New ICT-STEP Scholarships for Singaporeans working in the IT Industry.

WDA has allocated S$1 million to fund postgraduate scholarships, the ICT-STEP Scholarships, for Singaporeans working in the IT industry who want to improve their skills.

This was announced at the Infocomm Industry Forum 2011  held on Tuesday, 25 Oct by Mr Eddie Chau, Chairman of Singapore infocomm Technology Federation (SiTF).

The Skills Training for Excellence Programme (STEP) is an initiative jointly launched by the Ministry of Manpower and the WDA to help Professionals, Managers, Executive and Technicians (PMETs) to update their skills, knowledge and expertise to remain competitive in today’s global business climate.

Here’s some inspiration for you- Successful faces of the floristry industry!

 

Bouquet tying skills demonstration by Lee Ngo, a Floristry WSQ Graduate employed by Tropifame Floral.

Lee Ngo’s background was in hair and beauty, as well as fashion retail. She chanced upon Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA)’s Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) programme in the papers, took up the course and has since been doing well. Today, she continues to upgrade herself with full support from her employer.

A Sea of Career Opportunities

Local workers can chart new waters in their careers via the Maritime Manpower Advancement Programme (Maritime MAP) jointly unveiled by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).

The bipartite initiative aims to let workers sail towards abundant job opportunities in the maritime industry in seafaring positions such as steersmen, Special Limits Officers or deck officers onboard ocean-going vessels. To show them the ropes, the Maritime MAP will address issues such as screening and recruiting workers, providing funding and training allowances as well as securing industry placements.

Stop! Security Check!

This hands-up mannequin unmistakably depicts many a scene we watch from Crimewatch or Law & Order. It was actually one of the various striking exhibits spotted at the Security Industry Conference and Exhibition.

The event took place on 12 and 13 October at the Suntec Convention Centre and is a strong booster to the security industry. It convened all key representatives from the security industry and engaged them in a dynamic exchange of insights, trends and knowledge about what we know of security and more today.

The conference theme is about ‘Enhancing Productivity Level in the Security Industry’. Various heavyweight speakers and industry experts were brought in to share their rich insights to some 300 participants present. Topics ranged from crime, hotel and casino security to bombing and terrorism – all the hottest global security issues at the moment! 

Gateway for Continuing Education and Training

7 October 2011 saw the groundbreaking ceremony for the new National Continuing Education and Training (CET) Campus West, which will be named after Mr Devan Nair, founding Secretary-General of the labour movement in Singapore and a former president of Singapore.

The CET Campus West is situated in the Jurong Lake District, a convenient location easily accessible by public transport networks. For a start, a variety of training programmes will be offered, such as Digital Animation, Media, Early Childhood Care & Education, Healthcare, Human Resource, Landscape and Workplace Safety and Health.

Fashionably Sustainable Competition Winner @ Paris Fashion Week!

Ms Chew Yixin was one of the winners of the Fashionably Sustainable Competition, which was held earlier on 8 September 2011. She won an entry pass to the prestigious Paris Fashion Week with a return air ticket, accommodation fully paid and received $1,500 cash prize.

Here, she shares her experience with us on her trip:

Before I left for Paris, I told myself, I’ve got to make this trip worthwhile. Afterall, I’ve come a long way to be where I am now, from not having any experience in the fashion industry, to be a winner of the inaugural Fashionably Sustainable Competition.

The Winning Formula

At the launch of the world’s first Computerised Adaptive Business Chinese Test on 17 September 2011, Ms Low Yen Ling (MP and CEO of Business China) penned the last stroke of the ‘赢’ Chinese character.

Why the character 赢? If we dissect the word, it actually consists of five individual characters – each with a world of meaning.

• 亡, or LOSS – Being passive in business will result in loss. Take steps to advance your skill sets and enlarge your world.
• 口, or MOUTH – Communicating in the right cultural context to bring your ideas in the language your clients understand.
• 月, or MONTH – Time is of the essence. Advance your career with Business Chinese.
• 贝, or CURRENCY – Business Chinese is a valuable currency in the Chinese market.
• 凡, or ORDINARY – An ordinary skill takes on extraordinary life when you choose to use it to your best advantage.