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An Analysis of the Singaporean Preparation for the Future Workforce and Recommendations for Vietnam

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An Analysis of the Singaporean Preparation for the Future Workforce and Recommendations for Vietnam AN ANALYSIS OF THE SINGAPOREAN PREPARATION FOR THE FUTURE WORKFORCE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VIETNAM Nguyen Thi Hanh Quyen* Center for Vietnam Science and Technology Internationalization Promotion, Ministry of Science and Technology 39 Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam Received 16 May 2019 Revised 15 June 2019; Accepted 27 July 2019 Abstract: This paper aims at firstly reviewing initiatives on workforce transformation in the Industrial Revolution 4.0 funded by the Government of Singapore, and then making recommendations to policy makers regarding the workforce preparation in Vietnam. In the era of continuous change, workforce is a key factor in a thriving economy, thus Singapore’s strategy is to engender a future-ready generation for a better Singapore by strengthening the talent pools through lifelong learning and enabling all Singaporeans to excel and discover opportunities to fulfill their potentials. How has Singapore been doing to prepare a tomorrow’s workforce? How does Vietnam learn from Singapore’s experience in preparing for a future-ready workforce? This analysis will answer those two questions. The findings indicate that (i) the Government of Singapore has adopted an inclusive approach and has succeeded in developing a sustainable skills ecosystem and lifelong learning programs, and (ii) it is necessary for Vietnam to think about our own strategy that will focus on changing public awareness of lifelong learning and skills upgrading, identifying necessary skills for the future workforce, and creating effective action programs to encourage individuals to learn for life, pursue skills mastery and develop fulfilling careers. Keywords: future workforce, lifelong learning, skills mastery, industry 4.0, Singapore, Vietnam 1. Introduction1 smart devices gather and analyze real-time data. As a result, IR 4.0, on the one hand, It is pretty obvious that Industry 4.0 or will enable faster, more flexible and more Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0) is present efficient processes to produce higher-quality everywhere. It is not just a forecast; it is goods at reduced costs. On the other hand, existing and has great impact on human labour it will modify the profile of work, digitalize and jobs market. In essence, IR 4.0 is a higher the workplace and cause employees to face level of automation and interconnectivity, a challenge in keeping up with the industry which means that sensors, machines, (The World Economic Forum, 2018). It is workpieces, and information technology (IT) evident that workers will need to acquire systems are connected along the value chain. different and all new sets of skills relevant Smart machines collaborate with workers on to the future, such as flexibility, adaptability, the assembly line; smart transport systems innovation, ICT and digital skills, etc. transfer goods from one place to another; and However, persuading workers that they need to upgrade skills when they are busy working is an uphill task. Pushing companies to allow * Tel.: 84-969030772 their workers to participate in training classes Email: [email protected] VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, Vol.35, No.4 (2019) 92-113 93 when they are facing challenges themselves is mobile applications; IT was the most popular equally hard. course category across ages (Yang, 2017). Singapore has addressed these challenges SkillsFuture also creates a significant synergy by developing a culture of continuous training with Singapore’s existing higher education and learning (Lim, 2019). Singapore wants and vocational training system (Woo, 2017). to develop a new social culture in which Singapore’s universities, polytechnics and every Singaporean gets satisfaction in life the Institute of Technical Education have from learning at every stage, from mastering adapted to new scheme of lifelong learning by skills, and from being part of a community delivering short modules on emerging areas of of learners because the Government of growth for busy working adults (Sin, 2017) or Singapore believes that the contribution of courses free of charge as part of the university’s every individual will drive Singapore’s next efforts to encourage Singaporeans to upskill phase of development towards an advanced (Leow, 2017); tertiary curriculum focuses on and highly competitive economy (Committee graduates’ long term careers rather than being on the Future Economy, 2017). Deputy Prime pigeonholed by degree subjects (Koh, 2018). Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam stated More importantly, this scheme increases the that Singapore’s future must be about mastery number of employers engaging in workforce of skills, in every job, and enabling every training (Tham, 2018a) by providing grants Singaporean to develop themselves to the to cover training expenses (Teng, 2019). fullest (Tay, 2014, as cited in Tharman, 2014). Enterprises got more financial support for Although the concept of lifelong learning is training employees; the grant worthed up to not new, Singapore’s approach is sustainable, S$10,000 for each firm can be used to cover pragmatic and rational (Kumar, 2006). This 70 per cent of out-of-pocket training expenses approach involves a broader array of policy (Teng, 2019). A total of 12,000 enterprises instruments and targets a wider range of took up various SkillsFuture training beneficiaries in a longer term period (Teng, subsidies in 2018 (Seow, 2019). Obviously, 2016). In Singapore, two statutory boards, IR 4.0 is affecting every economy around SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and Workforce the world and the nature of work is changing Singapore (WSG), were established to with unpredictable growth. Every economy identify necessary skills for future jobs, has the same problems regarding future equip Singaporeans with deep skills, and workforce. But Singapore has solved their simultaneously build stronger, sustained challenges much more systematically than links between education and employment most countries, in a very deliberate fashion. (Tham, 2018a). With the introduction of There is no other country with as deliberate a national movement to nurture lifelong a strategy as SkillsFuture (Tharman, 2018b). learners, SkillsFuture, more and more Meanwhile in Vietnam, the workforce Singaporeans have changed their mindset remains weak in design, creativity, and and have voluntarily picked up new skills. productivity. Vietnam is seen as one of the For example, the first year of the SkillsFuture countries with lowest labour productivity in Credit scheme, which belongs to SkillsFuture the region (ILO, 2019). Low wage costs are initiatives, witnessed 126,000 Singaporeans being one of the factors making Vietnam an benefitting from it. They learnt a diverse range attractive destination to foreign investors. of skills - from baking bread to developing However, in the era of IR 4.0, robots will 94 N.T.H.Quyen/ VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, Vol.35, No.4 (2019) 92-113 replace unproductive workers (Shewan, 1. How has Singapore been doing to 2017), so low wage costs will be no longer an prepare a tomorrow’s workforce? advantage. This competitive edge, conversely, 2. How does Vietnam learn from will threaten the Vietnamese economy Singapore’s experience in preparing for a prospect. Improving flexibly a skilled future-ready workforce? workforce is becoming the first and foremost It should be noted here that studying policy to be researched and implemented right tomorrow’s workforce preparation for IR 4.0 now so that Vietnamese economy will be able to is new, even in developed economies. The stay relevant and keep developing in the IR4.0 Government of Vietnam has not published any (ILO, 2018). Unfortunately, the Vietnam 2035 strategy or framework involving this topic. report did not mention any policy or prospects Hence, the findings from this paper will insipre for tomorrow’s workforce. It means that the further research and discussions related to Government of Vietnam is not really ready for improving human resources in IR 4.0. this preparation. Similarly, Vietnamese people are unwilling to acknowledge and adapt to new 2. Methodology future jobs. A report of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on Industry 4.0 Vietnam found that The method utilized to conduct this most Vietnamese respondents had limited study is document analysis combining with knowledge or were unclear of the exact impacts consulting experts in digital learning and of IR 4.0 (27% of respondents fully understood workforce preparation in Singapore. The Industry 4.0 concept and its impacts versus experts are teachers of the training course 73% having limited or no knowledge, or were on Industry Revolution 4.0, which was held unclear of the impacts of IR4.0) (PWC, 2018, by Vietnam Singapore Cooperation Center p.3). The report also illustrated that Vietnam under the Singapore Cooperation Program in was facing a lack of clarity in the workforce Vietnam in April 2019. Qualitative data were of the specifically required skills to succeed compiled and analysed through the training (only 14% of respondents believed that they course materials and other written documents and their employees had a clear view of the containing information about Singapore’s skills required for digital transformation; 16% policy, strategy and programs for future indicated that they had no idea at all on the workforce development. skills and capabilities required; and the large The title of the training course is Industry majority of 70% fell in between the extremes Revolution 4.0 and its impact on policy in their understanding of required skills) formulation which aims to providing basic (PWC, 2018, p.6). Therefore, an analysis of knowlwdege of IR 4.0 and experience of Singapore’s strategies and action programs Singapore in preparation for the industrial for future workforce development will benefit revolution. In the training course, Vietnamese Vietnam. government officials were introduced The purpose of this paper is toreview manpower programs of Singapore like and analyse Singapore’s approaches towards SkillsFuture or Workforce Singapore- WSG, workforce preparation for IR 4.0 and to what they are and how they work. The learners make recommendations for policy makers of also had opportunities to experience digital Vietnam.
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