Speech at Institution Of Engineers Singapore And Human Capital Singapore Memorandum Of Agreement Signing Ceremony

Mr Lee Yi Shyan, Minister of State for Trade , Industry and Manpower, Resorts World Sentosa

  Introduction

1. Good afternoon. It is my pleasure to join you at this afternoon’s Memorandum of Agreement Signing Ceremony.
2. The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) expects the Singapore economy to grow by between 13% to 15 per cent this year and by 4 to 6 per cent in 2011. On the job market front, we have seen good employment growth, with an estimated 85,500 jobs created for the first 3 quarters of this year.
   
   Manufacturing remains a cornerstone
3. One of the reasons for the decisive rebound was because we have a competitive manufacturing sector. Led by the biomedical and electronics sector, the manufacturing sector turned in a spectacular recovery in the first half of this year¹ with about 38% and 45% year-on-year growth in the first and second quarters.
4. The resilience of our manufacturing sector validates our growth strategy based upon a diversified economy. Even as we move towards a knowledge-based economy, high-end manufacturing based on science and technology will be a cornerstone of our economic model. Our heavy investments in R&D reflect our commitment to retain and develop scientific capabilities in our economy.
   
   Deeper technical expertise and horizontal skill sets
5. In this context, our engineering fraternity led by IES has crucial roles to play. Not the least of which is to help our engineers develop deeper expertise in the sectors we are pursuing. Because many emerging fields are multi-disciplinary in nature, the ways our institutions develop the new generations of engineering professionals will also have to evolve, innovating and re-designing in the process.
6. As they advance, some of our engineers are taking on management and regional management responsibilities. The need to equip our engineers with business and cross-functional skills becomes apparent. Programmes on cross-functional and management skills such as product charter development, regional and cross cultural operations, human resource development, financial management, marketing and sales etc will see increasing demands.
   
   Considerations for PMETs
7. To this end, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) are stepping up our focus to expand CET opportunities for Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs) in this area. The aim is not only to deepen PMETs’ skills in their own specialised fields but also to broaden their horizontal skills so that they are able to thrive in different job functions and environments.
   
   Impact of WSQ on Workers
8. Already, the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) System is making an impact on helping our workers achieve better work performance and improve companies’ productivity.
9. Since WSQ was launched in 2005, some 550,000 workers have undergone the national workforce training programme. The WSQ system which allows customisation of training curriculum to meet the needs of the industry and companies, helps to benchmark industry skills standards and ensures that our workers’ skills and knowledge are up to date. We hope to replicate the success of WSQ for our rank-and-file workers to the WSQ programmes for PMETs as well.
   
   Developing T-shaped PMETs
10. I am therefore happy to learn that the Institution of Engineers Singapore (IES) and Human Capital Singapore (HCS) are collaborating to develop and deliver HR Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) competency courses on people management for engineers and scientists. This is an example of how industries, together with CET Centres, can come together to develop “T-shaped PMETs”, which is key to ensure our workforce remains competitive and relevant in the future.
11. The IES-HCS initiative will result in not just more training opportunities for engineers but also broader skills upgrading and eventually, better career options. I understand that the first run of the programme called “People Management Programme for Engineers and Technical Professionals” will commence in January 2011 and there has already been healthy interest from companies. I am also heartened to see many PUB colleagues with us today, to support this initiative.
12. I congratulate IES and HCS on this partnership and I look forward to more of such efforts to develop more T-shaped professionals.
    
    Thank you.