Thanks to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing global inflation crisis, more Singapore-based professionals are looking for ways to diversify and future-proof their skill sets. Consequently, the demand for all kinds of short courses and certificate programmes has increased across the board in the city-state. Notably, about 660,000 people took part in SkillsFuture-supported programmes in 2021, representing a significant rise from the 540,000 participating individuals in 2020. These numbers are likely to remain high throughout 2022 and beyond.
SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) is a government-sponsored adult education programme focused on teaching career-building skills and knowledge to adults, particularly those with some experience in the workforce. Since its inception, SkillsFuture has offered some of the most sought-after certificate courses in Singapore.
The SkillsFuture programme is designed to help experienced professionals keep up-to-date with developments in their field. However, many individuals also take up subjects outside their area of expertise to help them develop cross-disciplinary competencies critical for meeting their career goals.
Below are just some of the courses that may help you reach that next stage of your professional life. You can take them in any SkillsFuture-accredited educational and training institution, or you may be able to find equivalent courses being offered by institutions where you currently reside.
1. Cyber Security Fundamentals
Most courses in SkillsFuture’s Electronics & Infocomm category can help professionals and entrepreneurs survive and thrive in today’s rapidly changing digital landscape. If you’re not sure which course to take, however, you should consider taking Cyber Security Fundamentals.
The Cyber Security Fundamentals certificate course offered by SkillsFuture is based on EC-Council Certified Secure Computer User (CSCU) and covers the entire gamut of data security threats, including phishing scams, malware, social engineering, and more.
This course is well worth considering given the steady increase in cybercrime and data breaches worldwide. Taking this course will help you keep your enterprise’s systems safe, allow you to spot potential signs of a data breach, and put you in a better position to lead a team through increasingly common cybersecurity challenges.
2. Fundamentals to Data Visualisation
Businesses today have to harness mountains of data to make optimal decisions and gain bigger market shares. It can be extremely difficult to leverage this data without proper data visualisation.
The Fundamentals to Data Visualisation certificate course teaches important data presentation concepts such as data preparation and connection, how to use analytics dashboards, as well as how to use industry-standard data visualisation tools such as Tableau.
Professionals who have to make frequent reports can stand to benefit immensely from this course, as better visualisations can help decision-makers understand what it is their data actually says. The course may also be useful for sales professionals and other individuals who regularly use data to make specific cases.
3. Creative Online Marketing with Product Snaps
Knowledge of creative online marketing fundamentals is no longer just for career marketers. Today’s integrated marketing models involve virtually every area of business. Thus, having an idea of modern marketing processes can be highly advantageous, regardless of one’s area of expertise.
SkillsFuture’s Creative Online Marketing with Product Snaps course will help professionals understand contemporary online practices as well as basic techniques related to creating high-quality product photos. Topics covered include the fundamentals of integrated marketing communication, design, and creative writing, how to curate marketing collateral with online tools, how to develop and present mood boards, as well as a range of photography-related subjects.
While beneficial for almost all professionals, this course should prove especially useful for individuals who serve as points of contact with creative workers from in-house teams and agencies. Knowing the topics discussed in the course will allow for closer communication with in-house and agency creative professionals and a better understanding of the kind of work involved in contemporary marketing campaigns.
4. Systems Thinking for Problem Solving
Solving difficult problems often requires one to step back and look at the bigger picture. This course teaches some of the fundamentals and applications of systems science, an interdisciplinary field that examines the relationships between different components of a given system.
The Systems Thinking for Problem Solving course focuses on macro-level problem solving that helps reduce risk for entire organisations rather than just single teams or departments. Learners will also be exposed to the software used to aid in problem-solving methodologies based on systems science.
This course is worth considering for learners who want to step into a management role, as well as professionals who want to account for big-picture factors that affect their area of responsibility.
5. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) for Beginners
In the RPA for Beginners course, learners will get an introduction to RPA as well as UiPath, the dominant software solution for RPA. By the end of the course, learners will also understand how to automate several important business processes. Automations for email, Microsoft Excel, and the web will be covered in this module.
Automating processes is an essential skill in many professional contexts. The smart use of RPA enables organisations to effectively leverage technology to perform repetitive tasks, allowing human workers to be more involved in creative processes and to focus on cultivating the business’s long-term growth. Having process automation skills can also make learners highly valuable members of their organisations.
Develop Your Professional Skill Set With SkillsFuture
The suggested courses should enable experienced professionals to expand their skill sets as well as their value to the organisations they work for. Additionally, a more profound familiarity of these areas should help learners transition into better-compensated positions. To learn which other SkillsFuture options might help your career, please visit the SSG website.
