partners, mentors, corporate sponsors – all of whom took the time and effort to attend our event and share their insights with our trainees.
And to our trainees, we are grateful that you chose to take this continuous learning journey with SMU Academy. Learning is a lifelong process. The SCTP on sustainability was designed to challenge you, guide you and open doors to new possibilities for you. We wish you a remarkable and fruitful journey that begins now.
Reflections from the Orientation Night:
Chris Sng
Trainee of SCTP
The Orientation Night provided me with the opportunity to network and learn from industrial veterans, allowing me to build meaningful relationships and gain valuable insights into the sustainability industry. I am looking forward to the start of the SCTP, especially building up my knowledge in Sustainability and establishing my network with like-minded professionals in this industry for future engagement and support. I also look forward to the opportunity to further grow my career in this area and contribute back to the industry using the new knowledge gained and network formed.
To all my fellow trainees, stay positive and keep an open mind on this journey ahead and you will be amazed at what you find at the end of the day.
Low Danli
Trainee of SCTP
I really enjoyed the opportunity to be better acquainted with the various stakeholders and my fellow trainees (and of course, the delicious refreshment 😋). This SCTP will equip and empower me to be able to contribute more meaningfully to the Sustainability industry, and I am especially looking forward to that. It takes a lot of courage to juggle between work and study so to all my fellow trainees, know that you are not alone. Let’s conquer it together!
Helene Li
CEO of GoImpact Capital Partners and trainer of SCTP
It is very encouraging to see such a vibrant community coming together to work on this urgent agenda of building talent for Sustainability. The Orientation Night provided all of us with a glimpse of the truly intersectional and deep support from government to corporates and the private sectors. As the Training Partner for SCTP, we look forward to engaging with the participants as we continue to bring practical industry insights into the learning experience.
Participants in this programme will definitely gain pragmatic insights and skills enhancement in the Sustainability area. These are key takeaways we anticipate participants will be able to gain from this program. As sustainability reshapes the business environment across all industry sectors, it will be timely for mid-career executives to equip themselves with added skills in this important area for their career development.
Edward Tay
Sustainability Ambassador and Programme Director of SCTP
Thank you to all our trainees and corporate partners for attending Orientation Night. I hope that you had a good catch up and I look forward to meeting everyone soon. The future of sustainability is here. If you are looking for a sustainability course that you can apply in your work in Singapore, then this (SCTP) Advanced Certificate in Driving Sustainability for the Future: The Future of Work through a Sustainable Lens programme will definitely prepare you well for it. I am ecstatic to journey alongside our SCTP participants as they discover new knowledge and unleash new potential in sustainability.
My advice to our incoming trainees is: Don’t be afraid. Take the opportunity to ask many questions as it will help you to unlock value and seek out different perspectives. I am looking forward to learning together.
Check out the SCTP Orientation Night event highlights in the video below:
