http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_397701.html
Course to help job switchers
By Lim Wei Chean
A NEW programme was launched on Wednesday to help white-collared workers who have been laid off or are unemployed to chart a new career path in the meetings industry.
The Singapore Workforce Development Agency linked up with the University of Nevada Las Vegas and events organiser Pico Art International to run a new 12-month work-and-study course to help job switchers train for a job in the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions industry.
Students of the Professional Conversion Programme will study in UNLV classrooms for half the time and spend the other half on full-time attachment with Pico Art to get some hands-on experience in running and managing events.
Among the events that they will get to try their hands on this year include the Formula One race and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meet. This course will be funded as part of the Government Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (Spur).
Each selected trainee will receive $27,900 in course fee subsidies and training stipend. On completion of the course, they will receive a Workforce Skills Qualifications diploma in tourism for Mice and events.
Pico Art International's managing director Jean Chia noted: 'Despite seeing some cancellations of exhibitions in 2009, the business travel, meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions sector wil continue to be a critical component of Singapore's tourism as it accounts for some three million arrivals and 40 per cent of tourism receipts.
'We recognise the importance of human capital in this particular sector so the PCP for Mice and events offers us the perfect opportunity during this lull time to scout and develop the relevant potential talents, and build up our manpower capability. This way, we can be ready to take on even more mega projects when the economy recovers.'
Fourteen students will start their first class on Thursday.
Course to help job switchers
By Lim Wei Chean
A NEW programme was launched on Wednesday to help white-collared workers who have been laid off or are unemployed to chart a new career path in the meetings industry.
The Singapore Workforce Development Agency linked up with the University of Nevada Las Vegas and events organiser Pico Art International to run a new 12-month work-and-study course to help job switchers train for a job in the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions industry.
Students of the Professional Conversion Programme will study in UNLV classrooms for half the time and spend the other half on full-time attachment with Pico Art to get some hands-on experience in running and managing events.
Among the events that they will get to try their hands on this year include the Formula One race and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meet. This course will be funded as part of the Government Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (Spur).
Each selected trainee will receive $27,900 in course fee subsidies and training stipend. On completion of the course, they will receive a Workforce Skills Qualifications diploma in tourism for Mice and events.
Pico Art International's managing director Jean Chia noted: 'Despite seeing some cancellations of exhibitions in 2009, the business travel, meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions sector wil continue to be a critical component of Singapore's tourism as it accounts for some three million arrivals and 40 per cent of tourism receipts.
'We recognise the importance of human capital in this particular sector so the PCP for Mice and events offers us the perfect opportunity during this lull time to scout and develop the relevant potential talents, and build up our manpower capability. This way, we can be ready to take on even more mega projects when the economy recovers.'
Fourteen students will start their first class on Thursday.
