FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA RELEASE
SKILLS UPGRADING PATHWAYS ENHANCED FOR CAREERS IN F&B MANAGEMENT
F&B professionals now have more innovative learning methods and better access to
Continuing Education and Training (CET)
Singapore, 26 June 2013 – Aspiring and current professionals in F&B management can
now upgrade themselves with the availability of more qualification pathways and innovative
methods of teaching. The Assessment Only Pathway (AOP) for the F&B industry was
officially launched by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and At-Sunrice
GlobalChef Academy (ASR) at the academy’s graduation ceremony today.
AOP offers an alternative pathway to attain various Singapore Workforce Skills
Qualifications (WSQ) in the WSQ F&B tracks. This is in addition to the academy’s full-time
and part-time programmes offered in these four WSQ F&B tracks in Culinary Arts, Pastry
and Bakery, Service Management and Beverage Management, which are based on WDA’s
F&B WSQ framework.
The ceremony saw ASR’s largest batch of graduates so far with over 220 students
graduating from its WSQ programmes in Culinary Arts, Pastry and Bakery and F&B
Operations. Senior Minister of State for Trade & Industry and National Development, Mr Lee
Yi Shyan, was the Guest-of-Honour.
To meet rising industry demands in F&B service, At-Sunrice has enhanced its F&B service
track with the introduction of an 18-month WSQ Diploma in F&B Management, which is
aligned to its improved Study-Work Pedagogy. In addition, the academy is adopting
Education Innovation and has plans to convert its courseware online to enhance the
accessibility and affordability of its training programmes.
Assessment Only Pathways (AOP)
At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy has also been appointed as a National Assessment Centre
(NAC) for the F&B industry to conduct Assessment Only Pathways (AOP) for WSQ in
Culinary Arts, Pastry and Bakery, and Food & Beverage Operations.
Anyone without a current qualification who has been working in either the front-of-house of
restaurants or in the kitchen can now obtain a WSQ through a bench test after a skills
assessment.
This pathway will be suitable for current industry practitioners to attain their F&B
qualifications. The pilot run of the programme, which was completed officially earlier this
year, saw six graduates receiving their WSQ at the graduation ceremony (Please refer to
Annex A for more information).
WSQ Diploma in Food and Beverage Management (WSQ-DFBM)
In addition to ASR’s culinary programmes, the 18-month WSQ Diploma in F&B Management
(previously named as F&B Service) has been enhanced to align with the academy’s
improved Study-Work Pedagogy.
The programme is aimed at meeting the growing demands and needs for more F&B
management professionals and will equip trainees with skills to manage both frontline and
back-of-house operations.
Graduates will be able to progress to the third and fourth year of Johnson & Wales University
USA (JWU)’s Bachelor of Science degree in Restaurant, Food and Beverage Management.
They would have to complete bridging units for articulation to the degree, which will be
beneficial for career progression in the industry (Please refer to Annex B for more
information).
Enhanced Study-Work Pedagogy
Over the last 12 years, At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy has trained almost 6,000 WSQ
qualified culinary and pastry graduates for the F&B industry. Last year alone, At-Sunrice
contributed more than 1.2 million man-hours to the workforce with its unique Study & Work
Pedagogy.
The academy has recently enhanced its Study-Work Pedagogy to optimise industry learning
for its trainees. The one-week study and two-week apprenticeship immersion has made way
for an even more focused approach to train, coach and mentor the students, enabling them
now at the point of their graduation to better integrate students as motivated professionals
into the trade.
Ms Janice Foo, Director, Tourism Division, WDA said: “The F&B industry is an evolving one
and it is important for the F&B workforce to embrace CET to stay competitive. With the
enhancements to the pedagogy and the various upgrading pathways offered, WDA and ASR
remains committed to groom a pipeline of F&B professionals who are nimble and
consistently attuned to the needs of this fast-growing industry.”
Education Innovation
At-Sunrice has also been exploring innovative methods of teaching to better cater to the
needs of the students. Supported by SPRING’s Education Innovation initiative, it is planning
to convert at least 10% of its face-to-face courseware hours into online learning modules by
2015, so as to enhance the accessibility and affordability of its training programmes (Please
refer to Annex C for more information).
This move towards more flexible learning methods will encourage about 15% of each cohort
to pursue continuous training and development, and optimise the use of the physical campus
for more hands-on practical training and assessment.
Mrs Kee Ai Nah, Group Director, Industry Development Group, SPRING Singapore, said,
“Private education institutions need to constantly innovate to stay relevant to the dynamic
needs of their students and industry partners. In line with the Education Innovation initiative
for the education and training sector, SPRING Singapore is pleased to partner At-Sunrice on
its journey to enhance its content and e-learning capabilities, enabling it to offer a multidimensional and holistic learning experience for current and future F&B professionals.”
- End -
Annex A
Factsheet on Assessment Only Pathway (AOP)
Annex B
Factsheet on WSQ Diploma in F&B Management
Annex C
Factsheet on Education Innovation
For further information, please contact:
At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy
Ms. Irfa Yuhanis
Marcom Executive
DID: +65 6416 6626
Email: [email protected]
Ms. Jenny Mojica
Marketing Administrator
DID: +65 6416 6627
Email: [email protected]
Singapore Workforce Development Agency
Ms Ng Mei Li
Senior Manager
DID: +65 6512 1246 / 9765 0830
Email: [email protected]
SPRING Singapore
Ms Veron Huang
Senior Manager
DID: +65 6279 3913 / 9008 1095
Email: [email protected]
About At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy
At-Sunrice is the first culinary academy in Singapore to be awarded the national CET
Institution (NCI) accreditation. Our vision is to advance culinary art and the F&B profession
with integrity and meaning. Our mission is to cultivate global chefs in a living environment of
culinary authenticity, best fit apprenticeships and research. We deliver culinary arts
education by applying skills and recipes from East & West, Herbs & Spices, and Old World &
New World cuisines, and Innovation and Technology. Our programmes are synchronised
with Study & Work rotations at top hotels, restaurants and food services supported by
partners who champion our students and alumni success. We create culinary products and
sensory experiences for enrichment, education, and increased yield for environment and for
businesses.
Graduates from At-Sunrice are also livening and working around the world in countries such
as the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Singapore. For more information,
please visit www.at-sunrice.com or follow us on www.facebook.com/atsunrice.
About Singapore Workforce Development Agency
The Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) enhances the competitiveness of our
workforce by encouraging workers to learn for life and advance with skills. In today's
economy, most jobs require not just knowledge, but also skills. WDA collaborates with
employers, industry associations, the Union and training organisations, to develop and
strengthen the Continuing Education and Training system that is skills-based, open and
accessible, as a mainstream pathway for all workers – young and older, from rank and file to
professionals and executives – to upgrade and advance in their careers and lives. For more
information, please visit www.wda.gov.sg.
About SPRING Singapore
SPRING Singapore is an agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry responsible for
helping Singapore enterprises grow and building trust in Singapore products and services.
As the enterprise development agency, SPRING works with partners to help enterprises in
financing, capability and management development, technology and innovation, and access
to markets. As the national standards and accreditation body, SPRING develops and
promotes an internationally-recognised standards and quality assurance infrastructure.
SPRING also oversees the safety of general consumer goods in Singapore. For more
information, please visit www.spring.gov.sg.
Annex A
FACTSHEET ON ASSESSMENT ONLY PATHWAY (AOP)
AT NATIONAL ASSESSMENT CENTRE
At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy houses the National Assessment Centre (NAC) for Food
and Beverage Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) framework by the Singapore
Workforce Development Agency. NAC conducts assessments by Assessment Only Pathway
(AOP), leading to WSQ.
AOP provides the avenue for Food & Beverage workforce in Singapore to formalise their
skills and knowledge by attaining WSQ. The AOP follows ‘Challenge Test’ as the method to
assess skills and knowledge of candidates. Competency structures of these qualifications
are aligned to the Enhanced Food and Beverage WSQ Framework.
Currently, AOP is available for the following qualifications:

WSQ Certificate and Higher Certificate in Culinary Arts

WSQ Certificate in Pastry and Bakery

WSQ Certificate in Food & Beverage Operations
For more information, please contact:
At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy
Tel: 6416 6688
Email: [email protected]
Annex B
FACTSHEET ON SINGAPORE WORKFORCE SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS (WSQ)
DIPLOMA IN FOOD & BEVERAGE MANAGEMENT
Intake Date: May & September 2013
Duration: Up to 18 months (Full time)
Learn the fundamentals and progress to advanced skills and knowledge of food and
beverage service through theory, practical workshops and apprenticeship in professional
food and beverage service establishments.
STUDY AND WORK
Term 1 comprises full day classroom learning and hands-on practicum in At-Sunrice. There
is no allowance in term 1.
Term 2 onwards is a one-week classroom learning (study) and two-week apprenticeship
(work) rotation with a monthly allowance of S$800 and an additional S$600 from Singapore
Workforce Development Agency (WDA) for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents
(SPRs). Students train at food and beverage service establishments during the
apprenticeship.
PROGRAMME CONTENT
Some of the modules include:

Provide Advanced Dining Room Service

Manage Food and Beverage Operations

Develop and Implement Budget

Manage Cost and Quality Controls

Interact With and Serve Food & Beverage Guests

Maintain Food and Beverage Service Environment

Follow Food and Beverage Safety and Hygiene Policies and Procedures

Prepare for Service (Mise En Place)

Provide Counter/ Take-Away Service
FUNDING
WDA programme fee funding
Enjoy 70% WDA programme fee funding for all Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent
Residents who are eligible for our WSQ Diploma Programmes.
For more information, please contact:
At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy
Tel: 6416 6688
Email: [email protected]
Annex C
FACTSHEET ON EDUCATION INNOVATION
Education Innovation (EI) is a holistic effort to encourage SMEs in the education industry to
leverage innovation and strengthen core capabilities to deliver quality education by focusing
on:
1) Experiential learning experiences,
2) Exploiting knowledge assets to accelerate market growth, and
3) Streamlining administrative functions to build an innovative culture from inside out.
In 2012, SPRING Singapore committed a grant of S$10 million in this initiative to reach out
to 1,000 education private establishments, supporting up to 50 EI projects in capability
upgrading over the next three years. Since its launch, efforts have been geared towards
sharing best practices among the private education SMEs and piloting projects with them to
test new ideas and innovations. Over the last one year, the initiative has engaged close to
200 SME establishments. A total of S$2 million has also been committed to support close to
20 projects to spearhead efforts towards improving knowledge retention, higher teacher
productivity and better resource optimisation.
At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy is one of the private education institutions on board this EI
initiative. It will be embarking on a project to introduce the first-of-its-kind blended learning
for in-service F&B professionals, so as to enhance the accessibility and affordability of
learning and to optimise its school resources. Apart from improving the learning experience
for its students, At-Sunrice will be able to leverage existing knowledge assets and scale
them, by developing a new model of lesson delivery that will assist them in circumventing the
manpower challenges they face as part of its current classroom-based learning model.