RP launches talent scheme backed by biopharma firms to better prepare students for jobs

SINGAPORE – From April, nearly 360 Republic Polytechnic (RP) students will get an early edge for jobs in the biopharmaceutical sector through a new talent programme.

The Talent Advancement Programme, which is headlined by a 36-week in-depth internship, was unveiled on Jan 9 as a joint effort between RP and 16 out of 18 companies in the Biopharmaceutical Manufacturer’s Advisory Council, with the support of the Economic Development Board.

Industry giants Pfizer, GSK, Novartis and equipment manufacturer Thermo Fisher Scientific are among the participating members of the council, which is an industry body that aims to drive home Singapore’s advantage in biopharma manufacturing.

The programme comes off the back of numerous investments into new and expanded plants in recent years by major pharma players, including Pfizer and Novartis, which have staked their chips on Singapore as an advanced manufacturing and research hub, creating skilled jobs to fill.

Under the programme, first-year students will get to take part in site visits and career talks, while second-year students can attempt job shadowing and short-term attachments before deciding if they wish to apply for the extended internship in their final year.

The scheme was launched at the RP campus in Woodlands at an event during the poly’s open house, which runs from Jan 9 to 11.

As a start, second-year students pursuing diploma studies in pharmaceutical science, as well as those in electrical and electronics engineering, will be eligible for the programme in the 2025 academic year.

Come 2027, about 1,000 students are expected to qualify, as the programme is gradually expanded to cover nine or so diploma programmes under RP’s School of Applied Science and School of Engineering as part of an ongoing curriculum revamp.

The programme is expected to put students in good stead for roles in manufacturing, automation, engineering and supply chain within the sector.

RP chief executive and principal Jeanne Liew said students in other fields, such as marketing, may join too if the companies involved have relevant opportunities in the future.

She added that the 36-week internship would appeal to students who are already very clear about their career aspirations and wish to deepen their expertise in specific skill sets.

As all components of the programme are designed to be in line with the national-level Biopharmaceuticals Manufacturing Skills Framework, Ms Liew said students who take part stand to be “very sought after” by employers.

Mr Lim Hock Heng, vice-president and site director at GSK and co-chair of the Biopharmaceutical Manufacturer’s Advisory Council, said: “Having early access to these talents enables us to build a skilled workforce ready to have an impact on the rapidly growing biopharma sector and, ultimately, for patients worldwide.”

On this point of early access, Ms Liew said the recognition offered by pharma companies for the skills and exposure gained through the rigorous programme could spur more students to join the workforce earlier, rather than pursue further studies out of concerns that their diploma qualifications are not adequately valued.

She added that the biopharma sector is a progressive one that recognises skills, rather than just academic qualifications.

“There will be more students who are more willing to start work immediately if they see that potential for career development is high (and) based on the competencies they gain on the job,” she said, but added that it remains up to students to decide if further studies are needed for their goals.

“Our job is to really get students to join high-growth sectors with good potential for wage growth and that are really focused on competencies – and we think that biopharma is one of these sectors that we therefore would want to encourage more students to enter.”

While participation in the programme does not guarantee higher wages or a full-time job offer with the companies, Ms Liew said the deepened skills and familiarity with company operations translate to a substantial advantage over fellow job seekers.

The programme is said to be the first of its kind in the applied sciences across the local polytechnics, though RP rolled out a similar programme for its School of Hospitality in 2024.

Mr Joshua Lee, 19, an RP student entering the final year of his diploma in pharmaceutical science, is an aspiring pharmaceutical researcher who reckons the new programme will build on existing efforts to impart relevant technical and soft skills, such as using virtual reality in class.

He said a longer internship, like through the Talent Advancement Programme, would not only offer more working experience, but also provide more networking opportunities.