THE Human Resources (HR) fraternity will soon get a boost in the form of a
centrally hosted free-exchange platform to discuss and promote best
practices.
Mooted by Human Capital Singapore (HCS), which held its
official opening yesterday, the revamped Communities of Practice (COP) platform
- which has also had its online pilot portal launched - will allow for the
exchange of ideas among HR practitioners, HCS chief executive Ho Geok Choo
announced yesterday.
HCS is the national Continuing Education and
Training (CET) centre appointed by the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) to
conduct competency training under the Human Resource Workforce Skills
Qualification (WSQ) framework.
This framework was adopted to cater to
the busy schedules of Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians
(PMETs), who must juggle work and training. Since it began operations last
June, HCS has already trained 1,500 PMETs.HCS will create a total of 36 COP
groups of 15 members each to perpetuate six HR industries, which are yet to be
selected, she said.
Minister for Manpower Gan Kim Yong, the
guest-of-honour at yesterday's event, said that he was encouraged by the
adoption of the COPs. 'Such strategic HR conversations can translate into
actionable goals and effective practices at their respective workplaces,' he
said of the COP practitioners.
HCS will also be collaborating with
Spring Singapore on various counts. It is adopting Spring's HR Toolkit to help
small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) build up their HR capabilities. The
toolkit will be available for free download on the HCS website from April
onwards. Furthermore, HCS and Spring are contemplating an HR Outsourcing Hub
to ensure SMEs' access to professional HR services. Mdm Ho likened the
Outsourcing Hub to 'cable TV', with users subscribing to the various services
they require.
HCS is also planning to incorporate their Chief People
Officer post-graduate programme, which is for corporate leaders and senior
executives, into Spring's Advanced Management Programme.
'HCS is
designed - and determined - to be a reference point in Singapore and beyond,
for best human capital management practices,' said Mdm Ho.