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LYON, France – WorldSkills, a long-running vocational skills competition for youth, has helped to improve curricula in Singapore’s polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), said Dr Maliki Osman, Second Minister for Education and Foreign Affairs. Through such international events, the Republic can benchmark not just its students against their peers overseas, but also the local curriculum against the requirements of different skill sets and traits around the world, he said in an interview with The Straits Times. For example, coaches of students who took part in the mechatronics, cyber security and robotics skill areas have, over the years, infused new concepts and insights learnt from the WorldSkills contests into their curriculum, said Dr Maliki. Speaking on Sept 14 at the 47th edition of the WorldSkills international competition in Lyon, France, Dr Maliki said Singapore also gains more than competition experience from these events and can learn from other countries’ experiences. “What may be known as mechatronics and IT (information technology) manifests itself differently in different parts of the world. “We’re here to learn what more we can do to improve our curriculum, our students’ abilities, as well as ready them for the world that we know is really a world of opportunities,” said Dr Maliki. Dubbed the “Olympics of vocational skills”, the biennial WorldSkills competition, held in different countries every edition, challenges young people to show their vocational skills in categories such as creative arts and fashion, construction and building technology, information and communication technology, and transportation and logistics. Dr Maliki said industry involvement is vital in curriculum development. The core philosophy of training at the ITE and polys must involve integration with industries through internships or work experience programmes, he said. This also applies to teaching staff, who come from industry. One pathway that provides this “synergy” between industry and school is ITE’s Work-Study Diploma programmes, which were launched in 2018, he said. ITE took in 1,000 trainees for these courses in 2023, and Dr Maliki called on the institution to double its student intake in years to come. “We want to provide more opportunities for our students to see that as a viable track,” he said. From an initial enrolment of 100 trainees across four Work-Study Diploma courses with industry training at 41 companies, the number has grown to more than 3,500 trainees across 42 courses with more than 700 companies. Dr Maliki said more employers are recognising vocational skill sets. “The remuneration that they give our students who graduate from the Work-Study Diplomas, for example, is commendable. “Society needs to also then recognise that skills are valued. Our students are competing at the ‘Olympics of skills’, and if they get a gold medal, it’s as good as that.” Singapore first participated in the WorldSkills international competition in 1995. For the 2024 contest, it sent its largest contingent of 35 young people, who are from the ITE, polytechnics and SBS Transit. They took part in 30 skill areas at the event in Lyon, France, which was held from Sept 10 to 15. four silvers, two bronzes and 11 medallions for excellence, which are given to competitors who score 700 or more points, but are not awarded a gold, silver or bronze medal. The team also set records for securing Singapore’s first gold medal in visual merchandising and first medal (silver) in restaurant service. Dr Maliki said global competitions like this are in line with the Government’s previously announced plans in 2020 to send 70 per cent of students in institutes of higher learning to Asean countries to gain exposure. “We hope that opportunities like these not only enhance the sense of confidence for our students or participants, but also give the rest of the students a sense of inspiration, that you can peg yourself at the world stage.”