Graduate Diploma in Youth Work

Overview

Against the background of a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world, and with increasing youth mental health issues here in Singapore, parents and adults working with youths need to and want to be better equipped to engage and support youths.

In Singapore, there are almost half a million resident youths (15-24 years) every year. According to the Central Youth Guidance Office, Ministry of Social and Family Development, there are approximately 110 agencies in the non-profit space that engage youths through intervention programmes, community building activities and practical support. These programmes reach around 70,000 youths each year and are delivered in schools, communities or institutional settings.

In the larger eco-system, there are many stakeholders that contribute to the wellbeing and development of youths as part of their day-to-day work. These include government agencies, education institutions, law enforcement agencies, grassroots and private organisations. Yet there are very few "qualified youth work" practitioners in Singapore. So called qualified youth workers are usually psychologists, counsellors, social workers, even educators or someone with a degree. Not someone trained or skilled specifically in youth work.

This programme aims to educate learners not only of the challenges facing youths, but to equip them with the scientific knowledge of working with and developing youths, and demonstrate to them the art behind having to build the trusting relationship with youths from where they are at. The secondary aim is to produce trained and skilled adults working with youths in this VUCA world, worthy of being certified and considered credible, someone whom youths and parents alike trust to work with.

The programme is mapped against the National Youth Work Competency Framework, the Skills Framework (SFw) for Youth Work in Social Service, and the Youth Work Association (Singapore)'s Code of Ethical Practice for Youth Workers. The educational objectives are tied to the Senior Youth Worker levels of competencies. There are two dimensions of growth:

• The impact and influence that the learner is able to contribute to the youth sector
• The ability to manage higher levels of sophistication and complexity for cases and issues

For the learning to be meaningful, there are eight technical competencies that have been identified for learners to possess. The competencies are:

• Youth Landscape and Development
• Ethics, Values and Legislations
• Professional Practice
• Casework
• Group Work
• Programme Management
• Community Work
• Youth Engagement

In view of the mapping mentioned above, the programme stipulated outcomes are aligned with the required competencies of a Senior Youth Work at the Generic and Detailed levels as well.

Generic competencies are behavioural competencies scaled at three proficiency levels – Basic, Intermediate and Advanced. Each competency comprises measurable or observable knowledge, skills and behavioural attributes that enable learners to perform their responsibilities effectively. Learners are expected to be at the Intermediate proficiency level. The Generic competencies are as follows:

• Creative Thinking
• Decision Making
• Developing People
• Leadership
• Service Orientation

Detailed competencies are sub-levels of the eight technical competencies highlighted above. They are quite extensive averaging 3-4 sub-levels per technical competency. Should you be interested, please write in to the Head of Programme. Please note, the University reserves the right to share this information according to the circumstances. All decisions are final.

Unique Features of the Programme

• The programme is a recognised Youth Work Association (Singapore) professional training programme.
• Upon graduation, students will obtain Ordinary membership with YWAS for one year. Graduates may submit their Graduate Diploma certificate and transcript to YWAS with their membership application form which can be downloaded from YWAS website.
• All courses are taught by established academics and professionals in leadership positions with vast real-time experiences, ensuring that issues discussed are always kept current and relevant for practical application.