SATS Ltd. (SATS) has announced a multi-year collaborative agreement with all five polytechnics in Singapore to jointly pursue a range of initiatives to nurture a larger pool of work-ready graduates and facilitate bilateral knowledge exchange between industry and academia.

In a statement, SATS said this new unified collaboration builds upon SATS' existing efforts to build a sustainable pipeline of talent and support lifelong learning.

With the aim of building a strong Singapore core, there are six areas of collaboration that, include: Student Internships, Post-internship Skills-based Career Pathways and Continuous Education, Awards and Scholarships Support Schemes, Industry Sharing and Career Talks, Access to Training Equipment and Facilities, and Staff Development.

"At SATS, people are our most important asset, and we are excited to embark on this unique collaboration with the polytechnics to build strong pathways of meaningful career growth for our people and students," said Kerry Mok, president and chief executive officer of SATS.

"As SATS journeys from being an Asia-centric operator to a global aviation services leader, we remain dedicated to building a robust and supportive environment for local talent development so that they can thrive on the world stage."

Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman, second minister for Education, welcomed the SATS program for doing its part "to nurture our local talent pipeline."

"The collaboration will give our students the opportunity to apply their knowledge in real-world situations and contribute to SATS operations. The collaboration will also enable SATS and polytechnic staff and faculty to exchange perspectives and learn from one another," Osman said.

The signing ceremony was held this morning at the Singapore Innovation Hub of the SATS Global Innovation Centre.

Mok signed the MOU, together with Jeanne Liew, principal and chief executive officer (PCEO), Nanyang Polytechnic; Lim Kok Kiang, PCEO, Ngee Ann Polytechnic; Yeo Li Pheow, PCEO, Republic Polytechnic; Soh Wai Wah, PCEO, Singapore Polytechnic; and Aw Tuan Kee, Deputy Principal, Temasek Polytechnic.

Witnessing the signing ceremony was Osman, Singapore's second minister for Education.