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Workplace Learning for Critical Core Skills Development: Empirical Evidence from Singapore

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Title: Workplace Learning for Critical Core Skills Development: Empirical Evidence from Singapore
Language: English
Authors: Bi Xiao Fang, Boo Song Hui Lena
Source: International Journal for Research in Vocational Education and Training. 2025 12(3):316-337.
Availability: European Educational Research Association / European Research Network Vocational Education and Training.Am Fallturm 1, Bremen, 28359, Germany. Tel: +49-421-218-66336; Fax: +49-421-218-98-66336; e-mail: ijrvet@uni-bremen.de; Web site: http://www.ijrvet.net
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 22
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Workplace Learning, Job Skills, Skill Development, Foreign Countries, Soft Skills, Situated Learning, Experiential Learning, Communities of Practice, Employee Attitudes, Work Attitudes
Geographic Terms: Singapore
ISSN: 2197-8638
2197-8646
Abstract: Context: Soft skills or critical core skills (CCS), e.g., communication, problem solving, etc, have been recognized by both individuals and organizations as important but at shortage in the labour market. Within this context, the development of CCS for the employees becomes more and more pressing for the organizations in order to cope with the everchanging demand of workforce. By clustering 2000 participants into seven occupation groups in terms of their similar patterns in the use of CCS, this article aims to show how workplace learning initiated by individuals in different occupations can forge a highly similar learning pathway to develop CCS for the purpose of their personal and professional development. Methods: Drawing on the quantitative results of 2000 participants from Singaporean workforce into seven occupational groups, a qualitative study using semi-structured interview questions that seek to understand how workplace learning attributes to the development of critical core skills. 39 participants were selected to represent the critical core skills profile of the seven occupation groups in Singapore. Unlike earlier research focusing on specific occupation, the present study provides cross-national evidence for the development of critical core skills. Findings: Participants' narratives of their workplace activities are analysed. The empirical study revealed that everyday practices at workplaces facilitate learning pathway more effectively than formal and structured training, for instance, learning from the experience, errors, and also peers within the community of practice. Conclusions: This paper provides an in-depth qualitative study of workplace activities across the diverse occupational groups in Singapore which is lacking in existing literature, including participation and involvement practices using the lens of situated learning theory to account for the development of critical core skills. As a result, this paper enriches the scarce research base about critical core skills development and participatory practices in the community of practices and its links to organisation-wide performance.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1479241
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Workplace Learning for Critical Core Skills Development: Empirical Evidence from Singapore
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bi+Xiao+Fang%22">Bi Xiao Fang</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Boo+Song+Hui+Lena%22">Boo Song Hui Lena</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+for+Research+in+Vocational+Education+and+Training%22"><i>International Journal for Research in Vocational Education and Training</i></searchLink>. 2025 12(3):316-337.
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  Data: European Educational Research Association / European Research Network Vocational Education and Training.Am Fallturm 1, Bremen, 28359, Germany. Tel: +49-421-218-66336; Fax: +49-421-218-98-66336; e-mail: ijrvet@uni-bremen.de; Web site: http://www.ijrvet.net
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  Data: 22
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Workplace+Learning%22">Workplace Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Job+Skills%22">Job Skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Skill+Development%22">Skill Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Soft+Skills%22">Soft Skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Situated+Learning%22">Situated Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Experiential+Learning%22">Experiential Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Communities+of+Practice%22">Communities of Practice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Employee+Attitudes%22">Employee Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Work+Attitudes%22">Work Attitudes</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Singapore%22">Singapore</searchLink>
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2197-8638<br />2197-8646
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Context: Soft skills or critical core skills (CCS), e.g., communication, problem solving, etc, have been recognized by both individuals and organizations as important but at shortage in the labour market. Within this context, the development of CCS for the employees becomes more and more pressing for the organizations in order to cope with the everchanging demand of workforce. By clustering 2000 participants into seven occupation groups in terms of their similar patterns in the use of CCS, this article aims to show how workplace learning initiated by individuals in different occupations can forge a highly similar learning pathway to develop CCS for the purpose of their personal and professional development. Methods: Drawing on the quantitative results of 2000 participants from Singaporean workforce into seven occupational groups, a qualitative study using semi-structured interview questions that seek to understand how workplace learning attributes to the development of critical core skills. 39 participants were selected to represent the critical core skills profile of the seven occupation groups in Singapore. Unlike earlier research focusing on specific occupation, the present study provides cross-national evidence for the development of critical core skills. Findings: Participants' narratives of their workplace activities are analysed. The empirical study revealed that everyday practices at workplaces facilitate learning pathway more effectively than formal and structured training, for instance, learning from the experience, errors, and also peers within the community of practice. Conclusions: This paper provides an in-depth qualitative study of workplace activities across the diverse occupational groups in Singapore which is lacking in existing literature, including participation and involvement practices using the lens of situated learning theory to account for the development of critical core skills. As a result, this paper enriches the scarce research base about critical core skills development and participatory practices in the community of practices and its links to organisation-wide performance.
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 22
        StartPage: 316
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Workplace Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Job Skills
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Skill Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Soft Skills
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Situated Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Experiential Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Communities of Practice
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Employee Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Work Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Singapore
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Workplace Learning for Critical Core Skills Development: Empirical Evidence from Singapore
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            NameFull: Boo Song Hui Lena
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              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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