askST: Will what I learn in university still be useful after I graduate?

In today’s fast-changing job market, being able to continuously adapt and learn is key.

In 2023, almost half (47.3 per cent) of job vacancies in Singapore were newly-created job roles, up from 38.7 per cent in 2022, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in its report on job vacancies for that year. Data for 2024 is not yet available.

The same MOM report says that the majority of the new roles were created due to business expansion into existing and emerging functions.

How can students prepare themselves for such dynamic conditions?

One way: “Learning by doing”. As Singapore’s first university of applied learning, Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) champions this learning model across all its degree programmes.

Last month,

the university rolled out a fresh approach – a first in Singapore – called competency-based education (CBE) for its two new undergraduate engineering degrees

commencing in September.

CBE builds on SIT’s unique applied learning model. Students progress by mastering specific competencies that are directly aligned with industry needs, rather than merely completing coursework.

This approach allows students to apply their knowledge through hands-on projects, demonstrating tangible skills and abilities. CBE also enables employers to assess competencies, whether they are acquired through formal education, industry training, work experience, and other forms of informal learning.

Over time, all SIT-conferred degree programmes will gradually adopt the CBE model.

SIT has been progressively relocating to the Punggol Digital District from last September, making it the only university in Singapore with a centralised campus situated within a cutting-edge business district.

This brings students closer to valuable opportunities to network, engage with emerging technologies, and participate in industry-defining projects.

Professor John Thong, deputy president (academic) and provost of SIT, 60, answers some common questions students have about the evolving job market.

Q: With the job market changing so quickly, will what I learn in university be useful when I graduate?

A: Students today not only need to prepare for their first jobs, but also a lifetime of diverse careers.

At SIT, the CBE approach allows students to apply their knowledge through hands-on projects, demonstrating tangible skills and abilities. Students engage in practical problem-solving, tackle industry-relevant projects, and participate in industry collaborations.

These experiences equip them with the skills and confidence to thrive in real-world environments.

But technical expertise is not enough; students also need transferable and interdisciplinary skills.

SIT’s holistic skills framework imparts our students with these transferable skills – such as critical thinking, design thinking and communication – in a structured manner.

For example, engineering students are trained in project management and sustainability; they learn skills that are also applicable in fields like finance or consulting. Information and communications technology (ICT) students get to engage in interdisciplinary projects with healthcare professionals to co-create digital health solutions.

These initiatives help students learn to work and collaborate effectively across disciplines, and contribute to emerging sectors.

Q: How can I be sure that the skills I am learning will prepare me for the real world?

A: Acquiring practical, industry-relevant skills will better prepare you for the future, compared with traditional theory-based learning.

SIT’s applied learning model allows our students to engage in hands-on experiences, enabling them to take on in-depth scopes of work related to the fields of their study.

The university’s curriculum is developed in close consultation with industry partners, ensuring that students acquire relevant knowledge and skills aligned with market needs.

This equips SIT graduates with the practical capability to solve complex workplace problems from day one.

Q: What else can I do to gain real-world experience while still schooling?

A: At SIT, students get to embark on an “immersive, extended internship experience” known as the Integrated Work Study Programme (IWSP).

The programme lasts eight or 12 months, during which students work full-time while earning academic credit.

Through IWSP, students apply their skills directly to industry challenges, enhance technical expertise and strengthen their professional networks. They can also hone essential transferable skills like teamwork, communication, and adaptability – which are critical assets in today’s workforce.

Over half of SIT graduates receive job offers from their IWSP employers before graduation, with many accepting these offers.

Our new campus in the Punggol Digital District also features Living Labs, where SIT students, academic staff, industry partners, and government stakeholders can jointly develop, test, and implement innovative solutions.

Through these projects, students can gain valuable hands-on experience in areas like engineering, digital innovation, and healthcare.

Correction: An earlier version of the article included President Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s observation that there is a massive mismatch of skills “everywhere”, said during a fireside chat held after the inaugural meeting of the High-level Advisory Council on Jobs in Oct 2024. He was referring to the global landscape.

In partnership with Singapore Institute of Technology