Selena Huynh, Deputy Director, Singapore Workforce Development Agency

1. T-Shaped Professionals
for a Global Economy
Presentation at World Continuity Congress (WCC) Singapore
Selena Huynh
Deputy Director
Creative & Professional Services Division
6 March 2012

2. The Need for Business
About WDA T-Shaped Management
and WSQ Professionals (BM) WSQ
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3. The Singapore Workforce
Development Agency
Formed on 1 Sep 2003 as a statutory body under the
Ministry of Manpower
Mission
Vision
Enhance
A competitive employability and
workforce, with competitiveness of
workers learning for our workforce
life and advancing
with skills
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4. Our Key Outcomes
Build a pipeline of workers
• Work with economic agencies and industry partners to build
a pipeline of workers, ready to support industry growth
Bridge structural skills gaps
• By training, re-training and redirecting workers to high growth
sectors
Raise industry standards
• Strengthen our industries and raise their competitiveness
through skills upgrading
Enhance worker employability
• Equip low-skilled workers with basic workplace skills to
enhance their employability
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5. Importance of CET
5 16 24 62 & beyond
age
Pre-employment education
Kindergarten → University
Shaping the need for Continuing Education and Training
Industry-based and accessible skills training for working adults
New issues faced by Singapore workforce…
• Structural unemployment
• Multiple careers in a working life
• Technological and economic changes
• Emerging Industries requiring new skills
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6. Announcement Of The CET
Masterplan In 2008 – Building A First-
Class CET System
Competency
Standards
Tripartite Quality
Sustained
Partnership Trainers
Funding from the
Government
Career Quality
Centres for Training
all workers Providers
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7. The Singapore Workforce Skills
Qualifications (WSQ)
Competency- Adult learning
Recognition of
based system principles Open access
prior learning
(KSA) (modular)
Application- Building blocks Industry-
Flexible
based to full agreed
training
assessment qualification standards
Internationally
benchmarked
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8. The Need for Business
About WDA T-Shaped Management
and WSQ Professionals (BM) WSQ
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9. Today’s Business Environment
 Dynamic
 Knowledge-based
 Technology-based
 Cross-functional business units
 Borderless
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10. Valued Competencies in the
Workplace
Finance
Communication
Innovation
Presentation
Teamwork
Leadership IT
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11. Economic Strategies Committee
Recommendations
“PMETs, or professionals, managers, executives and
technicians, need to have 'T-shaped competencies',
possessing deep skills in their area of expertise as well
as a broad knowledge of horizontal skills such as
management, finance and business operations”
Former Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam
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12. The ‘T-Shaped’ Professional
HORIZONTAL
Strategy Leadership & Sales & Enterprise Risk
Planning People Mgt Marketing Management
Human Resource
V
E
Finance
R
T
I ICT
C
A
L Marcoms
Engineering
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13. The Need for Business
About WDA T-Shaped Management
and WSQ Professionals (BM) WSQ
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15. Leadership and People
Management WSQ
Please refer to pg 2 of LPM WSQ collateral for more information.
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16. BM WSQ Competency Framework
Please refer to pg 8 of BM WSQ collateral for more information.
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17. T-Shaped Professionals
From Technical to People Manager
“Previously, I used to only take care of the technical
aspects of my job. Now, I also manage a team.
Through the Leadership & People Management
courses, I learnt good people management skills,
like promoting feedback and suggestions… and
encouraging them to upgrade, learn new things and
technologies.”
Kwan Chun Sing, Engineer, Networks Division at SingTel who
attended LPM WSQ Build Team Relationships and Support
Achievement of Results

18. T-shaped Professionals
Impacting business results
“I am now better at managing people, handling different
personalities and dealing with resistance to change in the
workplace. The programmes have also affirmed the
organisation’s recognition of our contribution in our work and
their commitment to the staff’s continual development.”
Daniel Liek, Sales Manager with Field Catering & Supplies
who has completed both the Advanced Certificate in Team
Leadership & Professional Diploma in LPM
“Improvement in staff loyalty with improved
retention rate by 20%”
Vincy Ng, Regional HR Director (APAC) with Brady
Corporation saw the benefit of BM WSQ as part of their talent
development programme

19. T-shaped Professionals
Driving the business
“One of Wincor Nixdorf’s learning directions is to develop business
management skills among our professionals and managers. We find
that the Business Management WSQ meets our needs as it provides a
comprehensive coverage of the relevant competencies such as
strategy planning, communications and business
development. These are critical skills for our managers to
help drive the business and ride the winds of change in today’s
dynamic business environment.”
Audrey Tan, Regional HR Director with Wincor Nixdorf

20. T-shaped Professionals
Managing enterprise risk
Risk
Management
Enterprise
Risk
Management
Business
Continuity
Management
… modular courses
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21. CET Funding and Incentives
Funding Courses Targeted
Type of Course
Component at PMETs
Course fee 50% of course fees capped at
LPM/ BM WSQ
support $15/hr
Absentee
80% of hourly basic salary capped at $4.50/hr
payroll support
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22. Our BM/LPM WSQ Partners
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23. A National and Business Imperative…
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24. Thank You
For more information, please visit
www.wda.gov.sg/bm_wsq or contact us at 6883 5885
or bm_wsq@wda.gov.sg
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