In a fast-moving world where technology evolves overnight, many mid-career professionals find themselves wondering about their job relevancy. For professionals facing uncertainty in their careers and growing gap in market-relevant skills, the Level-Up Programme became more than just a training opportunity. This SkillsFuture initiative, created for Singaporeans aged 40 and above with the $4,000 credit top-up, helped them build new capabilities, and take meaningful steps toward a renewed sense of purpose in today’s digital economy.
For Ng Pei Jiun, 43, Vice President at DBS Bank, His interest came from a desire to learn more. An NUS-ISS alumnus from Master of Technology in Software Engineering (MTech SE), Pei Jiun was no stranger to the institute of higher learning and its offerings. “After ChatGPT, everyone’s been talking about Generative AI, as if traditional data science is no longer in trend. But I wasn’t convinced,” he says.
Leading a team that develops risk applications, Pei Jiun had already been exploring GenAI use cases at work but wanted a deeper and more structured understanding of AI as a whole. With the availability of funding support from the Level-up Programme, he enrolled in the NUS-ISS Graduate Certificate in Intelligent Reasoning Systems, a flexible and practical programme that is part of a stackable pathway towards a Master of Technology, making it suitable for busy working adults to reskill and upskill.
The programme that covered a comprehensive breath of AI concepts helped Pei Jiun rebuilt his foundational understanding and challenge his existing views. “Now I know how to pick the right tool for the right job, and more importantly, when not to use Gen AI at all,” he said. The insights gained from the programme have been impactful for his role at work as he is equipped to navigate complex problems and make decisions that drive both immediate results and long-term success.
Moluguri Sammaiah, 48, a manager at Garranto Consulting which provides holistic consulting solutions, recognised that his lack of formal training in AI was holding him back from keeping pace with the rapid changes in technology. While he had years of work experience, he knew he needed a structured way to build the technical depth required in today’s industry. The government funding provided through the Level-Up Programme gave him the push to enrol in the same course as Pei Jiun, making the upskilling journey more accessible. Sammaiah found the course highly rewarding, with its hands-on, real-world approach helping him master new AI concepts and tools. “The course was practical and well-structured. It not only strengthened my technical foundation but also reignited my motivation to keep learning professionally,” he said.
For both, the Level-Up Programme wasn’t just about learning new technology. It was about removing the financial hesitation to act. As Pei Jiun puts it, “If you’re serious about building real systems, this is the place to start.”
If you’re Singaporean, age 40 and above, and thinking about making a career shift or staying relevant in this fast-changing world, this programme could be the boost you need. So why not start investing in yourself today?
To find out more about the eligible programmes and courses offered by NUS-ISS under the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme, visit our website here