THE ASIA-EUROPE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH HUB FOR LIFELONG

THE ASIA-EUROPE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH HUB FOR LIFELONG LEARNING 1 - 4 MAY 2005 SINGAPORE COUNTRY REPORT Lifelong Learning and Workforce Development in a Developed Asian Country SINGAPORE WORKFORCE DEVELOMENT AGENCY (WDA)

About Singapore

Did You Know? • Singapore consists of one main island 63 other tiny islands. • It is among the 20 smallest countries in the world, with a total land area of only 699 square kilometres. • The current population (2004) is estimated at 4. 24 million. • Apart from Monaco, Singapore is the most densely populated country in the world, with 6, 066 people per square kilometre. • Singapore has a high literacy rate of 94. 6%%, virtually every Singaporean receives 10 years formal schooling. • And Singapore leads the world in Mathematics and Science achievement for students between the age of 10 and 14*. * Source: Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (Timss 2003) 3

Did You Know? (cont’d) • Singapore has a labour force of about 2. 2 million. • About 60% of the labour force have secondary and higher education qualifications • Median age of the labour force is 35. 7 year old • Singapore has the world’s busiest container port 4

The Map of Singapore 5

Singapore in the Past 6

Singapore in the Past Raffles Place garden 7

Singapore in the Past Victoria Memorial Hall St Andrew’s Cathedral 8

Singapore Today 9

Singapore Today 10

Singapore Changi Airport is served by more than 70 airlines flying to more than 160 cities in 53 countries, and is wellplaced to meet Singapore 's aviation needs well into the future. In 2003, Singapore's Changi Airport won the award for "Best Airport Worldwide" for the 16 th consecutive year from the UK/Europe edition of the Business Traveller magazine. 11

Singapore has a modern Mass Rapid Transit system…. . • Commenced in 1987 and serving major high density travel corridors in Singapore. • The 109. 4 km MRT system, which consists of the North. South, East-West and North. East lines stretching over 62 stations, serves more than two million passengers daily. • Currently being enlarged, the new Circle Line will be the fourth MRT line. The line will be 33. 3 km long with about 29 additional stations. • A typical journey on the MRT costs less than 50 p (S$1. 50) 12

Singapore is a multi-cultural community Little India Singapore is a multiracial country. The major ethnic groups are: • • Chinatown Chinese (76. 7%), Malays (14%), Indians (7. 9%) Other minority races (1. 4%) Christmas Thaipusam 13

Vanda Miss Joaquim 14

GLOBAL NATIONAL INCOME (GNI) PER CAPITA (SAMPLE EXTRACT) COUNTRY 2002 2003 RANKING* Norway 38, 730 43, 350 (2) United States 35, 400 37, 610 (4) Japan 34, 010 34, 510 (5) Denmark 30, 260 33, 750 (6) United Kingdom 25, 490 28, 350 (11) Hong Kong 24, 500 25, 430 (12) Singapore 21, 180 21, 230 (21) Italy 19, 080 21, 560 (24) New Zealand 13, 250 15, 870 (30) South Korea 11, 280 12, 020 (32) Malaysia 3, 550 3, 780 (64) Thailand 2, 000 2, 190 (86) Indonesia 710 810 (105) India 470 530 (114) Cambodia 290 310 (137) Burundi 100 (158) Figure 1 (Source: World Bank) *Based on 2002 data 15

What Lifelong Learning means for Singapore … Singapore’s interest in lifelong learning focuses on its role in skills upgrading for the workforce, lifelong employability and its potential contribution to the improvement of industry competitiveness. 16

The Context … • A Strong Education and Post-Secondary Education System • Historically Low Unemployment and Rapid Growth • Rapid Economic Restructuring and Higher Unemployment • A Shift out of Manufacturing to Service Jobs • A New Emphasis on Continuing Education and Training 17

Singapore’s Unemployment Rate RESIDENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (%) Year ‘ 92 ‘ 93 ‘ 94 ‘ 95 ‘ 96 ‘ 97 ‘ 98 ‘ 99 ‘ 00 ‘ 01 ‘ 02 ‘ 03 ‘ 04 Q 2 ‘ 04 Q 3 Total Unemployme nt Rate 2. 2 2. 1 2. 2 2. 0 3. 5 3. 8 3. 7 3. 8 4. 9 5. 3 5. 9 3. 5 Source: Ministry of Manpower: Manpower Research & Statistics Department, Labour Market (Thrid Quarter 2004), Singapore, December 2004 18

What is WDA? • WDA stands for the Singapore Workforce Development Agency – a government statutory board formed under Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM). • Established in September 2003, the vision of WDA is to build a resilient, skilled and agile workforce for a vibrant Singapore economy. • WDA has about 280 staff with a mission to enhance the employability and competitiveness of employees and jobseekers, and build a workforce that meets the changing needs of Singapore’s economy. 19

WDA Vision, Mission & Outcomes Help Singaporeans Find and Keep Jobs VISION Help Businesses Compete with a Skilled Workforce A resilient, skilled and agile workforce for a vibrant Singapore economy WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MISSION Industry Focus & Engagement To enhance the employability and competitiveness of employees and job seekers, thereby building a workforce that meets the changing needs of Singapore's economy EMPLOYMENT FACILITATION CET SYSTEM WORKPLACE DEVELOPMENT LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION KEY OUTCOMES 1. Lifelong Employability 2. Competitive Workforce for Competitive Industries INCENTIVES WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROMOTION Internal & External Partnerships 20

Four Focuses of Interest In Lifelong Learning Research … • Development of a Conceptual Framework for Continuing Education and Training • Support Skills Formation and Workforce Development • Access to Lifelong Learning • An Outcome-Based Evaluation Model for Continuing Education and Training 21

The Conceptual Framework … • A Conceptual Model for Industry Skills • The National CET Qualifications Framework • Employability Skills • National Trainer Standards • Industry Councils • Quality Assurance System 22

The Conceptual Design of the National CET Framework A 3 -tiered skills structure Occupational skills within the industry cluster Generic skills & knowledge relevant to an industry cluster The economy as a whole Occupational Skills Industry Knowledge & Skills Organized Into industryrelevant competency units leading to CET qualifications to give recognition to training Generic Employability Skills 23

The Proposed CET Qualifications Framework … CET Qualifications Framework Graduate Diploma Graduate Certificate Specialist Diploma/Professional Diploma Advanced Certificate Higher Certificate 24

Role of Lifelong Learning in Supporting Training … ◘ The Lower Skilled ◘ Older Workers ◘ Workers Displaced by Industry Downsizing ◘ Job Seekers 25

Access to Lifelong Learning … • Competency-based Skills Training • Recognition of Prior Learning • Organisation of Modularised Learning • Removal of Entry Pre Requisites • Adult Learning Practices • Customization • Workplace Delivery • Multiple Technologies and Modes 26

An Outcome-Based Evaluation Model • Implementation of CET System creates need to measure and report on the effectiveness and impact of training. • Effectiveness – “going beyond measures of simple participation or even learning gains and outcomes” • Pragmatic measures of the effect of training are sought by stakeholders: employers, unions and industry bodies • Examples of measures impact of training on workplace effectiveness improvements in productivity (industry level, enterprise level and workplace level measures) return on investment in training 27

WDA’s Interest in Research in Lifelong Learning … • Comparable studies of the impact of lifelong learning systems upon national and industry competitiveness • Broader outcomes of lifelong learning upon individual and society at large • Long-term development of expertise in this field. • Intent is towards labour market issues 28

Singapore Workforce Development Agency … • Has a specific interest in continuing education and training and lifelong skills upgrading • Will conduct, contract and collaborate around its interests in furthering research and understanding of lifelong learning 30

Thank You