NUS and Keppel O&M sign MOU to promote continuous education and training
23 November 2018 – The National University of Singapore (NUS) and Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M) have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote continuous education and training within the organisation.
Over the next three years, Keppel O&M’s employees will be eligible for some 2,000 to 3,000 training places in an extensive range of academic modules and executive programmes with NUS, curated from the expertise and learning content of the many NUS Faculties and Schools. This will offer employees a valuable opportunity to pick up a new skill in areas – such as data analytics, finance and business, and environment engineering – that are aligned with the organisation’s drive to strengthen capabilities, thus ensuring Keppel O&M’s workforce remains competitive in an economy where change and disruptions are the only constants.
NUS will also support Keppel O&M’s initiatives to enhance their workforce capabilities by working with them to develop an organisational training plan. The university will also organise seminars for executives and professionals to encourage them to upskill and reskill, and provide degree-level programmes for selected employees in areas such as data analytics, robotics and process engineering.
So far, over 100 employees have committed to training programmes in 2018 on data analytics, and financial analysis and business decisions. While they all hold varying qualifications ranging from vocational certificates to master’s degrees, the employees have one common goal when they enter the classroom – improve their own capabilities to remain ahead of the wave of change.
Mr Chris Ong, CEO of Keppel O&M, said, “Keppel is a supporter of lifelong learning, and we are glad to partner NUS to introduce a range of initiatives that will encourage upskilling and reskilling. As we leverage technology in our business, we are also investing in our employees so that they are empowered to be agents of change and innovation.”
“We are currently collaborating with NUS on several fronts, such as the Keppel-NUS Corporate Laboratory, to boost research efforts and address key challenges. These initiatives enable us to strengthen our capabilities and stay ahead in the offshore and marine industry.”
The MOU is driven by NUS’ School of Continuing and Lifelong Education’s (NUS SCALE) All-You-Can-Learn (AYCLTM) model, a customisable training programme for businesses to upskill and reskill their workforce accordingly. This partnership marks the latest step in NUS’ advocacy of lifelong learning and continuous education to its alumni, corporations and the wider public.
Said Prof Ho Teck Hua, Senior Deputy President and Provost, National University of Singapore: "The continued presence of technological disruption in our lives means that our workforce would have to upskill and reskill in order to stay relevant and competitive. Being Singapore's flagship university, we are proud to not only be a part of, but also augment the national movement in encouraging and promoting lifelong learning and skills mastery and renewal.
“The landscape of Continuing Education and Training has also evolved, and we believe our unique employer-friendly propositions – like this MOU with Keppel O&M on our NUS AYCLTM programme – will encourage more businesses to enhance their employees’ capabilities, and thus leave a positive mark on the future workforce.”
Added Prof Susanna Leong, Vice Provost (Lifelong Education), National University of Singapore: “As a champion of continuous and lifelong learning, we play an important role in shaping the future. Staring at what are potentially volatile and ambiguous times ahead, businesses must be ready for whatever comes their way – and that is where NUS comes into play.
“We identify what individual corporations may require to be successful, and offer their employees the appropriate skills via contemporary and engaging training programmes to help them pick up a new skill, or remaster existing capabilities and be ‘futureproof’.”