Supporting targeted skills training to close the graduate divide

Experts backing the government’s current approach argue that targeted skills training is the most practical way to bridge the gap between what universities teach and what employers need. Rather than overhauling the entire university system, they say, initiatives like SkillsFuture and the latest Internship Preparation Programme give graduates the chance to acquire digital and analytical skills on the job. Employers consistently report a shortage of workers who can handle data, use cloud software, and communicate insights clearly – skills that can be learned through short courses and internships. For instance, the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s TechSkills Accelerator has helped over 10,000 fresh graduates secure roles in tech-related fields, even those without a computing degree. Proponents also point out that Singapore’s economy is evolving rapidly, and universities cannot be expected to update curricula every semester. The practical solution is to make graduates more adaptable. Companies like DBS and Grab have committed to hiring graduates from any discipline and putting them through intensive training programmes. This approach respects the diversity of student interests while meeting industry needs. It also ensures that government spending on education remains broad-based, rather than steering all students into a narrow set of tech degrees. The goal, supporters say, is not to eliminate the divide entirely but to give each graduate the tools to cross it.