News and Information

SCCIOB achieved several milestones in 2018: The launch of the ‘China Ready’ suite of courses as well as the official opening of the sole Business Chinese Test Centre in Singapore. With an increase in courses receiving support and funding from SkillsFuture Singapore this year, we have also achieved a new milestone in student enrolment numbers. In face of these achievements, we believe that despite fierce competition and the evolving marketplace, as long as the institute continues to assess its capabilities and set its sights ahead, we will fulfill our strategic vision by shaping ourselves towards a confident future.

Promoting business culture to seize abundant opportunities in China

With the support of Minister of Education, Ong Ye Kung, SCCIOB launched the ‘China Ready’ suite of courses which has received support of up to 95% funding from SkillsFuture Singapore. With a total of 15 courses, the China Ready suite is tailor-made for professionals, managers & executives (PMEs) in Singapore. The courses are aimed to arm PMEs with the language, culture, social, economic, strategic and professional skills required to develop an understanding of the mind sets and culture of their counterparts in China, including B2B (Business to Business) and B2C (Business to Customer). Through mastering Business Chinese and the relevant business skills, PMEs will grasp an understanding of contemporary Chinese economic and marketing trends and tools, allowing them to seize the abundant opportunities from China’s meteoric rise. 

As of November 2018, 18 companies including Mediacorp, Singapore Press Holdings, DBS Bank, Changi Airport Group, Allen & Gledhill Law Firm have undergone ‘China Ready’ training with SCCIOB. As the ‘China Ready’ suite is a unique knowledge and skill-based offering in the Singapore market, public response has also been extremely enthusiastic. The number of applicants from the legal, banking & finance sectors continue to climb and are expected to reach new heights next year.

Partnership and collaboration with Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan and the People’s Association has also brought the ‘China Ready’ suite offering to the community through channels such as the community centres, thus allowing the general public as well as small business owners to gain convenient access to training.

Singapore's sole Business Chinese Test (BCT) centre

SCCIOB has constantly been at the forefront of promoting Chinese language and culture, with outstanding achievements and accolades. Since the launch of our WDA Business Mandarin courses in 2006, we have trained nearly 15,000 students and received great results in the Business Chinese Test (BCT) managed by the Office of Chinese Language Council International (Hanban), Beijing. As the structure of the BCT evolves, we have adapted and made changes to our courses, renamed as “Certificate in International Business Mandarin” courses, to better prepare applicants with different proficiencies and needs for the test.

Since January 2018, in light of the excellent work in cultivating Business Mandarin talents, the Institute was appointed as the sole designated Business Chinese Test centre in Singapore by Hanban. Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents are eligible to receive 90% funding of their BCT fees, a strong show of support by SkillsFuture Singapore.

On 3rd February 2018, Mr Ng Cher Pong, Chief Executive, SkillsFuture Singapore, hosted the opening ceremony for the Business Chinese Test Centre and witnessed the first batch of 26 candidates to take the BCT. He encouraged Singaporeans to improve their Chinese language skills for the workplace, to look to expand their business into the growing Chinese market and to capitalize on international opportunities. At the end of October 2018, there have been 1,200 test candidates and the number is expected to reach 5,125 by November 2020.

Forging ahead with technological innovation and moving towards the digital age

In line with government initiatives, SCCIOB has collaborated with local institutes of higher learning to launch courses that integrate digital & technology skills into the curriculum, allowing for resource sharing and to leverage on each other’s strengths. With Ngee Ann Polytechnic, we launched the ‘SkillsFuture for Digital Workplace’ course, which has trained 450 students from February to December 2018.

Another collaboration with Singapore Polytechnic included the development of e-commerce courses that covers “Digital Marketing & Analysis for SMEs”, “Social Media Marketing & Analysis for SMEs”, “Understanding Cybersecurity Threats & their Business Impact” as well as “Network Security in the Workplace”.

Apart from developing digitisation courses, SCCIOB has embraced digitisation for our existing course content, admissions processes and marketing initiatives. Through our e-learning platform, we have integrated e-learning content into a number of courses; namely the “Diploma in Translation & Interpretation”, “WSQ Diploma in Service Leadership”, “WSQ Certificate in Tourist Guides (Mandarin)” as well as the “Gateway to Mandarin” course.

In terms of operations, we have adopted the use of TRAQOM, an online course evaluation system launched by SkillsFuture Singapore to collect WSQ course feedback from our students. For applicants of the “Certificate in International Business Mandarin” courses, we have developed an online placement test that can quickly assess their Chinese language proficiency in order to recommend the most appropriate course tier for them. We have also developed a new e-registration system to smoothen the enrolment process. The system will allow current and prospective students to register online at their convenience and they will even be able to pay for their course fees using the e-payment system, PayNow.

In terms of marketing initiatives, SCCIOB has established a digital marketing department that leverages on the latest trends in technology and social media to promote and inform students and the public on our courses.

Developing multiple skills courses in response to disruption

In face of disruptive market changes that may arise in the future, SCCIOB has taken advantage of its own strengths and has taken foresight in developing innovative and diverse courses.

Business Studies offers the “WSQ Service Excellence”, “WSQ Leadership & People Management”, and the “WSQ Business Management” courses to help members improve their service, management and business skills. Among them, the “WSQ Diploma in Service Leadership” received accreditation and funding from SkillsFuture Singapore this year. The WSQ Certificate in Tourist Guides (Mandarin) course also received great accomplishment, with 90% of our students successfully obtaining their tourist guide license upon completion of the Singapore Tourism Board examinations.

Language & Culture also improved on its existing courses along with the inclusion of the ‘China Ready Suite' of courses. With the increasing frequency of business exchanges between China and Singapore requiring experts in English-Chinese translating and interpreting, the Diploma in Translation & Interpretation has garnered significant acclaim with more than 1,000 graduates as many want to become professional translators and interpreters. With the course receiving funding this year from SkillsFuture Singapore, the number of applicants has risen and SCCIOB has also increased the number of available classes to meet demand.