Singapore Polytechnic, Millipore, DPS signs MOC |
TWO new programmes have been developed to train more than 1,000 engineers and technicians for the promising biomedical manufacturing industry. The modular training programmes, introduced on Tuesday, will arm the workers with nationally certified skills in two fields: biologics and pharmaceuticals manufacturing. The training will be provided jointly by three organisations. These are Singapore Polytechnic, life sciences company Millipore and DPS Engineering (Singapore), which runs training programmes in biomedical manufacturing. Their partnership was formally sealed on Tuesday when they signed a Memorandum of Cooperation, witnessed by Minister of State for Manpower and Trade and Industry Lee Yi Shyan. The minister highlighted the promise of biologics manufacturing, noting that about US$2 billion (S$2.8 billion) has been invested in Singapore in six major projects in the last few years. 'These plants are expected to be operational in the coming few years and will employ more than 1,000 skilled engineers and technicians,' he said. Biologics refers to medicinal products produced through biological rather than chemical methods. They are used to treat auto-immune, infectious and cardiovascular diseases and different types of cancers. Mr Lee also said the agreement will allow the three partners to share resources “unlike traditional modes of training where a single training provider owns the facilities, develops the curriculum and delivers the training”. For example, DPS specialised in the training of compliance and validation, while Millipore focuses on process. The polytechnic provides training equipment and facilities. The training programmes were developed jointly by the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and the three organisations. The duration of the modules in each programme add up to three months. On completing the programme, workers will get a certificate under the Workforce Skills Qualification scheme, a national skills certification standard developed and subsidised by the WDA. Electrical engineer Lye Poh Loh, who was retrenched in March last year, took a three-month DPS course that included two modules in the new training programmes. He found a job in January with a medical devices company and plans to do relevant modules in the new programmes “if there is funding from the Government or my company”. More information on this press release is available on the following sites: |
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