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SINGAPORE: Graduates of the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) will soon be able to earn a diploma sponsored by the Ministry of Defense while serving full-time national service as air force technicians.
The new Work-Study Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, the first of its kind, will train and certify these full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) through a two-and-a-half-year course, during which they will learn to maintain Aircraft structures, systems and associated components.
Graduates can enroll as regular and be employed as Air Force Engineers (Maintenance) with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) or pursue a career in aircraft maintenance in the aerospace industry.
The first admission will begin training in April 2021. The program will admit at least 20 apprentices each year.
According to a Memorandum of Understanding signed on Tuesday (September 22), ITE and RSAF will work with ST Engineering Aerospace Limited, SIA Engineering Company Limited, and the Association of Aerospace Industries (Singapore) (AAIS) to develop the training curriculum.
ST Engineering, SIA Engineering Company Limited and AAIS will also recognize the program for the employment of their graduates.
The program is open to pre-enlisted and recent ITE graduates who are Singapore citizens or permanent residents. The first batch of trainees will comprise the current enlisted as the program will only start in April of next year.
ITE graduates must have completed one of these courses to qualify for the program.
Applicants must have relevant ITE qualifications in areas such as aerospace technology, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or robotics. They must have completed a relevant Nitec course with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0, or a relevant higher Nitec course.
Applicants must also meet the air force technician vocation criteria, agree to extend the duration of their National Service (NS), and pass a pre-selection test to be pre-selected. There is no bail period.
Schedule of the Work-Study Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering.
Students typically dedicate the first six months of the NS to basic and vocational training before starting the two-and-a-half-year Work-Study Diploma program. This means that trainees will spend a minimum of three years with RSAF.
Those interested can call the RSAF hotline at 1800-270-1010.
NEW CAREER OPTIONS
Air Force Chief Maj. Gen. Kelvin Khong said the program will open career paths in the aerospace industry for trainees after they complete NS with RSAF.
“In the current climate where the aviation sector is heavily affected by COVID-19, we need to continue to support employment and training of workers in this sector, so that the workforce is ready when aviation begins to recover and we can help our aviation sector emerge stronger from this COVID-19 pandemic, ”he said.
ITE Executive Director Low Khah Gek said the institute will also work with the military to extend the Study and Work Diploma in Electrical Engineering to NSFs serving as military technicians.
“The launch of this program marks an important milestone in our continued efforts to expand opportunities for skill enhancement and career progression for our graduates,” he added.
“Combined with strong support from our industry partners in recognizing the program’s certification, this provides a valuable boost for our graduates to begin their careers in the aerospace industry.”
