FirstCom Academy's Suspension Lifted: What You Need to Know About SkillsFuture Guidelines

SINGAPORE: Training provider FirstCom Academy has been granted permission to resume its SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG)-approved courses after a three-month suspension from January 1 to March 31. This decision came after SSG confirmed that the suspension was lifted two days earlier than expected.

With the lifting of the suspension, FirstCom Academy can once again conduct SSG-approved courses, making them eligible for SSG funding, including SkillsFuture Credit, as long as they meet the conditions laid out by SSG.

The academy faced suspension due to the use of a referral programme for marketing, which violated SSG's guidelines for training providers. Although reinstated, FirstCom Academy is prohibited from offering two Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) courses that were terminated last November due to lapses in course quality. They are also barred from reapplying for these courses for a year.

FirstCom Academy specializes in short WSQ courses that cover topics from digital content creation to social media marketing. SSG emphasized the importance of adhering to its guidelines, warning that failure to comply would result in further action.

To maintain eligibility for SSG funding, all training providers, including FirstCom Academy, must successfully pass the Training Provider Quality Assessment (TPQA), which evaluates quality systems and processes at the organizational level. The quality of courses will also be assessed through feedback from learners, and poorly rated courses may lose funding or be removed before their validity ends.

TIGHTER MARKETING GUIDELINES

In a recent update, SSG has implemented stricter marketing guidelines for training providers. Unless explicitly permitted, providers cannot offer discounts, awards, or any monetary incentives for referrals aimed at encouraging sign-ups for SSG-funded courses. Additionally, advertising or marketing practices that could annoy others or violate local laws are prohibited.

SSG previously criticized the academy for offering incentives for referrals and vouchers for Google reviews, labeling these practices as unprofessional. The authority maintains a strong commitment to monitoring training providers to ensure compliance with required standards, asserting that any non-compliance will be addressed seriously. Individuals can report concerns through the SSG feedback portal.