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15 Sep 2025
3 mins
Plotting Your Course: How SkillsFuture Helps You Navigate Your Lifelong Learning Journey 

For many Singaporeans, the idea of lifelong learning is appealing in theory but daunting in practice. Common concerns such as “I don’t have enough time” or “I don’t know what to learn” often weigh us down, preventing us from embarking on our upskilling journey. 

To help members navigate these challenges, SMOU organised a SkillsFuture Advice Workshop on 29 August 2025 at NTUC Club @ SingPost Centre. Guided by Mr Hafiz, SkillsFuture Advisor, South East CDC, 21 SMOU members were shown how to steer their way through SkillsFuture tools and resources for career growth and lifelong learning.  

TIME to LEARN

Time is one of the biggest hindrances to our decision to upskill. 

To address this, Mr Hafiz highlighted two flexible learning platforms:

MySkillsFuture portal – a one-stop site with thousands of courses offered in short or modular formats 

Coursera – an online platform for flexible, self-paced learning                                 

These options allow learners to learn at their own pace, whether through evening study, weekend learning, or even on-the-go!

What Should I Learn?

For those unsure of even where to begin, the workshop introduced career exploration tools such as the RIASEC quiz, which matches a learner’s personal strengths with career pathways.  

Members also discovered courses in areas such as:  

Soft skills – critical thinking, collaboration, communication 

Self-management – teamwork and interpersonal effectiveness 

Creative problem-solving – keeping pace with trends like social media 

Members also learned to use the course listing to view key elements like the overview, objectives, eligibility, ratings, and even feedback, which allowed them to make more confident decisions on which course to enroll in 

Understanding SkillsFuture Credits

Mr Hafiz also went through the different tiers of SkillsFuture credits available to Singaporeans:  

$500 base credit (for all Singaporeans aged 25 and above, no expiry) 

One-time $500 top-up in 2020 (for all Singaporeans aged 25 and above, expires 31 December 2025) 

$500 mid-career top-up (for ages 40-60) 

$4,000 mid-career credit under the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme (from 1 May 2024) for Singaporeans 40 years old and above 

He also demonstrated how members could claim and track their credits and introduced the MySkillsFuture Career Passport where users can view their education and employment history with consent. 

Meeting Training Providers

The workshop ended with three training vendors – SSA Culinary InstituteTembusu Institute, and Wong Fong Academy sharing how their courses could be funded with SkillsFuture credits. 

Members engaged with the providers, asking questions and exploring how different learning paths could help them stay relevant in a changing economy.   

Sailing Ahead

Through the workshop, members learned that SkillsFuture is more than a subsidy scheme, but a pillar of support for their career and personal growth 

With flexible platforms, accessible credits, and practical tools, every member can steer their own course towards greater success.