1. The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) accepts the recommendations from the Design Education Review Committee (DERC) to develop a global and resilient Singapore workforce that is proficient in using design across disciplines, and to harness design as a core competency for Singapore companies.

2. Design is playing an increasingly important role in transforming Singapore’s economy. The use of design will allow companies to re-engineer their business processes and come up with new products and services. We will evolve our design education and talent development programmes to help Singapore designers acquire transdisciplinary skills, and support the building of design-related skills through Continuing Education and Training (CET). The DERC’s recommendations are: 

• Strengthen industry links through the formation of a Design Education Advisory Committee (DEAC);
• Impart design-led creative thinking skills to students across more disciplines; 
• Enhance CET programmes and incentives for design educators and professionals;
• Create design learning platforms for professionals; and
• Empower the public to learn about design through modular courses and ground-up learning communities. 

3. Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry & Education Mr Chee Hong Tat said, “I thank the DERC members for their contributions. Besides being an industry on its own, design can also help to encourage innovation and improve productivity across different sectors.  It is a useful enabler in our economic transformation journey.” 

4. MTI and the DesignSingapore Council will work closely with other government agencies and industry stakeholders to implement the DERC recommendations.

MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY
03 JULY 2019