Institute for Adult Learning
The Institute for Adult Learning Singapore (IAL) is an autonomous institute of the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS).
| Type | Autonomous Institute |
|---|---|
| Established | 2008 |
Parent institution | Singapore University of Social Sciences |
| Chairman | Mr Ng Cher Pong [1] |
| Director | Professor Lee Wing On [2] |
| Location | Eunos , 1.31981°N 103.89023°E |
| Colours | Deep Blue and Turquoise |
| Website | www |
 | |
IAL supports Adult Education professionals, businesses, human resource developers and policy makers through its comprehensive suite of programmes and services in raising capabilities and catalysing innovations in Continuing Education and Training (CET).
To ensure that all work is informed by rigorous and up-to-date data, the institute also conducts applied research addressing real world issues in the areas of TAE Business, Innovation and Pedagogy, Skills & Future of Work, Labour and Skills Market as well as Learning and Lifelong Learning.
As the national institute for Adult Educators, IAL plays an integral role in shaping and professionalising the Training and Adult Education (TAE) landscape in Singapore, and contributing to the national SkillsFuture Agenda.
It is currently headed by Executive Director, Professor Lee Wing On.
History
Established in 2008 as an institute of the former Singapore Workforce Development Agency[3], IAL started with the objective of providing baseline training for adult educators (AEs), coupled with the directive to conduct research in adult learning.
IAL was subsequently incorporated as part of SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG)[4], and the institute evolved and adapted its mission and programmes alongside the SkillsFuture national movement - expanding dynamically into continuing professional development and professionalisation of the Training and Adult Education (TAE) sector, as well as widening research into workforce development and lifelong learning.
From 1 April 2019, IAL was restructured as an autonomous institute under the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS).[5] The shared expertise and synergies of both institutions will pave the way for collaborations in course design, development and adult learner management.
Programmes
IAL offers a curated suite of programmes to support the professional development of aspiring and existing TAE practitioners.
WSQ Advanced Certificate in Learning and Performance (ACLP)
ACLP is a Train-The-Trainer (TTT) programme designed to equip TAE professionals with SSG-recognised competencies to perform the role of a learning facilitator, assessor and budding learning solutionist. The qualification equips aspiring and experienced Adult Educators to adopt an open-minded, innovative and enterprise-relevant mindset to help their learners and enterprises to address skills gaps and industry needs. ACLP learners are able to adapt, adopt and facilitate blended learning solutions (including classroom, workplace and technology-enabled learning modes) for effective learning to meet performance outcomes.
WSQ Workplace Learning Facilitator (WLF)
The WLF programme is targeted at workplace supervisors or managers who are called upon to support their organisation’s in-house training and assessment functions. WLF learners are able to deliver effective training and assessment at the workplace by learning to develop and deliver systematic learning plans and assessment records.
WSQ Diploma in Adult and Continuing Education (DACE)
The DACE programme equips aspiring curriculum and instructional designers with the knowledge and skills to employ effective instructional design strategies in the development of curriculum and assessments.
Master of Learning and Professional Development (MLPD)
Offered in collaboration with Griffith University, MLPD is a professional coursework programme designed to strengthen knowledge and skills in the fields of CET and professional development by drawing on existing vocational knowledge and practice, and building capacity for leadership, innovation and professional work.
Continuing Professional Development Programmes (CPD)
IAL curates a wide-range of short workshops, seminars and special interest groups to foster continuous learning in key areas such as Business Insights, Pedagogical Innovation, Productivity & Performance, Workplace Learning and Tech-enabled Learning.
Research Centres
The 3 research centres in IAL provides a strong knowledge base for the development of practice in TAE, and seeks to ensure that the development of policy is informed by research and up-to-date knowledge of international and local best practices.
Centre for Work and Learning (CWL)
CWL advances a holistic understanding of individual and enterprise capability development and responses by employing a range of research methodologies to deepen understanding of the relationships between work, learning and labour markets.
Centre for Skills, Performance and Productivity (CSPP)
CSPP specialises in skills research in relation to workplace performance and productivity.
It focuses on the impact of skills at work, and the implications of this for policy and practice in CET.
Centre for Innovation and Development (CID)
CID initiates research and development efforts to improve and update CET practices by driving adoption of learning innovation practices, enabling solutions for technology based learning and building capabilities across all sectors.
Key Research Projects (2017 - 2019)
- Skills and Learning Study
- Business Performance and Skills Survey
- The Future of Jobs and Skills: Impact of Automation in Singapore
- TAE Landscape in Singapore—Characteristics, Challenges and Policies
- Building Singapore’s Talent Pipeline: Understanding the Structures of Opportunity in Corporate Talent Management
- Understanding Employment Vulnerability of Tertiary Graduates in Singapore: Employment Challenges and Career Decisions Over the Life Course
- Understanding Adult Learners’ Sense-making to Inform Pedagogical Innovations in Blended Learning
- Developing Innovative Learning Cultures in SMEs
- Dialogical Teaching: Investigating Awareness of Inquiry and Knowledge Co-Construction among Adult Learners Engaged in Dialogic Inquiry
Leading Innovation
iN.LAB
iN.LAB, an initiative of SkillsFuture Singapore and IAL, is the leading hub for innovation in CET. It catalyses and promotes the adoption of learning innovation within the sector, through the facilitation of ideas and solutions, as well as sharing of insights and best practices on tech-enabled learning.
iN.LAB runs the Innov-Series to bring different stakeholders to explore, collaborate and innovate. The series comprise two signature initiatives—InnovPLUS and InnovJAM; and two sharing sessions—InnovLOGUE and InnovBITE.
InnovPLUS is a competitive grant that supports prototype development to address real-life learning challenges faced by organisations for better CET outcomes and delivery. View the list of past InnovPLUS projects here.
InnovLOGUE sets out to bridge research and practice that will enhance the latter for better CET outcomes via a seminar and panel-led dialogue.
InnovJAM focuses on helping Training and Adult Education (TAE) as well as Learning and Development professionals acquire the right capabilities to apply learning innovations purposefully in their learning design and delivery.
InnovBITE is a workshop-style sharing platform by experts, stakeholders and solutionists for the TAE community. Topics covered are wide-ranging; from successful learn-tech applications, hands-on sessions, to insider know-hows.
Apart from the Innov-Series, iN.LAB continues to forge collaborations with enterprises, training providers and individuals, and facilitates the curation of open education resources to advance learning innovation adoption in the sector.
Raising Capabilities in TAE
Adult Education Network (AEN)
Established in 2008, the AEN is a platform for TAE professionals to connect, collaborate and learn for continuing professional development and skills acquisition. To date, AEN has more than 6,000 members and membership is still growing.
Adult Education Professionalisation (AEP)
AEP is a national level initiative under Singapore’s SkillsFuture agenda, driven by IAL. The AEP recognition represents quality, professionalism and excellence of one’s Adult Education practice.
There are three tiers of recognised professionals – Associate Adult Educators (AAEs) who are established in their TAE fields of practice; Specialist Adult Educators (SAEs) who have attained skills mastery in areas of specialisation; and Adult Education Fellows (AEFs) who have made significant contributions in TAE fields of practice, and are appointed by nomination and invitation only. To date, there are 5 AEFs and over 2,000 AAEs and SAEs on board the AEP.
Driving Workplace Learning
Centre for Workplace Learning and Performance (CWLP)
IAL’s professional development centre, CWLP, focuses on developing organisational capabilities in workplace-based learning to improve individual and enterprise performance. The centre has advanced workplace learning through the Learning Enterprise Alliance (LEA), a knowledge network of enterprises from diverse industries and profiles committed to fostering a culture of learning in their workplaces. To date, there are 58 corporate members on board the LEA. View the list of LEA members from 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Partnerships
IAL collaborates with other education institutions, government agencies and international research bodies in the following areas of work.
Charting the Future of Adult Learning Research
In 2019, the Singapore National Research Foundation (NRF) and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) commissioned a taskforce to provide leadership and stewardship to shape and identify key research topics and agenda for the future of adult learning research. The taskforce was chaired by IAL's Executive Director, and comprised 14 representatives from NRF, SSG, the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), as well as the six autonomous universities in Singapore. The key recommendations of the taskforce can be found here.
Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC)
PIAAC is an initiative of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), that assists governments in assessing, monitoring and analysing the level and distribution of skills among their adult populations as well as the extent of skills use in different contexts. IAL administered the PIAAC study from 2014 to 2015 for Singapore and hosted the 4th PIAAC International Conference in collaboration with OECD in 2017.
Ongoing Research in Lifelong Learning
Lifelong learning is a key pillar to ensure the inclusive growth and development of the economy, society and individuals in the constantly evolving landscape of technological progress and globalisation. IAL's lifelong learning research seeks to understand the relationships between lifelong learning and factors ranging from higher education, career development and technological advancement to personal development and social cohesion. Through the Skills and Learning Study, which is conducted once every three years, a lifelong learning index is developed to track the provision of lifelong learning opportunities in Singapore as well as its impact on well-being and career development. In collaboration with the Lifelong Learning Council, an ongoing lifelong learning annual pulse survey is being conducted to track the level of lifelong learning awareness, perceptions and participation of individuals in Singapore. In seeking international collaboration to advance our research, we have co-organised an International Expert Roundtable on lifelong learning with UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) in 2019 with the important consensus that an international dialogue focusing on the monitoring an evaluation of lifelong learning is needed to facilitate countries that are investing effort and resources in lifelong learning. IAL has been invited to share our research in international fora and expert workgroups, e.g. Fourth International Conference on Learning Cities, European Vocational Skills Week 2019, Think Tank Meeting at East China Normal University.
Workforce Development Applied Research Grant (WDARF)
The WDARF is a national level research fund set up by the SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) to encourage inter-disciplinary research in the areas of workforce development and lifelong learning. The grant call is administered by IAL, and awarded through an open, competitive bidding approach.
References
- "The IAL Council". Institute for Adult Learning Singapore. Institute for Adult Learning Singapore. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
- "The IAL Council". Institute for Adult Learning Singapore. Institute for Adult Learning Singapore. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
- "Launch of the Institute for Adult Learning at the Inaugural Adult Learning Symposium" (PDF). Institute for Adult Learning Singapore. 4 December 2008.
- hermesauto (12 January 2016). "Two new statutory boards set up to oversee skills and employment". The Straits Times. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- "SUSS and IAL team up to advance adult education". The Straits Times. The Straits Times. Retrieved 17 October 2019.