Improving Employment Opportunities for Recent Graduates

Ms Sun Xueling asked the Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) (a) whether recent graduates who are seeking employment can leverage on the universities' resources to seek internships and market exposure opportunities; and (b) whether there is a central database maintained by public agencies or institutions of higher learning for which young graduates can have access to for internship opportunities.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: Internships are important in allowing students to apply their knowledge and skills in a realistic work environment, facilitate their transition into the workplace upon graduation, and enhance their chances of finding suitable employment after graduation.

Therefore, the Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) facilitate opportunities for as many students as possible to take on internships before they graduate.

Autonomous Universities (AUs), such as the Singapore Management University (SMU), Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), and Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), require students to complete internships before they can graduate. National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) actively facilitate internships but do not make it a requirement for all students.

However, they do not facilitate internships for graduates as internships are part of the education process for undergraduates.

Our AUs also provide career services to fresh graduates. Examples of their services include personalised career counselling, industry networking events and professional development workshops.