10 new courses in built environment sector on offer for mid-career workers

Singapore

MID-CAREERISTS looking for new roles in the built environment sector will soon be able to take up more courses to learn the skills they need.

SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) said some 900 opportunities in the sector will be progressively made available from this month, with support from various training providers including the BCA Academy, Institute of Technical Education, National University of Singapore, and Singapore Polytechnic (SP).

More than 10 new courses related to the sector, in areas such as construction and facilities management, security and environmental services, will be offered. These opportunities are being rolled out as part of the SGUnited Skills Programme, a full-time training programme ranging from six to 12 months that is tailored for people looking to upgrade their skills while job hunting.

SSG chief executive Ong Tze Ch'in told reporters during a media visit to SP on Thursday that there is a range of courses spread out over sectors.

"We are closely watching demand and interest from job seekers and we are prepared to adjust as required, depending on where the interests are and where the skill sets of those who are joining us are," he said.

During the visit, Education Minister Lawrence Wong sat in on a class for one of the new courses - the specialist diploma in building information modelling (BIM) management - where he observed trainees learning how to use a programme to design a building virtually.

SSG said it works with the various training providers and industry leaders to ensure that the courses are designed to equip trainees with in-demand skills that companies look for.

The specialist diploma in BIM management is a 12-month course that costs S$1,000. Trainees may use their SkillsFuture credits to offset the fee.

SSG and SP have partnered real estate group CapitaLand and infrastructure company CPG Corporation in this programme to prepare trainees for job opportunities in digital design, project management and smart facilities management. The companies will also look to hire from the trainee pool once the course ends.

Since the launch of the SGUnited Skills Programme in July, close to 700 trainees have enrolled in 40 courses.Mr Ong said this was "good progress", adding: "The SGUnited Skills Programme was designed for mid-careerists or mid-career workers, and I'm heartened to see that about more than 50 per cent of the enrolments are for persons aged 40 and above."

There are other applications - close to 10,000 - that are still being processed for courses that have yet to start, he said, adding that "we will do our very best to meet market demand".