Best SGUnited Skills (SGUS) Programmes 2021

After the government announced that the SGUnited Jobs and Skills package will be extended to Mar 2021, many training providers of the SGUnited Skills (SGUS) and SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways – Company Training (SGUP) programmes started revving up their engines. Last week, I posted about the best SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways – Company Training (SGUP) programmes that one can look out for 2021.

In this post, I will focus on the main thrust of the SGUnited umbrella – the SGUnited Skills (SGUS) programmes for 2021. As all SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) accredited courses are listed on its training portal, I used it to search for the 221 SGUS programmes that had been listed since Jul 2020.

Using the statistics available on the website, I ranked these programmes according to “Most Value for Money”, “Most Viewed” and “Least Viewed”. For the top 5 programmes of each category, I analysed the background of the training providers and their offerings to help jobseekers decide which of these top SGUS programmes they can consider signing up for.

Find out how to search for SSG accredited courses on their training portal on mySkillsFuture.

What Are The SGUnited Skills (SGUS) and SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways – Company Training (SGUP) Programmes

The SGUnited Skills (SGUS) and SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways – Company Training (SGUP) programmes were rolled out progressively in the later half of 2020 to help jobseekers who were affected by the fall out from the pandemic.

SGUS focused on training for skills in the emerging areas, while SGUP focused on skills that are for jobs that are currently high in demand. That being said, they both serve the same purpose: help jobseekers reskill for a carer in an industry that is less affected by the pandemic or an industry that is expected to grow after the economy recovers.

Read more: What are the skills in demand for 2021 in Singapore?

Skills to Have in 2021 to Overcome The Economic Downturn (And What Courses To Take)

The duration of the SGUS and SGUP programmes – mostly at 6 months, but could be up to 12 months – also served that purpose. At that time, the government had hoped that the pandemic would die out by the end of the year. With recovery expected to come around at the start of 2021, the first batches of SGUS and SGUP graduates would be in time to ride the recovery.

Of course, we all know by hindsight that the recovery didn’t arrive in 2021, and Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry is expecting the economy to recover to pe-Covid levels by the end of the year. This became the basis of why the SGUnited Jobs and Skills package was extended to Mar 2021. This allowed existing and new training providers to continue rolling out more runs of SGUS and SGUP programmes, which would help tide jobseekers through the worst of the downturn.

For more about what updates the SGUnited Skills (SGUS) and SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways – Company Training (SGUP) programmes have following Budget 2021, follow the link below.

SGUnited Skills & SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways Programme Budget 2021

SGUnited Skills (SGUS) Programmes

SGUnited Skills (SGUS) programmes are delivered by Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) like the universities and polytechnics, though some private schools like Lithan Academy and SHATEC are among the list of SGUS training providers.

Although the training allowance of $1,200 is incomparable to that of SGUP programmes, the abundance of SGUS training means there is a higher chance of being accepted into an SGUS programme. 

Additionally, unlike SGUP, the industrial attachments or opportunities to work on industry projects are not confined to a single or narrow group of companies. This in turn provides varied industry exposure for SGUS participants.

Read More: What are the industries that have high job vacancies for 2021?

Start 2021 Right With These Industries That Have High Job Vacancies

Most Value for Money
SGUnited Skills (SGUS) Programmes

Following Singaporeans’ wisdom that the items that offer the steepest discounts are the one worth investing our time and money in, this list was created by comparing the SGUS programmes that have the highest value vs its nett fees. Superficial? Yes. But let’s take a look at what the top 5 of this list have to offer.

Course Title	Training Provider	Duration (months)	Full Cost	Subsidised Cost	URL
ModularMaster Certificate in Data Science (Programming + Bridging)	Singapore University of Technology and Design	12	$41,409	$1,000	https://www.sutd.edu.sg/Education/Academy/SGUnited-Skills
SGUnited Skills Business and Digital Transformation Programme	Singapore Management University	9	$35,972	$750	https://smu.bdtp.sg/
SGUS for Additive Manufacturing	Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology	9	$34,200	$750	https://www.a-star.edu.sg/simtech/kto/sgunited-skills-programme/additive-manufacturing
SGUS for Industrial Automation	Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology	9	$34,000	$750	https://www.a-star.edu.sg/simtech/kto/sgunited-skills-programme/industrial-automation
SGUS for Digital Transformation and Innovation	Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology	9	$33,600	$750	https://www.a-star.edu.sg/simtech/kto/sgunited-skills-programme/digital-transformation-and-innovation

ModularMaster Certificate in Data Science (Programming + Bridging), Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)

SIngapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) is known to be one of the pricier universities around. It was launched in 2009 under the collaboration with MIT. This means that most of their faculty was trained by MIT and subsequently, the courses they developed also contained “DNA” of MIT. This perhaps explained why their SGUS programmes had one of the highest pre-subsidy course fees.

SUTD is also the first local university to offer a degree in Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI is built on the foundation of data science; without a strong grasp of data science, it will be difficult to train an AI programme to serve its purpose. With such a strong backing, SUTD’s MM in Data Science is one hellava SGUS programme one can take.

That is, if you are familiar with working with numbers.

If not, fret not. Other than Data Science, SUTD also has Digital HR and Digital Marketing under their SGUS programmes. Their Digital HR SGUS track was different from the SGUnited Programme for Business-Ready HR Professionals by Korn Ferry mentioned above. This track included modules on how to use technology and data science to boost HR capabilities within a company.

SGUnited Skills Business and Digital Transformation Programme, Singapore Management University (SMU)

This SGUS training by SMU was also in my 2020 list. Despite my reservations, it was still a popular course and one of the few on SSG’s training portal where people kept asking when their next intake was opening. 

SMU is reputable for having deep connections with the industry. However, when I looked at the list of modules and their synopsis, they were too ambiguous for me to understand what exactly they were offering. For those that I understood, they were too academic. All in all, this programme looked more like for deepening of skills, rather than for mid-career switches. Therefore, people who have business backgrounds will more likely be a fit for this training.

SGUS for Additive Manufacturing; SGUS for Industrial Automation; SGUS for Digital Transformation and Innovation, Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech)

The courses from Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) took the remaining spots on this list. As their name suggests, these SGUS courses focus on advanced manufacturing. Or related to “Industrial 4.0” in industry speak.

SIMTech is a research institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) looking to enhance Singapore’s competitiveness in the manufacturing industry, by developing its technology and human capital. 

Each SGUS training is made up of a suite of courses that included WSQ courses. In case you’re thinking, “WSQ courses? Chicken feed!” let me caution that theirs are WSQ Graduate Diploma courses, i.e. WSQ Level 6, i.e. the highest level. 

Prior to this, I had though WSQ Level 6 courses were urban legends. I had seen competency standards pegged at Level 6, and had seen bespoke training providers like SeraphCorp built its modules to Level 5. But in my 12 years in Singapore’s adult learning industry, I had never come across WSQ Level 6 courses offered to public. Since these standards are pegged to the C Suite level, which in turn has a very small demand base, WSQ Level 6 courses are like the unicorn in Harry Potter world. 

Therefore, I would recommend SIMTech’s courses to those who have a good technical foundation, or who are very keen in venturing into advanced manufacturing. On top of that, be ready to meet high academic expectations. I do not mean scoring high for assessments. I mean things like zero errors in citation, good grasp of language to convey scientific jargons with precision, and the capacity to handle quirky engineers (think Sheldon in Big Bang Theory).

4 out of 5 of these most viewed SGUS programmes do not have tech-related modules.

Most Popular
SGUnited Skills (SGUS) Programmes

The SGUS courses that are most viewed on SSG’s training portal is a reflection of how highly Singaporeans regard the school, the training area and the industry they are targeting at. 

In other words, the courses below are associated with credibility, reliability and confidence in finding employment after graduation.

Interestingly, 4 out of 5 of the top courses are not tech-related. In fact, one does not even need to attend a course on using spreadsheet or crunching numbers. What are these 4 courses, then?

Course Title	Training Provider	Duration (months)	URL
SGUS Programme for Basic Care Assistants	NTUC LearningHub	6	https://www.ntuclearninghub.com/sgunited-skills-programme/#1592985344117-deee519b-b904
SGUS Industry Certificate in Baking	SHATEC	6	http://shatec.sg/shatec-sgunited-skills-programme/#tab-id-2
SGUS Specialist Diploma in Data Science & Analytics	Singapore Polytechnic	12	https://www.sp.edu.sg/pace/courses/sgus-programme/sgus-specialist-diploma-in-data-science-and-analytics
SGUS Volunteer Management Programme	Social Service Institute	6	https://www.ssi.gov.sg/pages/training/volunteer-management
SGUS Social Service Assistant Programme	Social Service Institute	8	https://www.ssi.gov.sg/pages/training/social-service-assistant

SGUS Programme for Basic Care Assistants, NTUC LearningHub

The SGUS Programme for Basic Care Assistants by NTUC LearningHub came to me as a surprise. Singaporeans have traditionally been averse to healthcare-related professions (except for being a doctor). It seems like the government’s ongoing effort to attract Singaporeans to this profession is finally paying off.

NTUC LearningHub needs no introduction. They have their fingers dipped into all industries, with most courses focusing more on operational skills. Under SGUS, they grouped their training as “Tech Heavy”, “Tech Light” and “Healthcare” roles. And there are 3 SGUS training under the Healthcare grouping: Basic Care Assistant, Healthcare Assistant, and Health Coach and Community Care Executive.

From the module listing for Basic Care Assistants, it could be seen that the job expectations are not healthcare-intensive. Basic Care Assistants assist nurses in providing basic care in daily activities for patients. Kind of like what you saw the SQ girls were doing last year when they were redeployed to work in hospitals. 

Since one should have a basic understanding of the healthcare environment, most of the SGUS Programme for Basic Care Assistants modules provide fundamental training to areas of providing care, like counselling, wellness and nutrition. These modules in turn helps the Basic Care Assistants carry out their work to complement the work of the healthcare professionals.

SGUS Industry Certificate in Baking, SHATEC

Given the trend in home based baking since the pandemic struck, it is no wonder the SGUS Industry Certificate in Baking by SHATEC was on this list. 

SHATEC, being the training school set up by the Singapore Hotel Association, is one of the “standard bearing” authorities in Singapore’s hospitality scene. Therefore, even though there aren’t Skills Framework or WSQ standards for baking, a certificate from SHATEC in baking still weighs a lot in the hearts of employers. 

In fact, this is also the reason why it is one of the non-IHLs providing an SGUS programme. It is perhaps the only reputable school to provide training for a skill that is highly sought after by Singaporeans.

Unfortunately, I do not know much about the demand for bakers in Singapore to comment on the employability of this occupation. After all, this SGUS is popular because Singaporeans want to take it, not because employers has demand for it. SHATEC’s SGUS microsite also didn’t offer insights on post-training employment opportunities. 

A professional training for baking is perhaps most value adding for budding entrepreneurs, since many home bakers are selling their pastries and cakes online (i.e. without the need to set up a physical bakery). That said, perhaps a quick course on Digital Marketing will complement one’s ambition of creating a steady income from home baking after graduating from SHATEC’s SGUS course!

SGUS Specialist Diploma in Data Science & Analytics, Singapore Polytechnic

Personally, I think Data Science and Data Analytics, though popular, is a bus that has long departed. There is plenty of Data Science graduates in the market and companies tend to send existing staff to learn data analytics, rather than to set up a headcount and employ a data scientist externally (the latter is administratively tedious and represents a higher financial and HR risk). Companies that do hire data scientists externally also tend to hire fresh graduates – cheaper and less risky. 

Therefore, I think jobseekers who want to take up this course may want to set their expectations that they might not end up with a 100% career switch. Instead, they might end up in a job that is similar to what they’re doing in the past, but with an expanded role of analysing data. 

Another plus point about Singapore Polytechnic’s SGUS Specialist Diploma in Data Science & Analytics is that it is eligible for UTAP. In other words, if you do not have sufficient SkillsFuture Credits to pay for the training in full, as an NTUC member, you can offset up to 50% of the remaining course fees, capped at $250. 

In fact, the only SGUS programmes that are eligible for UTAP are all provided by Singapore Polytechnic! So, if you’re not interested in data science and have limited SkillsFuture Credits, you can still consider the other SGUS programmes offered by Singapore Polytechnic.

SGUS Volunteer Management Programme; SGUS Social Service Assistant Programme, Social Service Institute

These 2 courses, SGUS Volunteer Management Programme and SGUS Social Service Assistant Programme by Social Service Institute (SSI), rounds off this list. Like the course on Basic Care Assistant, I didn’t expect social service related training to be so popular. Again, the government’s push for Singaporeans to consider careers in social service has paid off.

Like SHATEC, SSI is the ubiquitous training provider in the social service sector. With its close links to the government, one can be assured that the courses offered by them are in response to demand for the job roles. i.e. it’s hard for you to be jobless after completing these SGUS training.

However, one of the reasons why the social service sector is one of those that faces severe labour crunch is that the job nature is really demanding for social workers. One needs to be people-oriented and possess high EQ to handle the challenges in the jobs.

Participants for SGUS Social Service Assistant Programme will also need to be clear which social service sectors they want to go into, as they will need to take sector-specific modules (children / seniors / persons with disabilities / families / youth). The SGUS Volunteer Management Programme, on the other hand, interfaces with volunteers, which also means they will gain job experience across various sectors. 

Jobseekers face less competition after completing these SGUS programmes that have least views. However, there is a lot of potholes that one must keep a lookout for.

Least Popular
SGUnited Skills (SGUS) Programmes

Unlike the SGUP programmes, there were some hiccups to find the SGUS programmes that were the least viewed on SSG’s training portal. For one, there were courses that were listed on the portal, but couldn’t be found on the training provider’s website. My only guess was that they eventually decided not to launch these programmes after obtaining SSG’s approval.

There were also some (not a lot) training providers that I wasn’t familiar with. While I said graduates of these less popular courses would face less competition, and that SSG-approved training providers would have a certain level of credibility (SSG conducts audits on training schools regularly). I wouldn’t want to recommend courses from places that I wouldn’t be confident in taking myself. I try to explain what to look out for and consider when reviewing these SGUS programmes.

Course Title	Training Provider	Duration (months)	URL
SGUS for Advanced Welding Technologies Robotized Processes	Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology	9	https://www.a-star.edu.sg/simtech/kto/sgunited-skills-programme/advanced-welding-technologies-robotised-processes
Up-Skill in ICT Systems, Services & Support	Temasek Polytechnic	12	https://www.tp.edu.sg/content/dam/tp-web/files/sgunited-skills-programme/up-skill-in-ict-systems-services-and-support.pdf
SGUS JOE for Research & Project Management in Advanced Manufacturing	Singapore Institute of Management	6	https://sgus.pd.sim.edu.sg/tracks/advanced-manufacturing/joe-research-project-management
Up-Skill in Branding Design	Temasek Polytechnic	6	https://www.tp.edu.sg/content/dam/tp-web/files/sgunited-skills-programme/up-skill-in-branding-design.pdf
SGUS Programme in 360 Video Production	Nanyang Polytechnic	6	https://eservices.nyp.edu.sg/alls/course/cseDetails.jsp?id=18693

SGUS for Advanced Welding Technologies Robotized Processes, Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech)

An SGUS programme from Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology also appeared in the list of “most value for money”. In general, SIMTech’s courses rank high as “value for money”, while rank low for number of views (SGUS for Digital Transformation and Innovation has the most views at 624 while SGUS for Advanced Welding Technologies Robotized Processes only has 64). This creates an optimal situation for participants to go through a highly valuable course with minimal competition after completing the course.

The ultra low views for SGUS for Advanced Welding Technologies Robotized Processes could be due to minimal marketing from SIMTech, SIMTech’s obscurity and the stereotype that “welding” is a blue collar job. Indeed, my first reaction when I came across the course name was: An SGUS for welding?

Again, the best way to challenge stereotypical views is to look at the modules. Like SGUS for Additive Manufacturing, SGUS for Advanced Welding Technologies Robotized Processes comprised of 5 WSQ Level 6 (Graduate Diploma) modules, which made up about ⅓ of the course load. Additionally, the entry requirements (minimally a degree with 3 years of relevant working experience) and job prospects (engineers in various fields) also pointed to a training that would be far from the blue-collar stereotype that we have.

In layman terms, this is a training for one to evaluate and assess welding processes and outcomes, especially in the area of advanced manufacturing. Advanced manufacturing, as I had mentioned many times, is one of the emerging industries that Singapore’s government is developing. I would say completing this training would almost certainly ensure one’s employability.

Up-Skill in ICT Systems, Services & Support, Temasek Polytechnic

I didn’t expect a course like Up-Skill in ICT Systems, Services & Support on this list, as Temasek Polytechnic is known to be strong in tech-related courses. 

The job prospects as listed in its course brochures ranged from System Administrators to Technical Support Engineer. These are jobs that are high in demand, but may not meet the pay expectations of mid-career switchers. According to Glassdoor and Payscale, the average pay of a System Administrator is about S$42k – $45k a year, which comes down to about $3,400 a month. The starting pay would be lower, at about $2,600 per month.

This pay isn’t that appealing for mid-career professionals who could be earning more than $5,000 previously.

On the flip side, system administrators with experience could earn up to $90k. At about $7,000 a month, this is an appealing number considering this is an occupation typically for diploma graduates. And as Singapore companies become more reliant on technology, the demand for system administrators will not diminish. 

SGUS JOE for Research & Project Management in Advanced Manufacturing, Singapore Institute of Management (SIM)

The SGUS JOE for Research & Project Management in Advanced Manufacturing was also in the 2020 list of least viewed courses. The most viewed course of Singapore Institute of Management was SGUS JOE for Corporate Services in Advanced Manufacturing at 1,152 views. Although this is higher than SIMTech’s most viewed course, 1,152 is a rather low number among the 221 SGUS courses.

Considering that I saw SIM’s sponsored ads on FB, I can’t really pinpoint its low views to minimal marketing.

Probing further into SIM’s SGUS website, I found the reason. Unlike other training providers, the course details of SIM’s SGUS courses were scarce. There was no specification of cost (though it could be found on its SSG listing, most would-be learners would not be so thorough in their search), no starting dates or registration dates, no module synopsis, no training schedules, job prospects or entry requirements. 

Instead, people were directed to register for “preview talks”, which is very similar to scammy MLM schemes that many Singaporeans shun from.

In the current day and age when many training providers, especially those providing SGUS, are upfront about their course details, SIM’s approach is outdated. Without readily available information online, it was also difficult for this course to gain traction by word of mouth.

In other words, even if A finds the course meaningful after attending the preview talk, the only way he could promote it to other people was to get them to attend the preview talks. And as mentioned, Singaporeans now associate preview talks with hard selling and pestering from sales agents.

My posts have always been encouraging people to be forward looking and embrace practices that are on par or even ahead of the curve, so that we could be “future ready” and be employable all the time. 

A company’s culture permeates throughout its departments and processes; conversely, we can know a lot about an organisation’s culture through assessing any of its functions. SIM’s outdated marketing approach speaks a lot about its training philosophy and execution. As such, I will not encourage people to enrol into their SGUS programmes.

Up-Skill in Branding Design, Temasek Polytechnic

Do not be fooled by the name of this SGUS programme. Half of the coursework is in branding and design, and the other in data analytics. However, as the course synopsis of Up-Skill in Branding Design said, this is a course to take on the advanced level of brand building, and it has a lot to do with understanding customer insights and finding ways to strengthen brand loyalty. This cannot be achieved without data analytics.

As I had mentioned in my post on the skills in demand, branding is a “hit and miss” skill to take. Singapore companies (especially SMEs) are generally uninterested to hire someone to develop branding, while those that do value their branding talents a lot.

I would say success after completion of this SGUS programme depends very much on the network of the learner. If you had been actively maintaining your work relationships, you may find success more easily than one who was “focused on doing his work”. 

SGUS Programme in 360 Video Production, Nanyang Polytechnic

If you think this is a programme for a YouTuber wannabe (and secretly smirk at the thought of taking up this programme), hold that thought. This is a course that focuses on immersive video production. WIth AR and VR getting more interest, this is one niche area that one can consider going into.

What has AR/VR got to do with video production? An apparent application would be for immersive gaming and training and development. The latter is even more promising. As more schools turn to incorporating more home based learning as a result of the pandemic, there will be more focus to make that learning more interesting and effective. An immersive training experience combining AR/VR and video storytelling would achieve that. It is one of the holy grails in training and dvevelopment that has been in talks for many years, and the advancement of technology is pushing it to reality.

Nanyang Polytechnic has a suite of SGUS programmes that focus on this area, which goes to show their strength in this subject matter, as well as the potential network that a graduate can tap into. 

The non tech-related SGUS programmes still contained some tech-related modules. This reflects a growing need for workers to incorporate tech into their work.

Special Mentions
SGUnited Skills (SGUS) Programmes

In the spirit of being open to the diverse opportunities in the workplace, I decided to look through the entire list of SGUS programmes that are not tech-related (there are 118 of them out of 221 SGUS courses) and are focused on one of the areas with high demand for talents or looked less intimidating to take up.

That being said, these non tech-related SGUS programmes still contained some modules related to data science, crunching numbers and manipulating of spreadsheets etc. It reflects a growing need for workers to incorporate tech into their work. There is only 5 courses in the entire post that is completely free from tech-related modules. Therefore, you might need to adjust your expectations when considering any of the SGUS programmes.

Course Title	Training Provider	Duration (months)	URL
Up-Skill in MICE & Events Management	Temasek Polytechnic	6	https://www.tp.edu.sg/content/dam/tp-web/files/sgunited-skills-programme/up-skill-in-mice-and-events-management.pdf
SgPools Academy-SP Connexion (Business Process Management)	Singapore Polytechnic	6	https://www.sp.edu.sg/pace/courses/sgus-programme/sgpools-academy-sp-connexion-(business-process-management)
SGUS Programme in Sport Management & Marketing	Nanyang Polytechnic	6	https://eservices.nyp.edu.sg/alls/course/cseDetails.jsp?id=18467
Student Services & Coaching Bootcamp for Student Care Coaches	Ngee Ann Polytechnic	6	https://www.cet.np.edu.sg/courses/student-services-coaching-bootcamp-for-student-care-coaches/
SGUnited Skills Programme (SGUS) in Supply Chain Management	Republic Polytechnic	6	https://www.rp.edu.sg/ace/short-course/Detail/sgunited-skills-programme-(sgus)-in-supply-chain-management

Up-Skill in MICE & Events Management, Temasek Polytechnic

MICE & Events Management was Singapore’s pillar and will continue to be, post-pandemic. In fact, Singapore is already innovating in the MICE area during the pandemic, with Connect @ Changi setting a benchmark for the rest of the world.

Therefore, switching into a career in MICE with Temasek Polytechnic’s Up-Skill in MICE & Events Management will equip one for a sector that’s expected to recover strongly.

There are some technical modules to complete, but they are minimal, compared to the courses listed above. Jobseekers who are people oriented and familiar with numbers will definitely be at home with this SGUS programme.

SgPools Academy-SP Connexion (Business Process Management), Singapore Polytechnic

I was attracted by this SGUS’ name when its sponsored ad popped up in my Facebook feed. However, it is the focus of this programme that made me want to include SgPools Academy-SP Connexion (Business Process Management) into this list.

With the pandemic knocking businesses in all areas off their feet, there is a need for companies to re-jig their business processes in order to adapt to the “new normal”. From finding ways to accommodate working from home to defining processes that will be more resilient to shocks like the pandemic, businesses will need talents who could help them manage and reinforce their business processes.

If you are able to look at things in the bigger picture, enjoys engaging with people from different business units and are able to organise things for the future, then being in business process management would be the ideal place for your next career.

SGUS Programme in Sport Management & Marketing, Nanyang Polytechnic

Is sports still a thing in Singapore? Ironically, sport management and marketing will be more important as Singapore grows more affluent. I’m not referring to Singaporeans being more sporty, but they could be more interested in and have more disposable income to follow sports events.

This is a niche that has no information online for me to confirm if it will definitely grow big in the future. That being said, someone who’s passionate in sports and would like to spread the love for it would be the ideal candidate for this SGUS training!

Less than half of the courses are in data analytics and spreadsheet, which I assume would be for the marketing aspect. I would say this would be an ideal course for someone who is comfortable with using computer for his work.

Student Services & Coaching Bootcamp for Student Care Coaches, Ngee Ann Polytechnic

The conventional wisdom is that we should devote our resources into areas that cater to Singapore’s ageing society, right? It is precisely because our younger demographic is shrinking and their old-age support ratio is growing, that we need to make sure every young Singaporean can unlock his full potential. With job vacancy rates at nearly 4%, the Community, Social And Personal Services ais one of the sectors with high demand for talents, coming right behind ICT.

This is where Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s Student Services & Coaching Bootcamp for Student Care Coaches comes into play. Participants will learn how to work effectively with students and parents, on top of acquiring programme planning and centre management skills. 

This is one of the 5 courses in this post that has entirely zero content that is tech-related. Therefore, if you are a people person, enjoys working with young people and thinks you are better off not dealing with work that requires filling up spreadsheets, then this would be the course that helps you move towards your ideal career path!

SGUnited Skills Programme (SGUS) in Supply Chain Management, Republic Polytechnic

The SGUnited Skills Programme (SGUS) in Supply Chain Management has got to be the most “technical” SGUS programme on this list. Singapore is a major trade hub and many corporations set up their headquarters in Singapore as we are in a good position to help them manage their regional operations. Supply chain management is one of those aspects. Wholesale and Retail Trade also ranked high in my analysis of sectors that will see high demand for talents. 

As I had mentioned, the modules of this SGUS programme do have a fair share of technical content, from learning Computer-Aided Design to understanding Robotic Process Automation. Therefore, jobseekers who are inclined in these areas will find it easier to complete this programme.

Jobseekers are indeed shunning tech courses (and jobs). This makes for a crowded labour market for less tech-heavy roles, with little competition for these tech heavy roles.

Parting Words

It has been more than half a year since the first SGUS programmes were launched. Not only have the options branched out to include training areas that are less technical, training institutes of government agencies like SIMTech and Social Service Institutes, industry leaders like SHATEC and adult learning stalwarts like NTUC LearningHub are lending their weight to this grand re-education exercise.

I was only able to feature 20 out of the 221 SGUS programmes listed on SSG’s training portal. This 10% of the overall offerings already showed us the range of programmes that are available.

That being said, not all 221 SGUS programmes are recommended. Some were somehow no longer listed on the training provider’s own websites. Some really needed a certain understanding of the lifelong learning industry in order to see through its candy-coated marketing gimmicks. As much as I could, I try to feature the SGUS programmes that are worth devoting 6 to 9 months of our lives to, and highlight my concerns on those that I did feature.

Being stuck in a seemingly endles cycle of joblessness can be draining. One should seek the expert guidance from one of the career coaching services offered by Workforce Singapore’s (WSG) Career Connect. You can learn how to turbo charge your job search by unocking the potential of your Skills Passport through one of my guide posts.

The key is to not lose hope!

Something worth noting is that 15 out of 20 of the featured courses contained some, if not all, modules related to tech. 4 of the SGUS programmes with zero tech-related modules are in the “most popular” list. Jobseekers are indeed shunning tech courses (and jobs). This makes for a crowded labour market for less tech-heavy roles, with little competition for these tech heavy roles.

Therefore, in order to ride out of this downturn, I strongly recommend you to change your expectations and avoid taking up the SGUS programmes that have no tech related modules. It is both to avoid competition and to prepare yourself for a career that will see more growth (and therefore more job stability).

If you find this post useful, do Like and Share in on your social media. If you’re interested to know what SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways – Company Training (SGUP) programmes are in store for you in 2021, do also check out the 2nd part of this SGUnited programmes series:

Best SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways – Company Training (SGUP) Programmes 2021

Till then, stay curious and resilient!