SAF TIES UP WITH UNISIM IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

From this July, non-graduate servicemen and women in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will be able to take up any part-time undergraduate course at the SIM University (UniSIM), while gaining credits for their SAF professional military education (PME) courses, thanks to a tie-up between the SAF and UniSIM.

The collaboration was formalised with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Partnership in Continuing Education by Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General (LG) Desmond Kuek and President UniSIM, Professor (Prof) Cheong Hee Kiat, at the SAFTI Military Institute on 27 Feb.

Speaking at the ceremony, LG Kuek said: "As a platform for the SAF and UniSIM to collaborate in providing continuing education for SAF personnel, the partnership seeks to nurture them to their fullest potential and develop strong leaders to meet the future operational demands and challenges of the 3rd Generation SAF."

Commandant SAFTI Military Institute, Brigadier-General (BG) Jimmy Tan, who was at the ceremony, told cyberpioneer: "It is our hope that all officers get a degree by their thirties and a masters by their forties. For the WOSpecs (warrant officers and specialists), our expectations are similar, and we hope that they can achieve advanced academic qualifications by the time they are 40."

He added: "Signing the MOU is not just about getting a degree. It is about ensuring that an SAF career meets the high standards and expectations of the real world."

Most of the courses offered at UniSIM have a duration of about three years, except for the engineering course which is slightly longer, due to its rigorous lab requirements. Credits are given on a case-by-case basis where a committee from UniSIM will weigh the accomplishments of the potential SAF applicants and grant them a number of select credits.

"In that aspect, with the credit exemptions, servicemen actually embark on an accelerated course with a chance to minor in relevent fields like military history or security studies", said Prof Cheong.

Explaining why UniSIM could recognise the SAF's PME courses, Prof Cheong said: "Be it logistics or engineering, the basic knowledge will still be the same. For example, being a commander demands strategic planning, operational planning and an understanding of your environment. These skills overlap with some aspects of our business course."

The SAF-UniSIM collaboration has already had notable effects on some servicemen who have embarked on the programme. Staff Sergeant (SSG) Lim Kah Yong, a Republic of Singapore Air Force senior technician studying Aerospace Engineering at UniSIM, said: "I am learning something new about my field every day. While what I do is not insufficient, the skills I pick up at UniSIM will only broaden my scope and understanding of the subject."

LTA Muhammad Norkhari, an Infantry platoon commander studying business at UniSIM said: "Business offers modules like Human Resource Management which basically teaches you how to deal with people around you. Not only will this help me in my business dealings later on, it also helps me connect better with my men in the unit." For LTA Norkhari, continuing his education is a personal goal which the SAF is helping him achieve through its partnership with UniSIM.

27 Feb 09 - SAF, UniSIM Establish Strategic Partnership on Continuing Education