Chief ground-handling and in-flight catering service provider at Singapore Changi Airport, SATS Ltd. in collaboration with SIM Global Education has launched a new SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Program (ELP) to deliver skilling program for graduates and employees in the aviation industry.

Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Education was quoted in media saying," The ELP is an important initiative to support skills upgrading and to ensure our workforce has necessary skills to support industry transformation." 

He further stated that the program will cater to polytechnic students who want to go for a specialist diploma and through this program, they will spend some time working in the company and some time studying.

Chee also noted that the combination of learning on the job and the knowledge built up in the classroom is powerful and is the way to go to have a more highly skilled workforce.

According to reports, the ELP is expected to offer fresh graduates from polytechnics a head-start in careers related to their discipline. It will allow them to build on the knowledge acquired in school and supports a move into the workforce.

The skilling program is an 18-month program which will lead to a Specialist Diploma in Aviation Management.

The aviation sector's Industry Transformation Map unveiled in April 2017 set a target of increasing productivity by about 40 percent by 2025 while redesigning or creating 8,000 good jobs.

The new ELP will starts in October. Eligible candidates will be matched with a job related to their field of study and benefit from structured career development.

Eligible individuals can also receive a sign-on incentive of $5,000. Companies can get a grant of up to $15,000 for each participant to liquidate the costs of developing and providing structured on-the-job training.

Besides the ELP for fresh graduates, SATS is also rolling out a programme to equip its employees with digital skills. It will involve helping 3,000 staff members embrace change and gain confidence to adapt in a technology-rich environment.