Asean, China, India to feature more in exposure for tertiary students
Singapore
OVERSEAS attachments for tertiary students as part of pre-employment training are going to be slanted even more towards the growth economies in Asia.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said a new Asia-Ready Exposure Programme will be introduced to support Singaporean youth's visits to cities in Asean, China or India.
The aim is to hit a "70-70" target which will see not just 70 per cent of local graduates of institutes of higher learning (IHL) exposed to overseas experience, but also 70 per cent of this group to have exposure to Asean, China or India.
About half of all local IHL students - students from local universities and polytechnics - today have gained experience abroad through programmes such as internships, exchanges and service learning or study trips, according to Mr Heng. Most of these are believed to be in countries in Asia.
"Our local students are well-prepared to thrive in other countries and cultures, including in Asia," Mr Heng said. "In my pre-Budget dialogue with youth leaders, I was struck by their understanding of the importance of learning new skills and exploring new opportunities. They look forward to overseas exposure and postings in the region."
He said the government would also boost support for internships under the Global Ready Talent Programme (GRT).
An initiative of Enterprise Singapore, the government's promotion agency for overseas business ventures, the GRT aims to build a pipeline of global-ready talent for Singapore enterprises. This is done by exposing more Singaporeans to internships and overseas work opportunities and equipping them with market knowledge to navigate challenges in overseas markets.
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