GROWING TOGETHER
At NTUC First Campus (NFC), our educators and staff play a crucial role not only in the development of our children, but also the organisation’s growth. NFC provides an environment for our employees’ career development, with opportunities for learning and progression through a culture of empowerment. This equips our staff with the best abilities and knowledge to inspire the lives of the children under our care.
our staff number has grown
Collaborating with the Singapore University of Social Sciences
NTUC First Campus (NFC) and the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) jointly launched the Childhood Education Leadership (ECEL) certificate in 2020. It is the first-of-its-kind in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) sector and uplifts the quality of ECCE leaders and childcare practices. This breakthrough programme places emphasis on both knowledge acquisition as well as ongoing on-the-job application. More than 400 ECCE leaders will benefit from this programme over five years.
Pre-school professionals who successfully complete this programme will be jointly awarded a Certificate in Early Childhood Education Leadership by NFC and SUSS.
Through this collaboration, NFC and SUSS aim to build strong education leaders by enabling them to construct knowledge through inquiry and apply theory into practice at their workplaces, so that they can be exemplary practitioners of key skills that uplift childcare practices in the sector. The programme also serves to support Early Childhood (EC) leaders in their career progression by providing opportunities for them to broaden their perspectives, deepen knowledge and hone their skills.
This one-year certificate programme achieves these aims by integrating classroom learning with structured workplace learning. It is open to pre-school professionals who are currently in team leader positions. The first cohort matriculated in July 2020 and comprises nominated NFC staff who are Deputy Centre Leads (Vice-Principal equivalent) and have fulfilled the admissions requirements by SUSS. They will complete 4 practice-based courses and achieve the learning outcomes over a 12-month on-the-job application.
For more information, please click here.
The ECEL programme presents a myriad of opportunities for leaders to shift their mindsets and dispositions towards thought and practice leadership, by developing intentionality in teaching, mentoring and leading. It also enables our educators to embrace the value of learning and constructing knowledge and skills in a collective and collaborative manner.
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This programme has been an enriching journey for me. It has equipped me with mentoring skills to heighten the growth of my teachers and taught me strategies to inject positive emotions into our daily routine and strengthen working relationships. As a young leader, I overcame the fear of facilitating large group meetings. I find myself more confident when mentoring teachers while rediscovering my passion and joy in the little successes at work.
This ECEL programme provided me with the relevant skills to be a reflective and intentional leader in early childhood. I found myself reflecting deeper, using a leader’s lens in my approaches as I guide my teachers to enhance teaching practices. It strengthened my ability to evaluate these practices, guiding teachers in enhancing the well-being of the centre staff and supporting children with diverse needs.
Looking after staff well-being
Since its launch in 2018, NFC has continued to build on Happy@NFC – reflecting our vision towards achieving the goal of “Happy Staff, Happy Child and Happy Parents”. In 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, all 5,400 employees were able to gather online for a virtual time of fun and games, as well as a celebration of staff who received the CEO Awards and Long Service Awards.
Throughout the year, NFC continued to support the needs and look after the well-being of our staff with the giving out of welfare items such as Grab vouchers, grocery care packages, as well as the conducting of webinars on topics such as mental wellbeing and physical exercises. This is part of NFC’s commitment to take care of the well-being of its staff so that they will be “energised to excel”.
