31 July 2020

Education Minister Lawrence Wong recently shared this experience of having to “scramble” and plug knowledge gaps in his own career, to emphasize that there is a difference between learning and applying.

Mr Wong was speaking at Nanyang Technological University, where he launched SkillsFuture @ NTU, a series of virtual workshops to help Singaporeans keep up with the new demands of the workplace.

Drawing on his own life experiences, Mr Wong reiterated the need for relearning. Learning does not stop at graduation, and getting a paper qualification is not the end-point, said Mr Wong.

Career centres in the institutes of higher learning have stepped up efforts in career help for fresh graduates this year, he added. The support includes sourcing for job openings from industry partners, organising career fairs and using online outreach and counselling tools.

“For a long time, we have been trying to bring IHLs and industry closer together,” said Mr Wong.

He added that the situation has changed over the years, as higher learning institutions have expanded their networks of industry partners and employers.