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New programme to equip staff in Singapore with skills for internationalisation

Two new initiatives - the Internationalisation Talent (iTalent) Solutions Map and the Internationalisation Skills (iSkills) Talent Development Programme - were launched to help small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) build capabilities and skills required to expand their business overseas.

According to a media release, the iTalent Solutions Map identifies critical internationalisation skills that enterprises need to develop in their workforce in order to operate effectively overseas.

Launched by Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry and Education, at SMU on Friday (26 July), the iTalent Solutions Map was developed through a collaboration between SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and the International Trading Institute at Singapore Management University (ITI@SMU), with support from Enterprise Singapore (ESG).

Building on the iTalent Solutions Map is the iSkills Talent Development programme which will equip individuals with the necessary skills for internationalisation.

Designed by ITI@SMU, with Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) as its knowledge partner, the six-month programme adopts an applied learning model that combines classroom, online and experiential learning.

During the programme, participants will work on real-life internationalisation projects with guidance from mentors assigned to them, experience overseas immersion modules, and participate in country clinics and sharing sessions with business and industry leaders.

The curriculum is designed to meet the skills needs of employees across various levels:

  • Senior management level participants will be equipped with skills such as leadership, critical thinking, decision-making, digitalisation and cultural competence. This will enable them to perform the functions of an entrepreneur, a strategy visionary and a master relationship builder.
  • Junior and mid-level management participants will be equipped with skills such as project management, effective communication and cultural competence. This allows them to perform the roles of a project manager and facilitator.
ITI@SMU and NP will conduct a one-year pilot of the iSkills Talent Development Programme. The first course-run will commence in September 2019. To date, 18 SMEs have committed to sending their employees for this run.

Ng Cher Pong, Chief Executive of SSG, said: "We are committed to helping companies, especially SMEs, build skilled talent who can seize opportunities in international markets.  Through the collaboration with ITI@SMU, we are making available useful insights and relevant training required to better prepare our companies and their workforce for overseas expansion. We will work with more partners to expand the iSkills Talent Development Programme so that more companies can benefit from it."

Photo / 123RF

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