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A skills-based industry-in-curriculum approach to teaching & learning
We bring industry into the classroom and the classroom into the industry
Before organisations can rethink how to design jobs, organise work, and compete for talent in a digital age, they must systematically identify the capabilities they need now, and over the next decade, to innovate and survive...We've found that the competencies companies need most are business-oriented rather than the technical.
Marion, T.J., Fixson, S.K., and Brown, G (2021) in "Four skills tomorrow's innovation workforce will need"
Business Digitalisation
Business Digitalisation
What is the Business Digitalisation Track?
What is the Business Digitalisation Track?
The Business Digitalisation Track (BD Track) is an unconventional learning pathway that aims to bring students up to speed on the changes taking place in the business and technology world today. The Track does this through a series of business-centric digital skills competency training over a period of one year. It is offered to 3rd year diploma programme students in the School of Business & Accountancy, Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
The Purpose of the BD Track
The Purpose of the BD Track
The BD Track arose out of an urgency to prepare students for a world of work that was rapidly changing and which demanded new and more extensive sets of digital skills in traditionally non-IT professions such as Human Capital Management and Marketing. While the existing curriculum already contains skills training in Information Technology, it would be too little and too late to achieve the foregoing objectives in a three-year programme. The BD Track was thus conceived and introduced as a disruptive but optional pathway for final year students to acquire selected digital skills that would prepare them for jobs in their chosen professions through more extensive participation of industry professionals and organisations in the teaching and learning of our BD Track students.
Pedagogy, Assessments and Curriculum Design
Pedagogy, Assessments and Curriculum Design
The BD Track is a one-year programme that replaces the final year curriculum of students in the Business Studies, International Trade & Business and Tourism & Resort Management Diploma programmes. A typical full year business course is delivered over 2 semesters of 20 weeks, starting in mid-April and ending mid-February of the following year. The track is unconventional in its structure, teaching & learning strategies, and assessments. Instead of learning five academic modules that are run concurrently, students acquire skills in six competency areas (CA‘s) that are run sequentially. These include Emerging Technologies & Disruptive Innovation, Artificial Intelligence & Robotics, Digital Transformation Marketing Strategy, Advance Applied Business Analytics, Digital Commerce, and Change Management & Persuasion. In place of traditional lectures, tutorials and workshops, students learn through attending seminars conducted by experts (including industry practitioners), online courses, hackathons, and learning journeys. In place of year-end examination, assessments include formative quizzes, industry-based projects, research projects, and a Viva Voce to assess student's competency in each CA. Industry certifications are also a part of the assessments. Students are typically assigned two internships to two different organisations to gain wider industry exposure and opportunity to apply their digitalization skills in different work environments. This approach allows the students to focus on and deepen their skills. Students are required to organise and run an annual Unconference that highlights the work and research done by themselves, as well as to learn from other invited students, industry professional and guests.
Future Developments of the BD Track
Future Developments of the BD Track
The BD Track was developed within the School of Business & Accountancy in Ngee Ann Polytechnic in 2019. It is a one-year programme offered to third year business students. As of March 2021, it has completed one full year with its inaugural 25 Business Studies Diploma students. It has successfully completed the student-managed Business Not As Usual Conference in November 2020 and seen the participation of NP alumni in its seminars and workshops. 89 new students have been enrolled for the new academic year starting in April 2021 - an almost 4-fold increase in the number of students over the inaugural batch. New competency areas have been added as we continue to reach out to our alumni, the public and students in our CET (Continual Education & Training) programmes to make the BD Track the beginning of a truly Lifelong Learning process and experience. We continue to work with various stakeholders, including industry and academic partners, to ensure that the programme remains current and relevant to the needs of industry even as students are adequately prepared to take on a digitalised world of work and learning. And yes, graduates from the BD Track can join our future seminars to update their skills and knowledge in this fast and ever-changing world.
Who are we?
Who are we?
We are the School of Business & Accountancy in Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Our aim is to provide both pre-employment training (PET) and continuing education and training (CET) in the areas of business and accountancy. Our PET students begin our diploma training programme after completing their Secondary School (High School) or Vocational Training (ITE) education. Our primary goal is to prepare and train students for work upon graduation. Our programme can also prepare these same students to pursue a University degree course upon graduation or after gaining experience working in the industry.
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