The world of work that graduates enter is dynamic and very difficult to predict, said Susanna Leong. She is Vice Provost of Masters Programs and Lifelong Learning at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Technology is developing at breakneck speed, and climate change and geopolitical tensions will lead to challenges. Universities must also be prepared for this. Leong’s initial question at the fourth CACE („Crossroads in Academic Continuing Education“) event was whether her students were prepared for the future.
For the expert, the approach of studying once at a university and obtaining a degree that is then sufficient for life is outdated. In today’s world, it is much more important to continue your education throughout your life. Even if lifelong learning is not a new concept, it has long been underestimated, said Leong. In the meantime, the „good-to-have“ has become a „must-have“. This is especially true for a country like Singapore, which is primarily dependent on its human resources. Leong quoted Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, who stated at an event that investment is needed not only in the first 15 years of education, but also in the following 50 years.
The National University of Singapore has set itself the goal of promoting students‘ mental resilience and adaptability. This requires curricula that are flexible, support critical thinking and focus on 21st century skills. The university is developing a new educational model that accompanies students throughout their lives.
There is a need for further education and retraining courses that can be personalized and offered via a variety of learning paths. In order to be truly low-threshold, financial support is also necessary. NUS is pursuing the approach of firmly integrating further education into the current system. The university’s 16 institutes now offer continuing education courses in all subject areas. Alumni should be motivated to pursue lifelong learning. In this way, Singapore’s companies should also remain competitive through continuing education.
In her presentation, Leong also explained the system of micro-credentials at the National University of Singapore. Micro-credentials are a form of qualification certificate for smaller learning units. They would allow programs to be broken down into smaller components. This would allow learners to broaden and deepen their knowledge without necessarily completing a full bachelor’s or master’s degree. In addition, collaboration with companies would allow courses to be tailored to the skills and knowledge required.
For Leong, the advantages of micro-credentials include their flexibility, which enables learners to juggle different responsibilities. They also make it possible to teach very specific skills. Another advantage is that they can be designed together with companies and can be tailored to specific roles, which enables concrete professional advancement. Micro-credentials would allow learners to decide for themselves which content they want to study in greater depth.
About Susanna Leong
Professor Susanna Leong is Vice Provost (Masters’ Programmes & Lifelong Education) at the National University of Singapore (NUS). As Vice Provost, Susanna is responsible for initiatives and programmes on continuous education and training in NUS. Susanna is also the Dean of the School of Continuing and Lifelong Education (SCALE) at NUS. Prior to her current appointments, Susanna was the Vice-Dean, Graduate Studies Office, NUS Business School from 2008 to 2016, and had oversight of the NUS MBA, EMBA and MPAM programmes. Susanna is Professor in the Department of Strategy and Policy, NUS Business School. A graduate of the National University of Singapore and University College London, Susanna is a lawyer by training and has been a faculty member of the NUS Business School since 1991.
