Trading work experience for formal qualifications

Sng Choon Kok first joined Regent Singapore (formerly known as the Pavilion Intercontinental Singapore) sometime in 1982 as a security officer. Today, he is now the hotel’s Director of Security responsible for the safety and security of all the guests and employees of the hotel as well as its physical assets.

Besides day-to-day security issues, his work also includes strategy planning for the hotel’s strategic security needs, where he designs and implements safety and security programmes, policies and procedures that have to be adhered to by all staff members, from the board of management down to the ground crew.

“My team and I face new challenges every day and we have to be quick to adapt,” explained Choon Kok. “With security threats evolving all the time, we have to constantly update ourselves with the latest technologies and news. And we have to stay ahead with effective preventive and crisis management strategies.”

Changing Up to a Higher Gear

As a team leader who has always strived to stay ahead of changes, Choon Kok was in for change of a different kind when the hotel’s learning manager approached him in 2010 and recommended the WSQ Diploma in Tourism.

“I only had GCE ‘O’ levels. So I saw the diploma programme as a great opportunity to fulfil a lifelong desire to attain higher academic qualifications,” he shared.

Regent Hotel arranged for the training to be on-site for Choon Kok and his team, and also made time-off arrangements for the staff on training. This greatly eased them into the rigours of the studies and enabled them to participate in the course without disruption to their schedules.

“When you have supportive and thoughtful employers, it really makes the learning process so much easier. I’m also very thankful that my family was very understanding and supportive, even when I had less time with them when rushing to complete my assignments,” he said when thinking back on the course.

During the diploma programme, Choon Kok was exposed to a good balance of tourism theory and work-based applications. One of the topics he found particularly useful was budgeting. As he is in-charge of a large department, he could readily identify with the concepts taught and was able to apply what he had learnt. He was also able to make use of situational analysis to identify areas where his team can optimise performance.

Living the Lessons Learnt

Choon Kok was also one of the 92 participants in the Recognition of Prior Learning pilot programme, an initiative that recognises skills by tourism industry practitioners gained through work experience. Under the customised consultancy model, a 4-stage approach is used to showcase and assess the work experience of individuals through their work portfolio. In addition, skills gap training is customised and conducted onsite at the respective companies.

“I was a bit apprehensive and nervous at the start, worried if I would be able to cope. However, as the programme progresses, I got the feel of the things and with guidance from the trainer, I was more at ease knowing what is expected of me.”

He found the RPL programme interesting and useful as it gave him the opportunity to learn the fundamentals, and had raised the capabilities and professionalism in him. After 30-plus years as a security professional, this had provided Choon Kok the opportunity to gain recognition in the hospitality industry.

Resting Easy On His Days Off

Choon Kok credits awareness and education as key components of any effective security program. “I’m proud to say that everyone at Regent Singapore knows they have a part to play – as the ‘additional eyes and ears’ of the security team – to make the hotel a safe, comfortable and secure place for everyone.”

“This makes it possible for me to enjoy a peaceful weekend with my loved ones after a satisfying week of work.”

Please go to Tourism WSQ and Recognition of Prior Learning to find out more on training opportunities within the industry..

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