Beyond STEM: Why Singapore tertiary institutions are putting more emphasis on arts and social sciences

“They are looking for people that can … think about that information, analyse it, provide actionable insights, communicate those insights, advocate for them, and then collaborate with other colleagues around the business in order to execute on those insights,” he said.

A similar change is taking place at the Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS), where more than half its students are working adults.

A new campus next year will give students access to digital tools aimed at sparking creativity, while retaining the face-to-face learning that adult learners value.

The institute has also shifted away from exam-centred learning towards assignments based on actual business problems.

EHL Hospitality Business School, meanwhile, has seen courses taken up by working professionals rise by nearly 40 per cent year on year.

The school said adult learners are increasingly seeking practical training that can be immediately applied at work, including in people leadership, AI literacy and business transformation.

It is also seeing interest in learning that sits at the intersection of technology, business and human capabilities.

As technology continues to get smarter, educators say the premium is shifting to what people can bring to the equation – creativity, judgement and the ability to keep learning.