Address by Mr Ng Cher Pong, Chief Executive of SkillsFuture Singapore, at the Launch of SAP Skills University Singapore

07/02/2018

Address by Mr Ng Cher Pong, Chief Executive of SkillsFuture Singapore, at the Launch of SAP Skills University Singapore

By Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister For Education (Higher Education and Skills)

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Introduction and Background to SAP Skills University Singapore

Today, we are witnessing the setting up of the SAP Skills University Singapore. This is SAP’s first such collaboration in South East Asia, with the polytechnics. So, in Singapore, trainees will get to experience the full range of SAP content and learning.

The establishment of the SAP Skills University Singapore is also unique because for the first time, all our polytechnics are coming together to collaborate with SAP and share training resources. Learners will therefore benefit from not only SAP’s industry insights but also theeducation expertise of our polytechnics.

Staying the Course – Pushing for Excellence

The SAP Skills University Singapore is a win-win-win partnership for SAP and its industry partners, the polytechnics and SkillsFuture Singapore. For industry, there continues to be strong demand for ICT professionals. This is not surprising because ICT is a key driver of transformation across almost every industry – from work processes to business models. In the national Jobs Bank alone, there are currently more than 500 job postings that require some form of SAP-related certifications, when last checked. So, it makes business sense for SAP to step in to strengthen this eco-system, by training in excess of its own manpower needs in order to support its partners and customers.

For the polytechnics, they have been ramping up their training capacity for ICT programmes to meet the strong industry demand. However, one key constraint is the shortage of ICT lecturers, especially those who are conversant with emerging technologies. The partnership with SAP enables them to tap on industry resources, in order to expand their training capacity. This is particularly so as SAP has committed to bringing in its experts from all around the world, to impart international best practices and skills to our local companies and workforce.

For SkillsFuture Singapore, the SAP Skills University Singapore represents another major step forward in strengthening the skills eco-system for an industry of strategic importance. It is an illustration of how a large company takes the lead to drive skills development not only for itself, but also for the broader industry. It is, what I called, enlightened self-interest at work. Such arrangements are much more common in countries such as Germany and Switzerland, but not so in Singapore. We plan to catalyse more such partnerships, as we step up our engagement
of enterprises and expand the range of work-learn programmes.

For the SAP Skills University Singapore, SAP will work with the polytechnics to co-develop curriculum content, and focus on delivering specialised ICT courses such as Predictive Analytics, Artificial
Intelligence, Blockchain, amongst others which are key to entry in jobs such as software and application developer.

There will be a wide range of SAP training programmes available at the SAP Skills University Singapore, which will be delivered using SAP’s innovative blended learning. Specifically, there will be two work-learn programmes which bundle placement with training. The first is professional conversion programmes, targeted at individuals who are keen to obtain relevant skills and take on new job roles in the ICT sector. The second programme is targeted at fresh polytechnic graduates facilitating employment with companies and serves to kick-start their career in the ICT sector.
 
Within the next three years, over 1,000 individuals are expected to benefit from the collaboration.

The SAP Skills University Singapore will set up its shopfront at Temasek Polytechnic. It will not only advise individuals on suitable training programmes to upskill or reinvent themselves, but also offer
career services to help match individuals to SAP-related jobs.

I urge companies that require SAP-related skills to tap on the SAP Skills University Singapore by sending existing staff to obtain new skills orrecruiting new talent through the work-learn programmes.

Conclusion

In concluding, the setting up of the SAP Skills University Singapore is testament to the strong commitment by SAP and the polytechnics to strengthen the links between education and Industry.

I would like to thank all the parties involved for bringing this concept to reality over the past few months. Having witnessed at firsthand how determined everyone is to move forward on the concept, I have every confidence that this is the start of a successful partnership.

Congratulations on the setting up of the SAP Skills University Singapore!

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