Number of polytechnic courses for 2019 intake to be cut by 20

SINGAPORE — The number of polytechnic courses for next year’s student intake is set to be cut by about 20, as the Ministry of Education (MOE) moves to streamline courses to ensure students develop relevant skills for an evolving workforce. This is double the number that was reduced this year.

Responding to TODAY’s queries, MOE said that the total number of polytechnic courses offered to students will go down from 220 this year to 200 next year. Back in 2017, the figure was 230.

Speaking on behalf of the five polytechnics in Singapore, MOE said that the streamlining process — done primarily by merging courses — will not reduce the overall polytechnic intake. There will also be “no impact on the number of teaching jobs in the polytechnics”, it added.

A check on the various polytechnics’ websites showed that the types of courses that were discontinued or merged cut across various fields, from early childhood to aviation to retail. Temasek Polytechnic (TP) has the highest number of courses that are merging: 12.

The decision to combine courses surprised some current and prospective students, although MOE had already sounded the move at its Committee of Supply debate in March after the national Budget statement was delivered.

Education Minister Ong Ye Kung, who was then in charge of the higher education and skills portfolio, announced that the number of polytechnic courses will be cut by 20 per cent to about 184 by the next two to three years. The goal is to produce versatile graduates who can move from one job to the other given the quick-changing nature of the workforce.

Several lecturers from all five polytechnics, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they are not allowed to speak to the media, told TODAY that teaching staff members affected by courses which have been consolidated or discontinued will be re-deployed, but did not want to give details.

DECIDING ON WHAT TO GO, WHAT TO KEEP

Over the years, it has been an ongoing process for courses to be merged or discontinued, with polytechnics deciding what to trim or modify based on consultations with the various industries.

MOE said that other factors taken into account include graduate employment outcomes and students’ interests.

It added that in designing their courses, the polytechnics also refer to the Industry Transformation Maps and the Skills Frameworks, which provide information and direction as part of a national programme to transform Singapore’s key industries.

A spokesperson from the ministry said: “While take-up rates of courses is one of the considerations in reviewing courses, it is not the key deciding factor for merging or discontinuing courses.”

The bulk of skills covered in discontinued or merged courses “remain relevant to industry needs and will continue to be offered through other courses”, the spokesperson said, adding that “existing students will still graduate with industry-relevant skills, and enjoy good employment prospects”.

CHANGES TO COURSES

Some examples of the affected courses include Singapore Polytechnic’s Diploma in Experience & Product Design, which will be merged with the Diploma in Visual Communication & Media.

Under the newly merged course, called the Diploma in Experience & Communication Design, MOE said that students can develop competencies in both experience and communication design “to meet emerging industry needs for designers skilled in user experience, user interface and experience design”.

Over at TP, its Diploma in Retail Management will be folded into the Diploma in Marketing. This allows students to build a strong foundation in marketing before they proceed to specialise in either branding and digital marketing, or e-commerce and retail marketing.

At Republic Polytechnic (RP), two of its courses — the Diploma in Aerospace Avionics and the Diploma in Interactive & Digital Media — will be discontinued from the next academic year.

The polytechnic's spokesperson told TODAY that prospective students can still find components of these two discontinued courses in other courses. For instance, aerospace avionics content will be featured in the diploma courses for aerospace engineering as well as electrical and electronic engineering.

“This will provide students in both diploma courses the exposure to aircraft communications systems, in addition to the existing course content,” the spokesperson added.

A check on Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s website showed that some courses have been renamed. However, lecturers and students said this does not mean that the courses have been merged. Rather, certain modules have been removed to make the courses “more focused”.

For instance, the Diploma in Aerospace Technology has been renamed Diploma in Aerospace Engineering. Marcus Yap, 19, a third-year student in the course, said that students were informed of the change at a briefing in June by the course manager.

Presently, students get to study three specialisations in design option, aviation management, and maintenance repair and overhaul. The renamed course offers just one specialisation: Maintenance repair and overhaul.

“We were told that because the market in maintenance repair and overhaul is growing, there’s a need to capitalise on that,” Marcus said.

FINDING OTHER OPTIONS

Muhd Rahmat Hidayat Mohd Sidek, 21, a first-year student in TP’s diploma course in retail management, was “a bit shocked” when he was told by his course manager that his cohort will be the last for the course.

“While I wasn’t demoralised upon hearing about the closure of the diploma course, it does make me feel sad to think about other students who may have been wanting to apply for this diploma and may not get the chance to pursue it.”

One of those who will be missing out is Nurul Aisyqin Abdul Rahim, 20, a second-year student studying for a Higher National ITE Certificate in human resource management at ITE College East.

She said that she had planned to study at TP to get a Diploma in Retail Management, but found out during the Early Admission Exercise in June this year that it will be folded into another course.

“I was so determined to get myself into that course (and) I even got my write-up prepared for the exercise. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be,” she said, adding that she has accepted an offer from RP to pursue a Diploma in Customer Experience Management with Business next year.

For Marcus, he agreed with the move to constantly review courses to ensure students acquire relevant skills and remain employable. He said: “Changes in the workforce is happening at a faster pace now. So, the courses we study must also keep up. If not, the students themselves will lose out.”

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