SINGAPORE,  22  JUNE  2011  –  Workers  in  the  Food  &  Beverage  (F&B)  sector  here  in Singapore  can  now  pursue  degrees  in  culinary  arts,  baking  &  pastry  arts  and  food  service management  and  F&B  management  after  they  have  completed  their  Singapore  Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) Diplomas in Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry with At-Sunrice. The degrees will be conferred by the Johnson and Wales University – renowned for its F&B programmes.  Trainees  who  have  completed  either  one  of  the  F&B  WSQ  Diplomas  will receive credit exemptions for year two and can proceed directly to year three of the four year degree  programme. This  is  the first  time  F&B WSQ  programmes  are  being  articulated  into university degrees.   

With  the  degree,  these  trainees  would  have  better  career  advancement  opportunities  and career options within the F&B sector. At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy and the Johnson and Wales University both signed an agreement to articulate F&B WSQ Diplomas into university degrees during the National CET Institute’s annual graduation ceremony.  This  strategic move was fully supported by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA).

 Launched  in  2006,  the  F&B  WSQ  framework  was  developed  to  raise  culinary  and  F&B service standards through training and talent development as well as provide the sector with clear  progression  pathways  to  make  F&B  careers  more  attractive  to  Singaporeans.  In  the last  six  years,  the  WSQ  system  has  evolved  into  a  qualification  that  is  well-recognised  by both  workers  and  employers  with  close  to  120,000  individuals  and  more  than  3,000 companies having adopted the WSQ system in various ways.  

 Based  on  the  2010  Outcome  Evaluation  Survey  conducted  by  WDA,  many  of  these companies such as Sakae Holdings, Ritz Carlton Hotel, Tung Lok Group, Park Hotel Group have  found  that  WSQ  training  both  helped  employees  perform  better  at  work  and  address skills  gaps.  Close  to  30%  of  the  workers  who  have  undergone  WSQ  training  also  enjoyed pay  increments,  promotions  and  expansion  of  job  scopes.    These  results  show  that  WSQ training is an important cornerstone in workforce development and business competitiveness. 

 F&B  WSQ  training  has  also  provided  workers  with  such  a  strong  skills  foundation  and service  mindset  that  internationally  renowned  establishments  like  DB  Bistro  Moderne,  Joel Robuchon  Restaurant,  Ritz  Carlton  and  many  others  are  showing  strong  demand  for  F&B WSQ trainees. At-Sunrice’s trainees are a very good example of this trend, as most of their trainees were getting multiple job offers even before they graduate.  

 “Today, the sector is not only growing strongly but is also one of Singapore’s key economic drivers  with  5,000  new  jobs  to  be  expected  in  the  next  few  years.  Thus,  to  maintain Singapore’s  image  as  a  global  gourmet  hub  and  cater  to  increasingly  sophisticated customers,  both  local  and foreign, the  workforce must  continue  to  raise  its  professionalism and skills. This collaboration with the Johnson and Wales University, one of the world’s best culinary  institutes,  will  set  global  standards  for  local  culinary  and  F&B  services  given  the university’s expertises in F&B work around the world.  WDA is also pleased that the quality of  WSQ  training  is  being  recognised  and  used  for  articulation  into  degree  programmes offered  by  best-in-class tertiary institutes,” said Mr Wong Hong Kuan, Chief Executive ofWDA. 

Under the articulation programme, trainees after completing the WSQ Diploma programmes would be able to go on to take up any of the following F&B degrees offered by the Johnson and Wales University:

•   Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts & Food Service Management 
•   Bachelor of Science in Baking & Pastry Arts & Food Service Management
•   Bachelor of Science in Restaurant, Food and Beverage Management   

Those  are  the  first  three  articulated degrees, in line with the WSQ system’s open access pathway for  CET, to be offered in Singapore. Trainees can choose to either complete their degrees on-campus in America or through online learning.   

“This articulation programme is a fantastic expansion to our existing WSQ programmes as it would go a long way towards increasing training and development opportunities for the F&B workforce.  The  flexibility  in  which  trainees  can  choose  how  they  would  like  to  pursue  their degrees  allows  them  to  set  the  pace  of  learning.  This  caters  to  the  needs  of  the  working population  and  is  aligned  with  At-Sunrice’s study and work pedagogy,” said Christophe Megel, Chief Executive Officer of At-Sunrice.