The objective of the Practical Training Scheme (PTS) is to enable students to apply their knowledge gained from academic studies to practical situations in the local or foreign construction industry. There are also opportunities for students to be employed on funded research projects undertaken by staff members of the department.
The PTS Co-ordinator will inform the students on the availability of placements. The attachment period is from May to July (9 weeks).
Securing of Placements
The Department assists the students in finding relevant placements. With the help of the industry, it has usually been able to secure placements for all our students. However, the Department cannot assure that the full number of placements will be made available because of changing economic conditions.
Students may also seek their own placements locally or overseas. However, placements in a firm run by the student’s own family will not normally be approved, as are placements where students are unlikely to benefit from an industrial attachment.
Students under sponsorship schemes whose sponsors expect them to serve the Practical Training period with the organization should advise the PTS Chairman in writing as soon as possible.
All placements secured by the Department will be balloted.
Financial Allowance
The level of financial allowance is not a criterion as far as the Department is concerned and while S$500 per month is the norm, students are free to accept less or more through negotiation. It is important that you do not allow your PTS experience to be marred by what you perceive to be inadequate allowance.
Core Employers
‘Core Employers’ are organizations that provide placements to the Department based on a long-term working relationship.
Students may seek their own placements with any organization except our ‘Core Employers’. This is intended to avoid situations in which individual students approach the same few employers with their applications - a situation likely to have negative repercussions for all concerned. The PTS Co-ordinator will forward an email to the students on the ‘Core Employers’ list.
The PTS Committee will also issue letters of request to organizations not in the ‘Core Employers’ list to seek new placements. The list of such ‘New Opportunities’ organizations will also be forwarded to the students through email.
Students’ Own Contacts
Students who are able to secure their own placements with organizations not within the
‘New Opportunities’ list may either submit a note to the PTS Co-ordinator requesting that the standard letter be sent out to that organization with the return slip, or should request the organization to write to the PTS Co-ordinator in similar terms and citing the student’s name, course and year.
A standard letter of introduction will be available (from the PTS Co-ordinator) for students to use when making contact with new organizations.
Department of Building Liaison Officer
During practical training, each student is supervised by the employer (called the Supervisor) and the Liaison Officer (usually a lecturer) from the Department of Building. They are responsible for ensuring that the training is relevant. They jointly develop and agree to a training programme prior to the commencement of the attachment and monitor the student’s progress. Each student is required to keep a Log Book issued by the Department of Building and to record the work done in sufficient detail to provide evidence of satisfactory progress. The Log Book is endorsed weekly by the Supervisor and by the Liaison Officer during liaison visits.
The Liaison Officer visits the student and supervisor during the training period to discuss the student’s work, progress and any problems encountered. The initiative lies with the student to contact the Liaison Officer for assistance.
Leave Matters
Attendance for the 9-week period is compulsory, subject only to normal medical and compassionate leave rules, and must be certified by the employer.
Students are not at liberty to take casual leave or vacation to attend other training courses or sporting events (unless by special advance approval). If you are disrupted by National Service, you should make up the shortfall with your employer.
The working hours should comply with the norms and specific requirements of the employer (e.g., 5 or 5½ day week). Where overtime is worked and permanent staff members receive overtime pay, the student may request the same treatment.
Safety
Students should observe safety precautions as well as normal working attributes of courtesy, punctuality, and willingness to learn. When thorny problems arise, consult your Liaison Officer on the best course of action.
Overseas Attachments
The Practical Training Committee will, as far as possible, try to match your preferences with available positions. Details of the shortlisted candidates will then be forwarded to the host companies for their approval.
The Practical Training Committee will arrange for an orientation briefing for selected candidates. Items featured in the orientation briefing include Overseas Attachment programme on topics like accommodation, cross-cultural understanding, and managing one’s finances and travel plans.
Students are expected to pay for their own airfare and accommodation. Should you require a visa (visitor’s or working), you will have to apply and pay for on your own and the Department will support it with all the relevant documents. The organization may provide an allowance to help cover your basic living expenses. There is no CPF contribution or taxes on your allowance. Bear in mind that your expenditure may exceed the income while you are overseas.
PTS Report
On completion for the training period, overall satisfaction of the requirements is certified by the Liaison Officer. Each student is further required to submit a 1000- to 2000- word Report. These reports will be marked; if they are unsatisfactory, they are usually returned for amendments. In some cases, a student may be deemed to have failed PTS. So take Practical Training Scheme seriously.
Guidelines for PTS Report
Enquiries
For further enquiries, call or email us:
PTS Chairman |
PTS Co-ordinator |
Dr Lim Guan Tiong |
Ms Chelvi |
Last modified on 15 January 2008