Strategic Career Planning, by Choice and Not by Chance (19 February 2025)

Professional Development Training Programmes
To succeed in today’s rapidly changing work environment, we need to constantly acquire new knowledge, adaptive skills and attributes. SPEC professional short courses are designed to help PMETs, Self-Employed/Freelancers unleash their potential to maximise career opportunities, stay competitive and relevant in the new workplace or to switch careers.

SPEC aims to support you in life-long learning, to pursue skills mastery and develop fulfilling careers.

To serve the continuing learning needs of adults of all ages, SPEC offers short courses supported by:

1. National Silver Academy (NSA) -for Singapore Citizens & PRs aged 50 & above (for both self-paying & company-sponsored trainees)
2. SkillsFuture Credit (SFC) -for Singapore Citizens aged 25 & above*
3. NTUC-UTAP -for NTUC union members* (Complimentary first 6 months NEW member subscription supported by SPEC)
4. Project ECF

*Applicable for self-paying trainees only. Refer to below for the funding support of respective courses. T&C applies.

Information is correct at time of publication. SPEC reserves the right to amend any information whenever necessary. e-Certificate of Attendance will be awarded to participants who attained at least 75% class attendance. Applications for course fee subsidy are subject to approval of the respective agencies. All T&Cs apply.

1. What is National Silver Academy (NSA)

NSA is a network of post-secondary education institutions and community-based organisations that offer learning opportunities for seniors with short courses covering both life-skills as well as work-skills. Seniors (both Singaporeans and PRs) aged 50 years & above can attend short courses without the need to sit for exam. For courses run by community-based organisations, the final fee payable by seniors takes into account the support given by the government to community-based organisations to develop and offer the short courses. SkillsFuture Credit can be used on top of existing government course subsidies to pay for approved skills-related courses under the NSA.

2. What is SkillsFuture Credit (SFC)

SFC is intended to encourage individuals to take ownership of their skills development and lifelong learning. Since 2016, all Singaporeans aged 25 & above will receive an opening credit of S$500. A one-off SFC top-up of $500 is provided to every Singapore Citizen aged 25 years & above as at 31 December 2020 which can be used for all SFC-eligible courses. You can check your available amount of SFC via https://sfc.myskillsfuture.gov.sg/claim using your Singpass.

3. What Is Union Training Assistance Programme (UTAP)

UTAP is a training benefit to encourage NTUC union members to go for skills upgrading by defraying their cost of training. NTUC members who initiate training on their own, enjoy 50% *unfunded course fee support (refers to balance course fee payable after applicable govt subsidy), capped at $500 per year for aged 40 & above, and $250 per year for below age 40, for courses attended before 31 Dec 2025. Please visit e2i’s website to find out more. For SPEC support of UTAP funding, please sign up for NTUC union membership through this weblink: https://ntuc.co/UA-SPEC (prevailing T&Cs apply).

4. What is Empowering Communities Fund (ECF)

ECF is set up by the Singapore National Co-operative Federation and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, with the funding support from the Central Co-operative Fund, Government and Singapore Labour Foundation (SLF). The fund aims to support co-operatives (“co-ops”) to kickstart ground-up initiatives or programmes that benefit vulnerable communities in Singapore. The fund complements Government’s efforts in strengthening Singapore’s social compact and building a more resilient and inclusive society.