Workshop on Educational and Social Sciences, 19-21 Jul, at the National University of Singapore. Research Talk.

1. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
APPLIED RESEARCH FUND &
RESEARCH SCHEMES
20 July 2017
Workshop on Education and Social Science Technologies (WESST)

2. Presentation
Outline
1. SkillsFuture Singapore & Institute for Adult Learning
2. Workforce Development Applied Research Fund
(WDARF) Grant Call
2
3. IAL Research Grant for Doctoral Studies
4. IAL External Researcher Scheme

3. About SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG)
3
Statutory board under Ministry of Education
Drive and coordinate SkillsFuture movement
Build a robust Continuing Education and Training
(CET) system
Includes:
Driver of Initiatives under
the SkillsFuture Movement,
a national movement to
provide Singaporeans with
opportunities to develop
their fullest potential
through lifelong learning and
up-skilling.
Established 3 Oct 2016

4. IAL’s Areas of Focus
Research
• Lead and conduct research to inform
policy and practice
Learning Innovation
• Lead innovation and experimentation in
pedagogical learning design and practice
Capability Development
• Nurture a vibrant and dynamic CET
community
• Offer credentials and qualifications to
recognise the professionalism of CET
professionals
4

5. Skills, work organisation, organisational
performance, productivity, labour market
and their relations to issues such as pay,
job mobility, job quality and work
productivity.
• Business Performance and Skills Study
• Skills and Learning Study
• The Future of Jobs and Skills: The
Impact of Automation in Singapore
• PIAAC
Centres Focusing on Applied Research
5
Research Areas
Key Research Studies
CET pedagogy, learning, employability,
employment facilitation, CET
organisations and practitioners’
developments.
• Employment Vulnerability
• Training and Adult Educators
Landscape in Singapore
• Enabling Workplace and
Organisational Learning for Change
• Assessing Learning for Changing
Nature of Work

6. Presentation
Outline
1. SkillsFuture Singapore & Institute for Adult Learning
2. Workforce Development Applied Research Fund
(WDARF) Grant Call
2
3. IAL Research Grant for Doctoral Studies
4. IAL External Researcher Scheme

7. Workforce Development
Applied Research Fund
A national level research fund for competitive bidding to encourage inter-disciplinary
research in the areas of workforce development and lifelong learning.
The funding round for 2017 is seeking proposals under three research thrusts,
pertinent to policy and guidelines as stated in the research prospectus:
• Enabling and Sustaining Economic Performance through Workforce Development
and Skills;
• Shaping Employment and Continuing Education and Training (CET) Decisions of All
Stakeholders; and
• Developing Effective and Impactful Approaches in Learning, Technology and
Pedagogy to Enhance Continuing Education and Training (CET).
The WDARF Grant Call April 2017 is open for application on 5 April 2017 and research
proposals have to be submitted via the WDARF application form by 14 August 2017.
7

8. Enabling and Sustaining
Economic Performance
through
Workforce Development/
Skills
Shaping Employment and
CET Decisions
of All Stakeholders
Developing Effective
and Impactful Approaches
in Learning, Technology
and Pedagogy to
Enhance CET
To generate insights and
provide recommendations for
sustaining Singapore’s
competitive advantage in the
global economy through
workforce development and
skills
To understand cognition,
emotion and behaviours, in
order to support the formulation
and implementation of policies,
strategies and initiatives, by
identifying the key factors
influencing career, employment
and CET decisions of all
stakeholders.
To ensure and enhance the
availability, accessibility,
acceptability, appropriateness
and adaptability of learning
approaches, technology and
pedagogy to achieve desired
CET outcomes.
A CB
Skills strategies and utilisation
- Demand for skills
- Supply of skills
Returns on investment to
workforce development and
skills – Individual, Organisation,
Society
Employment
facilitation and
career
guidance
Work and Job
Design
Lifelong
learning
culture
Incentive/
Intervention
Design
Blended and
e-learning
Adult
learning
Workplace
learning
Adult
educator
professional
development
ThrustAimAreas of Focus
8
Research Agenda

9. 9
A national level research fund for competitive bidding to
supplement and support inter-disciplinary research and
to tap on research capabilities beyond IAL, both locally
and internationally. The research must be conducted in
Singapore, and on Singapore, but comparative studies
with other countries may be considered.
2017 grant call focuses on the areas of workforce
development and lifelong learning, relevant to our three rese
arch thrusts.
Launch of grant call April 2017
Closing date for submission 14 August 2017
Expert review August – November 2017
Selection and approval December 2017
Announcement of results January – February 2018
WDARF Grant Call

10. Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) which have campuses / operations in
Singapore.
Local organisations with research capabilities:
• Research Institutes;
• Social / industry groups; and
• Continuing Education and Training (CET) organisations.
Foreign institutions and researchers may partner Singapore institutions.
Foreign researchers may participate as Principal Investigators (PI) or be
part of the research team.
Research team can comprise international researchers but must include
at least one Singaporean or Singapore Permanent Resident.
10
Eligibility Criteria

11. 11
Project duration shall be up to 18 months.
Projects longer than 18 months may be funded in
phases and subject to renewal.
For research programmes, funding period shall be
up to 3 years.
Fundable components include:
ü Manpower expenses for personnel engaged
directly for the research project;
ü Survey administration and logistic costs;
ü Printing of research reports and materials; and
ü Other direct expenses required for the project.
Research Timeframe and Funding

12. 12
• Alignment to research thrusts
• Contribution to inform policy and practice
Relevance
and
Impact
• Clarity of research topic and relevance to outcome
• Relationship between conceptual/ theoretical
framework and problem of study
• Clarity and adequacy of research method(s)
Technical
Merits
• Manpower and quality of research team
• Timeline
• Budget
Project
Team and
Execution
Evaluation Criteria

13. Presentation
Outline
1. SkillsFuture Singapore & Institute for Adult Learning
2. Workforce Development Applied Research Fund
(WDARF) Grant Call
2
3. IAL Research Grant for Doctoral Studies
4. IAL External Researcher Scheme

14. 14
Supports the
candidate during the
research and thesis
writing phase of the
programme, for a
duration of up to 3
years.
Award value up to
$100,000 offered
to outstanding
candidates already
enrolled in a doctoral
programme at a
local/overseas
university.
Singapore Citizens
pursuing Doctoral
Studies related to
Singapore’s
Workforce
Development and
Lifelong Learning
IAL Research Grant for Doctoral Studies
The Grant aims to increase local research
capacity in Workforce Development and
Lifelong Learning by encouraging
individuals to develop expertise in
specialist fields through higher
education studies and qualifications.

15. 15
Grant Components
• Total value of each grant award capped at $100,000
• Upon successful award of Grant, recipients will specify the
funding amounts required within each component (subject to
funding rate), where applicable
• Funding period up to 3 years
• Up to 90% of tuition fees, capped at $50,000.
Course Fees
(as charged by university
during the duration of the
grant)
• Up to $2,000 (terms apply)Monthly Stipend
• $2,000 per grantee, and an additional $2,000
per grantee if the course requires the
grantee to travel overseas
One-time
Support Grant

16. 16
Eligibility Criteria
1
• Singapore Citizen
2
• Already enrolled as a doctoral candidate and had
already commenced their doctoral programme
3
• Must obtained the university’s approval of doctoral
thesis
4
• Approved research thesis relevant to the Singapore
context of workforce development and lifelong
learning
5
• At least five years of related work experience prior to
enrolment into the Doctoral programme

17. 17
Term of Award
Upon completion of the sponsored doctoral
programme, Grant Awardees will be required to
work as a researcher in Workforce Development
and Lifelong Learning for a period of time equal to
the funding duration
The role of the researcher is to design and conduct
research that inform policy or practice towards
enhancing the employability and competitiveness
of the Singapore workforce, promoting a culture of
lifelong learning in Singapore.

18. Presentation
Outline
1. SkillsFuture Singapore & Institute for Adult Learning
2. Workforce Development Applied Research Fund
(WDARF) Grant Call
2
3. IAL Research Grant for Doctoral Studies
4. IAL External Researcher Scheme

19. 19
Purpose of IAL External Research Scheme
We work with local and
overseas researchers at
various levels of
expertise through
project work, discussion
forums, seminars and
co-authorship in the
area of workforce
development and
lifelong learning.
Visiting
Fellowship
Visiting
Researcher
Research
Associate
Research
Assistant
Appointment is based
on expertise levels,
experience and
qualifications, as well as
role undertaken
Package may include
honorarium or engagement
fee, as well as travel and
accommodation for
overseas researchers
Period of engagement
depends on the nature
of work and length of
research project

20. 20
Contact
If you are interested in finding out more about the WDARF
Grant Call, Doctoral Grant or External Researcher Schemes,
you can find out more information from our website:
www.ial.edu.sg
or please write in to
Research@ial.edu.sg

21. Intent of InnovPLUS
• To facilitate the rapid
development of prototypes
that could address learning
challenges and exploit
opportunities for better CET
outcomes and delivery.
• Organised as a competition
where Challenge Owners (CO)
form partnerships with Solution
Partners (SP) to present a
holistic solution.
$5,000
Cash
Prize
$200,000
Grant

22. InnovPLUS Format & Evaluation Criteria
Challenge
owners
(COs)
posed
issues
online
Solutionists
pitch their
solutions
COs select
partners &
form
Challenge
Team
Given one month to
co-design concepts/
total solutions
Pitch solutions to
Evaluation Panel
on Presentation
Day
Winners develop prototype
within 3-6 months with up to
$200,000 prototyping grant
Prototype showcase at
iN.LAB
Dissemination of learning/
best practicesiN.LAB conducts case study
concurrently
Proliferation of
Good Ideas
Evaluation Criteria
Concept Innovation
Impact and
Scalability
Project and
Implementation
Team
Implementation
Sustainability
Why the need and
how to address
the challenge/
open
opportunities
Go beyond known
or existing
solutions with
clear value-add
Include evaluation
framework to
measure impact
Credible & realistic
plan to support
committed plan
Continued
involvement in roll
out beyond the
current project
scope

23. InnovPLUS : 4th run – Nov 2017
Application Window for Prospective Challenge Owner Open
on
10 August 2017
Full Schedule and Details at
www.LearningSpace.SG

24. 24
Thank You