A mobile learning application enabling all officers to learn on the go and at their own pace is one of the Home Team Academy's (HTA) latest training initiatives.

Officers now access e-learning through the Home Team Learning Management System, a portal only available on their office desktops, posing a challenge for those who are often away from their desks.

E-learning courses on portable electronic devices may prove the key to overcoming this hurdle. Videos, podcasts and quizzes are included to supplement learning.

The app is still on trial, with over 100 officers from various HT departments having used it.

This was one of the learning initiatives outlined in Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam's speech at the HT Workplan Seminar yesterday. He said: "I would also like to see a greater collaboration with our universities, more pathways for people to take up self-learning programmes, accreditation, credits from modules towards the journey in terms of getting skills and degrees."

He emphasised the role of continuous learning and academic upgrading in officers' development .

He said HTA was working with SkillsFuture Singapore and institutes of higher learning to equip officers with work skills such as emergency medical services and also those that support future innovation, such as cybersecurity.

"As long as our officers are willing to put in the effort, we will support you on this journey (to) get better skills, capabilities," he said.

All senior officers can look forward to the recently rolled out Home Team Foundation Course.

It is "to really build strong bonds across the Home Team, with a common understanding of our heritage, our culture and what we aim to achieve", said Mr Shanmugam.

Rachael Seow