Singapore Polytechnic establishes the Enabling Platform Partnership

Singapore Polytechnic (SP) has introduced an Enabling Platform Partnership designed to empower Singapore-based enterprises as they embark on their transformation journey into the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). The initiative, initiated and spearheaded by SP, addresses critical industry needs across business transformation, talent development, and technology adoption. 

The announcement was one of the highlights of the Automation SolutionGO! and the Regional Industry Networking Conference (RINC) 2025, which was jointly organised by SP and AutomationSG at the end of July 2025. Formerly the Singapore Industrial Automation Association, AutomationSG is a professional association for companies and professionals in the automation, Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics sectors. 

The Enabling Platform Partnership brings together institutes of higher learning, trade associations, and agencies from Singapore and Malaysia to close gaps in manpower, talent development, and technology adoption within the JS-SEZ by enhancing industry-ready skills training, upskilling, and reskilling programmes. 

The stakeholders include Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic International, Southern University College, Sunway University, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, AutomationSG, Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing, Singapore Manufacturing Federation, Johor Skills Development Centre, and Johor Talent Development Council. 

The benefits of this cross-border partnership are already evident in ongoing collaborations. A prime example is SP’s recent partnership with the Johor Skills Development Centre, which successfully leveraged a funding scheme from Malaysia's Human Resource Development Corporation (HRDF) to develop and deliver a two-day training programme across four runs. 

This initiative equipped over 140 Malaysian employees of Tai Sin Electric, a Singapore enterprise, with essential knowledge in sustainability 101, aligning their skills with the company's Singapore-based workforce. This success now allows other Singaporean companies in Johor to access similar funding for their subsidiaries' upskilling and reskilling needs.

Soh Wai Wah, Principal and CEO of Singapore Polytechnic, said: “The Enabling Platform Partnership is a strategic catalyst for enterprise transformation, directly supporting Singapore’s goal of helping businesses expand into Johor and Batam. It solidifies Singapore Polytechnic’s position as a leading regional education and training institute with continual relevance to Singapore’s economic development.”

Source: Singapore Polytechnic. Principal & CEO, Singapore Polytechnic, Soh Wai Wah (4th from left) and Guest-of-Honour, Alvin Tan, Singapore Minister of State for the Ministry of Trade & Industry, and Ministry of National Development (6th from left) with industry partners commemorating the Enabling Platform Partnership.

The event also featured the GO! Awards as a key initiative by AutomationSG to recognise outstanding solution providers and end-users who excel in business growth, sustainability, and technology utilisation. There were two GO! Sustainability award winners, Ranpak which makes sustainable, paper-based protective packaging solutions, and LeanCost International, whose SmartCarbon AI-Expert System determines carbon footprints. The GO! Technology Utilisation award was given to Black Sesame Technologies Singapore, which offers the Sesame X full-stack AI computing platform for real-time AI inference in robotics.

Terence Teo, President of AutomationSG said: “Through strategic collaborations, real-world pain point discussions, and groundbreaking initiatives with Singapore Polytechnic and regional partners, we are creating an ecosystem where smart manufacturing, AI, and workforce transformation drive sustainable growth amidst turbulent times.” 

Automation SolutionGO! and RINC 2025 also featured the first Manufacturing Jobs & Skills Fair, co-organised by SP, AutomationSG and e2i, to help job seekers and mid-career switchers. 

Empowering back-to-work mums and mumpreneurs in continuing their careers

Scan the QR code for more information.

Age, technological and skills’ gaps, lack of confidence, fear of changing work environment and generational diversity have been cited as key obstacles for the close to 40,000 Mums@Work members in re-entering the workforce.

This is despite the fact that more than 80% of members had over eight years of work experience, mostly in white-collar jobs in banking and finance, media and entertainment and human resources. Close to half were even in a managerial position previously.

The latest survey findings brought Mums@Work (MW) and Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) together to help aspiring back-to-work mothers and mumpreneurs with programmes that bridge the gaps. NP has curated a holistic programme to help MW members regain confidence and prepare them for the corporate world and also made courses on digital skills and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and fintech available to them.

Among them is an eight-week SkillsFuture Work-Study Programme - Bootcamp in Digital Marketing and Branding, which is cosponsored by the hiring company. This fast-track programme is designed to teach the essentials of digital marketing within two months, and guarantees graduates job interviews with NP’s network of industry partners. Over 60% of past participants of this bootcamp were successful in securing a placement with the industry partners.

“An integral part of reintegration is upskilling and staying in touch with the latest trends and knowledge. With Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s suite of courses, the member-mums in our network can rediscover their career paths and find different courses to help them restart or develop their career or entrepreneurial journey,” said Sher-Li Torrey, Founder of Mums@Work.

Christy Chung, Director of NP’s CET Academy, shared: “As a mother of five, I had been away from work for extended periods five times over. I can fully understand that the days leading up to returning to work may be daunting. I am thus grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with Mums@Work to co-curate learning itineraries for mumpreneurs and returning mums. Whether they are restarting, re-anchoring or rediscovering their careers, there is an itinerary for each of them.”

A total of 15 short courses with durations ranging from half a day to eight weeks will train MW members to be work-ready and future-ready. In addition, a suite of more than 20 microlearning courses under the banner Professions offer on-the-go training in critical lifeskills as well as professional skills for specific industries such as healthcare and landscaping.

MW members can also sign up for NP’s just-launched Masters Collective video docuseries featuring local entrepreneurs like Love, Bonito’s Rachel Lim and Carousell’s co-founder Marcus Tan, to give them some insider insights on setting up a business. More information on the courses available for MW members can be found by scanning the QR code in this post.

Nanyang Polytechnic students chart digital transformation course for Sim Soon Heng Cooking Ingredients

Source: Nanyang Polytechnic. MD of Sim Soon Heng David Sim (centre in blue) with his mother Mrs Sim (third from left) and his son (second from left) together with the students of Nanyang Polytechnic's School of Business Management and School of Information Technology. The students worked together on digital transformation for Sim Soon Heng.

Traditional sauce manufacturer Sim Soon Heng Cooking Ingredients (SSH) is taking its first steps into the digital world, with the help of eight teenagers from Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) in Singapore. The students, from the School of Business Management and School of Information Technology, came up with a digitisation strategy for the 39-year-old family-run business that covers multiple channels of customer engagement.

To help the company move beyond selling sauces to restaurants and other businesses, NYP students are developing an interactive website for SSH, targeted at consumers. They have also developed a social media engagement strategy and will be conducting data analytics on social media data. For instance, when the online tools go live, the students will monitor market reactions in order to customise content that is more engaging as well as to launch targeted marketing campaigns.

SSH is the first local small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) to undergo a digital transformation at NYP’s new Customer Experience and Analytics Centre (CEAC). The CEAC helps SMEs digitise their businesses through the development and implementation of online strategies. SMEs can also tap on CEAC to enhance the customer’s experience through data analysis and customer experience studies. The centre is currently working with another three clients and more companies are expected to come on board over the next few months.

David Sim, MD, Sim Soon Heng Cooking Ingredients said, “We have run our business in the same way for the last four decades. It is time to update. We believe the best people to help us do this are the youth. So we chose to work with Nanyang Polytechnic’s students. They have been very professional in helping us through this transformation. ”

His father, Sim Liap Siang, founded the business in 1978, beginning with supplying ready-made chilli paste to hawkers. Today, SSH’s customers comprise food establishments, school canteen and hawkers across the island. They get a wide variety of cooking ingredients from the company, from its self-made chilli paste to soya sauces and flour. The ready-made recipe sauces business will be led by a new generation - David Sim’s son.

Loh Chuu Yi, Director, School of Business Management, Nanyang Polytechnic, said, “Digitisation can be a long and formidable journey, especially for SMEs. The CEAC gives these smaller businesses the opportunity to take a less resource-intensive first step. These real-world experiences also give our business students an edge when they join the industry.”

The CEAC will be formally launched on 27 March 2017 by Low Yen Ling, Singapore Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Trade & Industry.

posted from Bloggeroid

Someline Apple Tree app grows apples for charity if you stay away from your phone

Source: Google Play.

Libern Lin, a student entrepreneur from Singapore's Republic Polytechnic, has taken his Someline Apple Tree app to the next level with the help of funding from the Singapore Computer Society (SCS).

The app encourages face to face interaction, with users growing digital apples for rewards if they leave their phones alone. Said Lin, creator of Someline Apple Tree: “After some thought, we felt that we could use this concept for the greater good. Hence, we decided to use the S$30,000 development fund provided by SCS to further enhance the app (by creating) a charity component for IDA’s Code for Charity*. 

"Moving forward, we are also looking to partner with retailers to provide users with additional incentives to put their phones down, as any apples grown will earn the user discounts and freebies in the store.”

Lin hopes to unlock S$10,000 worth of digital apples, sponsored by Singapore Pools, for the SG Enable charity. SG Enable runs a day activity centre aimed at providing care and skills training to adults with disabilities.

Interested?

Download the app from the iTunes store or from the Google Play store  

*IDA's Code for Charity initiative enables participants to learn about coding while contributing to a good cause.