Singapore Maritime Foundation Partners National University of Singapore to Equip Maritime Workforce with Applied Data Science and Analytics Skills
August 16, 2024
Courses to adopt stackable-skills, micro-credentials approach to help maritime professionals build data analytics skills to support transformation of the sector
Singapore, 16 August 2024 —The Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly develop, promote, and deliver applied data science and analytics courses to equip the Maritime Singapore workforce with essential data skills to remain competitive in an increasingly data-driven industry.
This follows the Report of the Tripartite Advisory Panel for Future-ready Maritime Workforce[1], which outlined the need for the maritime workforce to continuously deepen its domain skills while building data analytics capabilities and improving soft skills in an age marked by extensive technology and change.
“The maritime industry is on the cusp of a major transformation. Whether it’s the imperative to decarbonise or the increasing pervasiveness of technology across all aspects of our business, these changes that are already picking up pace will require the workforce to adopt the mindset of lifelong learning in order to remain relevant. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Singapore Maritime Foundation and the National University of Singapore allows both organisations to cooperate to provide high quality continuing education and training to retain the competitive edge of the Maritime Singapore workforce. We invite the industry to sign-up for this, and other courses to come,” said Mr. Hor Weng Yew, Chairman of Singapore Maritime Foundation.
“Collaborations like these are essential in addressing skills and knowledge gaps as technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace. This partnership between the National University of Singapore and the Singapore Maritime Foundation underscores our commitment to advancing data literacy among maritime professionals. I am confident our collective efforts will greatly benefit the sector in its data-driven initiatives,” said Professor Susanna Leong, Dean of NUS School of Continuing and Lifelong Education.
In 2020, NUS launched the Data Literacy Programme (DLP) for its Executive and Administrative workforce. The DLP comprises a suite of basic, intermediate and advanced data literacy courses offered under a micro-credential model. To date, NUS has progressively trained, upskilled, and re-skilled over 4,000 of its staff.
Modelled on these DLP courses, NUS will now co-create applied data science and analytics courses specifically tailored to the maritime workforce in Singapore. These blended-learning courses are designed to optimise learning while accommodating the family, social, and work commitments of working adults. Certifications awarded to learners who satisfactorily completed these courses can be stacked towards a Master’s degree in the future.
As part of the co-creation process, a pilot run will be conducted in September 2024 to facilitate the exchange of ideas in curriculum design and domain knowledge. This will be followed by a roll-out of customised courses in the first quarter of 2025.
“The DLP blended-learning model empowers adult learners to acquire new skills, advance in their careers, or switch career paths, all without causing major disruptions to their daily work. This flexibility is essential in today’s fast-evolving job market, ensuring that our workforce remains competitive, agile and adaptable,” said Associate Professor Tok Eng Soon, Director of Learning and Development Academy, NUS Office of Human Resources.
![](https://www.smf.com.sg/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Signed-MoU-3-1024x683.jpg)
[1] The Tripartite Advisory Panel for Future-ready Maritime Workforce was formed in 2023 to identify the skills that the maritime workforce needs for 2030 and beyond, propose strategies to spur workforce transformation, and consider how Singapore can contribute to the effort to prepare the workforce for change as industry transformation catalysed by digitalisation and decarbonisation accelerates. The Report can be downloaded at https://www.smf.com.sg/resources-publications/
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About the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF)
Established in 2004, the Singapore Maritime Foundation is a conduit between the public and private sectors to accomplish the twin mission of developing and promoting Singapore as an International Maritime Centre (IMC); and to attract, engage and grow a talent pipeline to position Maritime Singapore for continued growth. For details, visit https://www.smf.com.sg/
About National University of Singapore (NUS)
The National University of Singapore (NUS) is Singapore’s flagship university, which offers a global approach to education, research and entrepreneurship, with a focus on Asian perspectives and expertise. We have 16 colleges, faculties and schools across three campuses in Singapore, with more than 40,000 students from 100 countries enriching our vibrant and diverse campus community. We have also established more than 20 NUS Overseas Colleges entrepreneurial hubs around the world.
Our multidisciplinary and real-world approach to education, research and entrepreneurship enables us to work closely with industry, governments and academia to address crucial and complex issues relevant to Asia and the world. Researchers in our faculties, research centres of excellence, corporate labs and more than 30 university-level research institutes focus on themes that include energy; environmental and urban sustainability; treatment and prevention of diseases; active ageing; advanced materials; risk management and resilience of financial systems; Asian studies; and Smart Nation capabilities such as artificial intelligence, data science, operations research and cybersecurity.
For more information on NUS, please visit nus.edu.sg.
Media Contacts
David Lee
davidlee@sgmf.com.sg
+65 9119 8044
Joshua Ong
joshuaong@sgmf.com.sg
+65 9011 6304
Karen Loh
karenloh@nus.edu.sg
+65 6601 1485