Newest SkillsFuture Queen Bee UOB collaborates with Institute of Higher Learning to create SME training initiatives
The one-off certification programme we have for adult educators today will not be enough, says Education Minister Desmond Lee. PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI, ST
The SkillsFuture movement is bringing greater professionalisation of adult educators – including a national registry – and more “Queen Bee” companies that support workforce skills development, particularly for smaller organisations.
The Lifelong Learning Institute, which will be rebranded to Lifelong Learning Singapore, will also have more facilities and offerings.
These updates were announced at the opening of the annual SkillsFuture Festival on Monday (Jul 7), where Minister for Education Desmond Lee also highlighted three aims of the SkillsFuture movement’s next phase: raising the quality of Singapore’s training and adult education sector; strengthening employers’ commitment to training; and getting individuals to take more ownership of their skills development.
The SkillsFuture movement’s next phase
First, a new Training and Adult Educator Professional Pathway aims to professionalise the industry by providing structured and quality training to adult educators. The pathway is developed by the Institute for Adult Learning (IAL), with the support of SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG).
“(Adult educators) must keep upgrading, to keep up with industry developments and new training methods. The one-off certification programme we have today will not be enough,” said Lee.
A national registry of qualified and practising adult educators will also be set up. From Apr 1, 2026, adult educators must be registered to deliver training that is supported by SSG. Registration opens in the fourth quarter of 2025.
To stay registered, they must complete at least 40 Continuing Professional Development hours and 80 practice hours every two years.
To bring in more adult educators with current and relevant knowledge and experience, the pathway will also increase the ways in which expert practitioners in selected professional sectors can be identified and certified as adult educators.
IAL and SSG will work with relevant industry organisations – such as the Singapore Academy of Law – to identify experts and nominate them to register. They will begin with the legal and healthcare sectors before expanding to others.
Second, the SkillsFuture movement aims to strengthen employers’ commitment to developing their workforce.
This is not just by creating conditions for workers to pursue training, but also recognising and rewarding employees for skills attained, said Lee.
He added that while it is natural for employers to worry that their staff will leave after getting support for skills upgrading, everyone will be worse off if Singapore does not build up its human capital and resilience.
Meanwhile, SSG will continue to grow Queen Bee companies that help smaller companies train their staff. As at March 2025, 37 such Queen Bees have provided training and advisory to 5,770 participating companies.
These companies sent an average of three times more workers for training, compared with non-participating companies, said Lee.
Eighty-six per cent of participating companies reported positive business impact from the programme. About 80 per cent of beneficiaries are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
UOB will be the newest Queen Bee, with Lee announcing its three-year appointment on Monday.
The bank has launched an SME Elevate Programme to champion skills development in artificial intelligence, digitalisation and sustainability through support measures such as workshops, funding support and networking opportunities. This will benefit about 200 SMEs and 800 of their employees.
On Monday, UOB also signed memoranda of understanding with three institutes of higher learning – the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and Ngee Ann Polytechnic – under the SkillsFuture Queen Bee initiative.
The parties will collaborate to support SMEs through through targeted skills development, joint programmes, and strategic industry engagement.
Lifelong Learning Singapore
Finally, to encourage Singaporeans to take ownership of their skills development, the Lifelong Learning Institute will be enhanced.
It will be rebranded as Lifelong Learning Singapore (LLSG), and will gain a new advisory centre that provides individuals career guidance, up-to-date job-skills insights and opportunities for industry exposure.
The institute will also organise more sectoral workshops, delivered together with employers and industry, said Lee.
This year’s SkillsFuture Festival was launched with a forum with the theme of “Building Business Resilience and Enabling Career Growth through Skills Development”, held at Raffles City Convention Centre.
The festival, which runs from Jul 7 to Aug 18, will feature over 150 events.
Newest SkillsFuture Queen Bee UOB collaborates with Institute of Higher Learning to create SME training initiatives
