ITE starts new marine course to meet job demands
By Ho Ai Li
TO HELP train manpower for the burgeoning marine industry, the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) is starting a new course.
Students enrolled in the course, called the Higher National ITE Certificate (Nitec) in Marine Offshore Engineering, will learn to oversee repair and refurbishing work on vessels and offshore structures.
They will not have to fret about getting jobs after graduation: they can look forward to jobs as foremen and assistant supervisors, with a starting pay of about $1,400 a month.
The marine industry here is growing, and has taken on about 2,000 more workers a year in the last 10 years.
A survey done by the Association of Singapore Marine Industries in 2006 also showed that 120 more supervisors a year are needed for the next five years.
The association's president Michael Chia said it was 'opportune' to introduce the course as the horizon is bright for the marine industry given the buoyant global market.
The new course will help the marine and offshore industry here shore up its position as a leading hub, he added.
To support students who take up the course, industry players like Keppel Offshore & Marine, SembCorp Marine, Singapore Technologies Marine and the Republic of Singapore navy will offer a total of 56 scholarships and sponsorships worth $544,000 a year.
This means that almost all the 64 students expected to enrol in the course each year can get sponsored.
Said Bob Tan, chairman of the ITE board of governors: 'There are excellent advancement opportunities for the graduates going forward.'
The graduates can go on to diploma studies at Singapore or Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Ngee Ann also offers a degree in marine engineering in a tie-up with Singapore Poly and Britain's Newcastle University.
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ITE starts new marine course to meet job demands 
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