Challenge aims to uplift professional recognition, raise technical skills and standards, recognise contributions of Singapore’s public bus technician workforce
Bus technicians play an integral role in ensuring that different components of public buses perform optimally so that commuters can enjoy safe and reliable journeys. The Singapore BusTech Grand Challenge, an inaugural event jointly organised by the Singapore Bus Academy (SGBA)[1] and the NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), aims to raise technical standards across the public bus workforce.
2 The idea for a challenge was mooted by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) early in 2021, to promote a culture of technical excellence across the bus industry and to recognise the star bus technicians. The competition format was developed in partnership with The Institution of Engineers Singapore (IES) and the UK Institute of Road Transport Engineers (IRTE)[2].
3 With strong support from our partners such as the National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU), the event was launched by Senior Minister of State for Transport Mr Chee Hong Tat today.
4 Competing in teams of three, 24 bus technicians from four public bus operators - Go-Ahead Singapore, SBS Transit, SMRT Buses and Tower Transit Singapore, went head to head to compete in a series of 12 technical challenges across three main categories - mechanical, electrical and diagnostics. Each challenge is designed and sponsored by our station partners. The assessment criteria is unique to each challenge station, but will generally evaluate the technician’s analytical skills and competence in diagnosing the problem(s), using the appropriate tools (for example, correct adjustment and use of torque wrench), technical knowledge and strict compliance with safety requirements, among others. Please refer to Annex A for details of the 12 challenges.
5 The winners will be announced and presented with their awards by Minister for Transport Mr S Iswaran at the Public Transport Workers’ Appreciation (PTWA) anchor event on 23 November 2021.
6 As part of the series of activities under the Public Transport Workers’ Appreciation month of November, e2i and LTA have organised the Public Transport Career Fair in the same week, on 26 November at Devan Nair Institute for Employment and Employability. A total of more than 600 vacancies are available, with roles ranging from bus captain, bus technician assistant engineer to station manager. Employers are the four public transport operators: Go-Ahead Singapore, SBS Transit, SMRT and Tower Transit Singapore. Visit https://event.e2i.com.sg/web/PTCFNov21 to find out more.
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About LTA
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is a statutory board under the Ministry of Transport, which spearheads land transport developments in Singapore. As the agency responsible for planning, designing, building and maintaining Singapore’s land transport infrastructure and systems, we aim to bring about a greener and more inclusive public transport system, complemented by convenient options to walk and cycle from their homes or to their destinations. We leverage technology to strengthen our rail and bus infrastructure and provide exciting options for future land transport. For more information, please visit the website at www.lta.gov.sg.
About e2i
e2i is the empowering network for workers and employers seeking employment and employability solutions. e2i serves as a bridge between workers and employers, connecting with workers to offer job security through job-matching, career guidance and skills upgrading services, and partnering employers to address their manpower needs through recruitment, training and job redesign solutions. e2i is a tripartite initiative of the National Trades Union Congress set up to support nation-wide manpower and skills upgrading initiatives. For more information, please visit www.e2i.com.sg.
