All SIT students and alumni to receive career planning support

SINGAPORE – Current students and graduates of the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) can now receive career planning support through the newly launched Design Your Futures (DYF) programme.

Rolled out to all undergraduates in September, the programme uses design thinking approaches developed by Stanford University and futurist Verne Wheelwright in the US, which allow students to explore and plan their personal and career goals.

Beginning on the first day of freshman orientation, the programme involves structured activities that students will participate in throughout the course of their studies.

These include an introduction to life design principles, modules to learn how to apply design thinking and futures thinking to real-world challenges, as well as a social innovation project.

The programme is also incorporated into SIT’s Integrated Work Study Programme, which consists of an eight- to 12-month work attachment.

Academic advisers will provide continued guidance to help students connect life and career goals in their regular check-ins.

Announcing this initiative at SIT’s convocation ceremony held for the first time at its new Punggol campus on Oct 13, SIT president Chua Kee Chaing said the programme builds students’ adaptability to design multiple futures.

Guidance for alumni will be tailored to suit individual needs and industry trends to help them navigate real-world challenges and career transitions, said SIT.

ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

As students explore their goals through the structured activities, consider new directions, and map the ripple effects of their decisions, they learn to design their futures through intentional action and being adaptable, Professor Chua said.

“This empowers you to approach your career with a growth mindset, and the mental agility and resilience needed to continually adapt as life unfolds in an ever-evolving world,” he said.

A condensed version of the programme will be available to all SIT alumni – numbering more than 21,000 – from January 2026 as a Continuing Education and Training (CET) course.

It is offered as a two-day – 16 hours in total – intensive workshop with a three-hour follow-up reflection session six months later, and alumni can tap their Learn for Life credits, which allows them to take one complimentary CET module worth up to $3,500 every five years, for it.

A tailored version of the CET course will be introduced for future graduates who have experienced the programme during their undergraduate studies.

In an effort to further strengthen support for SIT students beyond graduation, the university is extending career coaching to all alumni.

Current students and graduates will be able to avail themselves of career support, such as career coaching, resume review, interview preparation and job search strategies.

Guidance for alumni will be tailored to suit individual needs and industry trends to help them navigate real-world challenges and career transitions, said SIT.

Other local universities also offer similar career support for their alumni.

From 2025, Nanyang Technological University undergraduates will get career support from the university for a full year after graduation.

And fresh graduates from the National University of Singapore have access to a range of career courses offered by the Centre for Future-ready Graduates.

In 2025, more than 2,900 SIT graduates from 52 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes will receive their degrees, the university’s largest cohort to date.

SIT will also see the graduation of its pioneer cohorts from seven programmes, one of which is in naval architecture and marine engineering, Singapore’s first undergraduate degree programme in this field, jointly conferred by Newcastle University in Britain.

Speaking at SIT’s convocation ceremony on Oct 13, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong said SIT students can take heart in the results of the latest SIT graduate employment survey released in October, which found that about 87 per cent of graduands found employment within six months.

DPM Gan Kim Yong (right) speaking to SIT graduates Chermaine Chan (left) and Muhammad Syafiq after their convocation on Oct 13.

ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

The fact that over 92 per cent of SIT graduates found jobs directly relevant to their studies is a testament to the strong industry relevance of SIT’s curriculum and its applied learning model, DPM Gan said. He added that the Government, together with its tripartite partners, is committed to working with educational institutions and employers to strengthen career pathways for all Singaporeans.

“Your first job may not be your dream job, but every step will help you build experience, sharpen your skills and better prepare for what comes next,” said DPM Gan.

Mr Neo Jun Jie, 29, is among the first batch of graduates from SIT’s applied artificial intelligence (AI) degree programme.

SIT graduate Kevin Neo Jun Jie, who has cerebral palsy, celebrates by waving his mortarboard at the SIT convocation on Oct 13.

ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Born with cerebral palsy, his interest in coding and AI kicked in when he did a coding module at Nanyang Polytechnic.

While studying there in 2020, Mr Neo worked at a tuition centre, where he helped develop an e-learning platform to facilitate learning during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He decided to study AI at SIT as it was the only local university offering his desired programme, and one that emphasised applied learning and hands-on experience.

Though he was worried about the current economy and job market, Mr Neo managed to secure a job before graduation.

“I got a job as an engineer, but I really want to be able to go back to the IT sector in the future. So I’ll constantly look for opportunities to do what I am interested in,” said Mr Neo.

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