SJ Group and ITE partner to advance skills in the built environment
SJ Group and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance the national effort to transition the labour-intensive Facilities Management industry to a higher-value, productive one powered by data analytics, predictive maintenance and smart solutions.
A key component of the partnership focuses on training ITE students in Engineering and Info-communication Technology including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Building Information Modelling (BIM), Data Engineering, Digitalisation, Digital Facility Management, Digital Asset Monitoring, and Mixed and Virtual Reality (MR/VR).
The Construction Industry Transformation Map, provided by Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority, has outlined the need to build a tech-leveraging built environment workforce for a smart nation. With more smart city solutions being developed in the region, students with these skillsets will be well-positioned to contribute to the sector upon graduation.
To this end, SJ Group will set up the ITE-SJ Living Learning Lab (L3) at ITE Colleges. L3 (pronounced as “L” Cube), envisioned to be a Smart Digital Campus, will be equipped with Internet of Things (IoT) Devices, Lift Monitoring Performance Devices, SJ Group’s 24K Integrated Platform of smart technologies to enable students and academia to experiment and apply them in various operating environments.
Ms Low Khah Gek, Chief Executive Officer, ITE, said, “ITE is pleased to partner SJ Group in nurturing skilled manpower for the built environment sector. This MOU not only benefits ITE staff and students, but also in-service employees in this sector who are keen to upskill to use emerging technologies. We look forward to the Living Learning Labs at each of the three ITE Colleges. Each Lab will be equipped with the latest smart technologies to provide authentic learning and opportunity for real-world practical applications.”
Mr Wong Heang Fine, Group Chief Executive Officer of SJ Group, said:
“SJ Group has a major stake in building a robust eco-system that supports the transformation of the built environment through the entire value chain. Nurturing a future-ready talent force is a critical pillar of the eco-system. We are committed to working with ITE and other Institutes of Higher Learning to equip built environment professionals with deep skills to transition to greater value creation.”
SJ Group’s integrated smart city solutions are developed from over 30 years of experience in deploying its digital applications in Singapore’s public housing and large-scale infrastructure assets.
SJ Group will also commit to the training of ITE students, ITE lecturers and adult learners to fuel future-ready built environment professionals. The company will offer internships and learning journeys, participate as a Sponsoring Company for the ITE Work-Study Diploma (WSDip), and co-develop and co-deliver training courses for adult learners under ITE’s Continuing Education and Training (CET) framework. ITE staff will also benefit from industry attachments to upgrade their skills. These opportunities will afford students, adult learners and staff exposure to latest industry trends and practices.
Under the partnership, SJ Group will also sponsor Course Medals to outstanding ITE students from built environment courses annually, to recognise and encourage young talent.