SUSS-IAL integration will build stronger capabilities in training and adult education
Singapore, 25 April 2019 – Since 1 April 2019, the Institute for Adult Learning (IAL) has been restructured as an autonomous institute within the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). This move has strengthened SUSS’ position as a university that champions lifelong learning, offering a wide range of Continuing Education and Training (CET) courses and multiple pathways for skills upgrading. With this move, SUSS will also take the lead in studying and advancing the field of adult learning.
- “There are strong synergies in the restructuring of IAL into SUSS. SUSS has a growing pool of adult learners due to its wide array of courses, modular programmes and multiple pathways for admission, which provide learners with the flexibility to upgrade themselves at different life stages. Together with IAL, we will further strengthen the quality of the adult learning landscape in Singapore, and of our CET courses. We will be able to offer a wider repertoire of skills upgrading opportunities and produce more impactful research,” said SUSS President, Prof Cheong Hee Kiat, at the university’s 14th Anniversary celebrations today.
- The occasion was graced by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies; and attended by Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Education; Mr Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Trade and Industry; Mr Ng Cher Pong, Chief Executive, SkillsFuture Singapore; Mr Stephen Lee, Chancellor of SUSS, and Professor Lee Wing On, Executive Director of IAL.
- Set up in December 2008, IAL is an established national institute for adult educators. As IAL becomes an autonomous institute of SUSS, it will continue to drive the national agenda for Training and Adult Education (TAE) development in Singapore with support from SUSS. Both entities will explore meaningful collaboration opportunities, by bringing together their know-how and experiences in providing learning opportunities for adults.
- IAL will continue to grow its footprint in andragogical capabilities and undertake more and varied research in adult learning with SUSS, drawing on SUSS’ adult students’ learning experiences for its research; it will also share its findings with other Institutes of Higher Learning and the TAE community, and support policy development. Eventually, IAL’s research can improve the design of Singapore’s training infrastructure and policies, to better support development in CET and lifelong learning.
- This unique model will also allow IAL to pursue both paths of meeting TAE needs through professional development programmes and providing practitioner insights through research outputs and collaboration with the industries. IAL will leverage SUSS’ wide network of industry practitioners and continue to work closely with enterprises to maintain its industry perspective and be a strategic partner for businesses that seek to transform their workplace learning infrastructure. For example, IAL’s Learning Enterprise Alliance is a network of enterprises from different sectors, who are committed to using workplace learning for the design of their work and workplaces. Current partners include Shalom Movers Pte Ltd, Home-Fix D.I.Y and All Saints Home.
- SUSS aims to accredit and issue formal qualifications for programmes run by IAL at the professional and tertiary-level, which will be developed subsequently and lend its name to IAL’s activities. IAL will have greater credibility and stronger standing as the national institute in Singapore for the training of adult educators, in tandem with SUSS’ vision to spearhead the pursuit of lifelong learning.
- This will be an exciting lap in TAE as SUSS & IAL’s joint efforts will chart the way forward towards a culture of work learning and work-learners in the Singapore workforce, with the aim to enhance quality work, job satisfaction, work motivation, and innovation opportunities.
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About the Singapore University of Social Sciences
SUSS is an autonomous university of Singapore that is continually providing inclusive lifelong learning and applied education opportunities with a strong social emphasis that transcends disciplinary focus. Our mission is to champion lifelong education to develop future thinkers and leaders to their fullest potential through our 3H’s education philosophy – ‘Head’ for professional competency with applied knowledge, ‘Heart’ for social awareness of the needs of the society, and ‘Habit’ for passion towards lifelong learning.
We offer more than 70 undergraduate and graduate programmes, available in full- and part-time study modes which are flexible, modular and multi-faceted in learning experience to cater to both fresh school leavers and adult learners. We also launched a broad range of continuing education and training modular courses for the professional skills and knowledge upgrading of our workforce.
Our programmes and courses are made available through our five schools:
- S R Nathan School of Human Development,
- School of Business,
- School of Humanities and Behavioural Sciences,
- School of Law, and
- School of Science and Technology.
To date, over 30,000 graduates have chosen SUSS as their university of choice. Each year, over 15,000 students are pursuing their part- and full-time studies with us. For more information on SUSS, please visit www.suss.edu.sg
About Institute for Adult Learning
The Institute for Adult Learning (IAL) is an autonomous institute of the Singapore University of Social Sciences.
IAL works closely and supports Adult Education professionals, businesses, human resource developers and policy makers through its comprehensive suite of programmes and services on raising capabilities and catalysing innovations in Continuing Education and Training (CET). IAL also champions research in sustaining economic performance through skills, shaping employment as well as CET decisions, and develops innovations through learning technology and pedagogy to heighten adult learning. For more information, visit: www.ial.edu.sg.