Australia’s RMIT Online has started its global expansion, after entering a partnership with SkillsFuture and Apple to deliver its online short courses to Singaporean professionals.
“The future of work will be governed by emerging technologies and data”
As part of the partnership, announced in mid-March, RMIT Online’s iOS App Development with Swift and Developing Blockchain Strategy courses will be available through Singaporean government-backed SkillsFuture, which aims to drive the “next phase of development” in the country through education.
“We have had tremendous success since the Australian launch of these courses in 2017 and 2018, and we’re incredibly excited to bring the courses, our industry mentors and dynamic community to Singapore,” said RMIT Online chief executive Helen Souness.
“The future of work will be governed by emerging technologies and data, and we’re thrilled to have the support of SkillsFuture Singapore to feature our courses on their curated list of industry-relevant training.”
The roll-out of the two courses follows a pilot program in 2018 of school teachers and will see RMIT Online join the curated list of inexpensive short courses for mid-career professionals.
Souness said the experiences of her organisation in Australia translated well to the needs of Singapore.
“The burgeoning skills gap in areas like coding and blockchain is not a unique problem to the Australian workforce,” she told The PIE News.
“There is a global skills shortage in these emerging fields and Singapore is equally experiencing an ageing population and technology skills gaps.”
While developed in Australia, the courses have also incorporated Singaporean elements, such as the inclusion of Singapore-based mentors from industry partners such as management and professional services firm Accenture and digital products company Tigerspike.
Apple vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives Lisa Jackson said education was one of the most powerful tools to improve the planet.
“We’re thrilled that students of all ages and abilities in Singapore will now be able to tap into the language of coding, gaining the skills they need to grow and succeed in the app economy and beyond.”
