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Free Continuing Education and Training Modules for Class of 2021 and 2020

Last Updated: 26 Mar 2021

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1. The Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) will offer free Continuing Education and Training (CET) modules to the graduating Class of 2021 from April 2021. This builds on efforts by the Ministry of Education, SkillsFuture Singapore and the IHLs in 2020 to support fresh graduates in broadening their skillsets and accessing more opportunities across different sectors amidst the uncertain economic outlook. More than 16,000 graduates across the six Autonomous Universities (AUs) and 45,000 graduates from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and the polytechnics from the Class of 2021 can benefit from these free modules.

2. In 2020, the IHLs offered two to four free CET modules or free course credits to their graduates from the Class of 2020. As of end-February 2021, more than 1,700 graduates from the Autonomous Universities (AUs) and more than 1,300 graduates from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and the polytechnics from the Class of 2020 have taken up free CET modules with their alma mater.

3. Going forward, the IHLs will similarly offer two to four free CET modules to the graduating Class of 2021. Graduates from the Class of 2020 can continue to access these free CET modules as well. Thus, all IHL students who are graduating in 2021 or have graduated in 2020 (including alumni who will complete their full-time National Service (NS) in 2021 or completed full-time NS in 2020) will be eligible for the free CET modules.

Free Cet Offerings with Support from the IHLS

4. These CET modules can be stacked and lead to micro-credentials or certifications. The range of modules offered include:

  • More than 250 Nitec and Higher Nitec module certificates for ITE fresh graduates in areas such as hospitality operations, international logistics, engineering, network security and robotics;
  • More than 100 Post-Diploma Certificates for polytechnic fresh graduates in areas such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, building information modelling, business analytics, financial accounting and user experience design;
  • More than 100 micro-credentials for AU fresh graduates in areas such as business analytics, communications, and digital marketing strategies.

5. ITE and the polytechnics will continue to offer their graduates at least two complimentary CET modules or course credits. Graduates may choose from about 1,000 CET modules. Of these, more than half can be stacked into certificates. More details on the types of certificates offered by these institutions can be found in Table 1 of the Annex.

6. AU graduates can continue to access four complimentary CET modules or course credits by their alma mater. Of the approximately 1,700 free CET modules available, about one-third can be stacked to form over 100 micro-credentials. More details on the micro-credentials offered by the AUs can be found in Table 2 of the Annex.

7. Details on the free CET modules, including micro-credentials and eligibility period, as well as additional support measures for IHL graduates are available on the respective websites of the IHLs.

Other Support Measures for Fresh Graduates

8. To boost employment opportunities for fresh graduates, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Workforce Singapore (WSG) had previously announced the extension of the SGUnited Traineeships Programme until 31 March 2022. The programme will also be enhanced with increased training allowances for ITE (up to a maximum of $1,800) and diploma (up to a maximum of $2,100) graduates, and shortened duration of traineeship from 9 to 6 months to encourage employers to offer trainees full-time jobs. This will take effect for traineeships commencing from 1 April 2021. Details can be found at http://wsg.gov.sg/SGUnitedTraineeships-Trainees.

9. Graduates can approach the Career Offices in their alma mater, WSG's Career Connect Centres or NTUC's e2i's career centres for career and employment-related assistance. They may also tap on online career resources through the MySkillsFuture portal and MyCareersFuture digital service, and the GradGoWhere website (https://youthopia.sg/resources/gradgowhere).