Singapore, 1 December 2021 – Social service agencies will be able to enhance their digital transformation efforts with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Singapore Pools and Singapore Polytechnic. The MoU will give them access to customised e-learning and training programmes for free. Through this MoU, the two partners aim to support the upskilling of social service workers as well as further enhance the sector’s digital capabilities so that more resources can be focus on their beneficiaries.
The MoU was signed at a virtual ceremony today by Ms Evelyn Goh, Senior Director, People & Culture of Singapore Pools and Ms Georgina Phua, Deputy Principal (Development) of Singapore Polytechnic.
Under the partnership, Singapore Pools will curate and provide a suite of online training programmes that will be hosted on Singapore Polytechnic’s e-learning platform. These programmes will focus on digital skills and innovation to help social service workers stay up-to-date with popular software used for information sharing, data management and process automation. Having such competencies would further empower social service workers to leverage technology to improve productivity and focus on service outcomes.
Social service agencies can access these programmes for free, as the platform subscription fees to these programmes will be fully sponsored by Singapore Pools.
At a later date, Singapore Pools and Singapore Polytechnic also plan to support charities in their workforce transformation through programmes such as training needs analysis, workplace training assessment which covers both technical and soft skills, and jobs redesign. As technology is playing an increasingly important role in the delivery of social services, these programme offerings would also augment the charities’ preparation for the digital future.
This MoU is a continuation of a successful collaboration between the two organisations to develop talents in the social service sector. In January this year, they partnered SkillsFuture Singapore to launch the SgPools Academy-SP Connexion Programme, which equips mid-career jobseekers with in-demand skills for roles in the social service sector. The Programme is currently in its second run.
Said Mr Lam Chee Weng, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Pools, "As a close partner of social service agencies, Singapore Pools is always looking for innovative yet practical ways to help deepen skillsets in the sector. This partnership with Singapore Polytechnic aims to support the upskilling and development of the social sector. The e-learning programmes complement the digital solutions that we are providing to charities through iShine Cloud1, and the talent development through Connexion Programme. Singapore Pools will continue to leverage our strengths to create positive change in the community.”
Ms Georgina Phua, Deputy Principal (Development) of Singapore Polytechnic, said, “In today’s digital age, the social service sector faces growing demands to deliver more citizen-centric digital services. In this capability building partnership, Singapore Polytechnic will support our social service agencies to leverage proven technology to achieve their digitalisation goals and transform the way they deliver personalised experiences to the community. By widening the pool of learning resources in Singapore, we will enable our social service professionals to build up their digital literacy and acquire the skills they need to develop seamless digital experiences that meet the people’s needs, wherever and whenever they want.”
Ms Elysa Chen, Executive Director of Campus Impact, a social service agency that supports disadvantaged kids and their families said, “As a small charity, our resources are usually focused on service outcomes. But we are often caught by the tyranny of the urgent, and neglect what is important. Digitalisation and investing in our people help us to get to what is important so the work is sustainable. I’m thus excited to hear that this new initiative between Singapore Pools and Singapore Polytechnic will allow us to access training for free! This will allow my team members to develop professionally and equip ourselves to do our work even better in the future.”
Interested Social Service Agencies may contact SgPoolsAcademy@sgpoolz.com.sg for more information.
Singapore Pools (Private) Limited (www.singaporepools.com.sg)
Singapore Pools was established by the Singapore government on 23 May 1968 to provide safe and trusted betting to counter illegal gambling. As a not-for-profit organisation, all of Singapore Pools’ surpluses is channelled to Tote Board to fund a wide range of causes in social service, community development, sports, arts, education and health sectors.
Since 2004, over $5 billion have been channelled to Tote Board. In addition, Singapore Pools also contributes about $2 billion annually to the Government in the form of taxes and duties.
Its responsible gaming practices have been awarded the highest level of certification (Level 4) by the World Lottery Association’s Responsible Gaming Framework since 2012. Singapore Pools won the SkillsFuture Employer Award 2020 and the HRD Asia Employer of Choice Award 2020. In 2021, it was also recognised at the 15th Singapore HR Awards in Digital Transformation (Bronze), Learning & Development (Bronze) and Employee Engagement (Silver). Singapore Pools received the ComChest Community Spirit Gold Award 2020 and SHARE Silver both in 2020 and 2021.
Singapore Pools Academy (www.singaporepools.com.sg/en/academy)
Singapore Pools Academy is the human capital development unit of Singapore Pools (Private) Limited. It was formed in 2019 to institutionalise the learning capabilities and programmes developed by Singapore Pools over the years. The Academy is built on Learning Organisation principles and anchored with Singapore Pools' pledge to serve the community through human capital development initiatives that enables the workforce purposefully for job opportunities in the digital future.
Singapore Pools is committed to uplift our community by availing our Academy’s programmes and services to those who seek to acquire emerging skills that will place them to thrive in the new digital economy.
Singapore Polytechnic (www.sp.edu.sg)
Established in 1954, Singapore Polytechnic (SP) is Singapore’s first polytechnic. It has 10 schools that offer 30 full-time diploma courses and three common entry programmes for more than 13,500 students. SP adopts a proven creative teaching and learning framework and offers students a holistic, authentic and industry-relevant curriculum, innovative and vibrant learning spaces, and enriching overseas programmes.
The Polytechnic is committed to producing competent and versatile graduates who are also imbued with sound values, so that they can be work ready, life ready and world-ready. SP has more than 218,000 graduates and among them are successful entrepreneurs, top executives in multi-national and public-listed corporations, and well-known professionals across various industries and leaders in government.
SP clinched the inaugural ASEAN People’s Award in 2015 for its contributions toward the region’s community-building efforts. SP is also the first polytechnic to be awarded the President’s Award for the Environment in 2010 and the President's Social Service Award in 2011.
Follow SP on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/singaporepolytechnic and Twitter and Instagram at @singaporepoly
SP PACE Academy (www.sp.edu.sg/pace)
The Professional & Adult Continuing Education (PACE) Academy, which was launched by Singapore Polytechnic in 2010, provides the focal point for Continuing Education and Training (CET). It provides new and effective pathways for learners of all ages to stay employable by developing their skills and knowledge. PACE Academy takes pride in introducing new courses and programmes while updating existing ones to be relevant to the industries by aligning to the national Skills Frameworks (SFw) and Industry Transformation Maps (ITM).
Follow SP PACE Academy on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PACEAcademyatSP, Instagram @sppaceacademy and LinkedIn at pace@sp.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms Jackie Yu
Deputy Director, Communications, Singapore Pools
Mobile: 9688 4269
Email: jackieyu@sgpoolz.com.sg
Low Su-Lin (Ms)
Senior Manager, Communications, Singapore Polytechnic
Mobile: 9690 1255
Email: LOW_Su-Lin@sp.edu.sg
Anna Fernandez (Ms)
Senior Executive, Communications, Singapore Polytechnic
Mobile: 9460 6430
Email: Anna_Louise_Joseph_FERNANDEZ@sp.edu.sg
Julian Low (Mr)
Senior Executive, Communications, Singapore Polytechnic
Mobile: 9431 3156
Email: julian_low@sp.edu.sg