When it comes to making a decision with regards to education in pragmatic Singapore, one concern at the top of many’s minds is employability.

In a country that boasts some of the most prestigious public tertiary institutions in the world, it’s no surprise that private education options might be (unfairly) seen as second best.

However, that perception is something PSB Academy (PSBA) is working to change.

Speaking to Mothership, Charles Ong — PSBA’s dean and a Doctor of Philosophy (Chemical Engineering) — said that the school had designed its curriculum with a focus on preparing students for life in the working world.

In fact, Ong explained, those who enrol at PSBA can get highly practical guidance with abundant hands-on learning experiences.

“We offer a range of industry partnerships, internships, and experiential learning opportunities that enable our students to gain valuable insights and exposure to the professional world,” Ong said.

Preparing students for the workplace

One such example of experiential learning built into the curriculum is the work internship component of the Diploma in Global Supply Chain Management.

Dilla Damitra, 22, started her internship with MES Logistics without any prior experience in the logistics field.

“With guidance from my manager, mentors and colleagues, all of whom were an essential part of my internship journey, I had a lot of opportunities to learn and experience what it is like to work in this challenging industry,” she said.

One of the big takeaways from this experience for Dilla was the importance of effective communication and problem-solving skills in the workplace.

“Clear directives must be given to avoid miscommunication. Otherwise, it would eventually lead to disruption of operational workflow,” she reflected.

“It's a hands-on work experience with an abundance of opportunities for prospective graduates to put into 'live' practice theories from textbooks and nuggets of wisdom gathered from lecturers to help find their feet on the ground,” said Zarina Osman, human resource manager of MES Logistics.

“The MES Logistics Pte Ltd has benefited immensely in terms of fresh perspectives that interns bring with them,” Zarina added.

“Often, experienced staff benefit from the sharing of their ideas and the way of looking at things holistically.”

Dilla’s time at the MES Logistics eventually led her to being offered a full-time position at the company.

She is currently working as an admin warehouse supervisor, overseeing matters like daily paperwork, and inbound and outbound goods stored in the warehouse.

She is also responsible for maintaining the warehouse inventory using an end-to-end warehouse management solution system called iBWMS.

Flexibility for working adults

PSBA doesn’t just prepare students for the working world, they also strive to offer a conducive environment for those already working to upgrade themselves, Ong said.

“As a forward-looking educational institution and a strong advocate for inclusive and adult-learning, we understand that many of our students have work commitments while pursuing their education,” said the dean.

Flexible schedules and options to have lectures delivered online make an accommodating experience for students who may already be working part-time.

“In addition, we provide support services such as academic advising, career counselling, and financial assistance in the forms of scholarships and sponsorships to ensure that our students are able to balance their work and studies effectively.”

Future leaders

At the end of every student’s education journey with PSBA, Ong said that the institution prides itself in producing graduates who thrive in the workplace.

This means that graduates leave PSBA with the ability to think critically, adapt to change, and approach problem-solving holistically.

In addition to that, the global perspective that students often gain from overseas trips and studying with peers from abroad moulds them to be global citizens, innovators, and leaders of the future.

As Asia's Future Academy, PSBA's commitment to employability has evidently borne results; in PSBA’s class of 2020, almost eight in 10 graduates found employment within six months after their examinations.

If you want to find out more about what it's like to study at PSB Academy, you can head down to their open house, held on Apr. 1, from 11am to 5pm at Marina Square.

Look forward to:

• Programme consultation on course details
• Academic consultation with lecturers to learn more about what they will actually be learning when they study with us, and future pathways after graduating
• Physical talks
• Campus tour

Find out more here.

This is a sponsored article by PSB Academy.

Top image from PSB Academy