SINGAPORE - The pioneer batch of students in a certification programme for the precision engineering industry graduated on Monday.

The 51 graduates of the Precision Engineering Master Craftsman programme come from 40 companies in the precision engineering industry.

They received their certificates at ceremony held at Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), the first non-German institution in the world to be awarded international recognition for the programme.

The Precision Engineering Master Craftsman programme is a two-year part time course that focuses on skills upgrading for the precision engineering industry.

Graduates will be eligible for further industry certification as Master Craftsmen - and will then be able to command monthly salaries of at least $3,500.

The course is part of a $52 million effort to upgrade workers and boost productivity in the sector.

It is based on similar programmes in countries like Japan and Germany.