South West CDC Strengthens Community Career and Skills Support With Renewed Partnership and Greater Focus On AI

Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for Education and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration, launched the two-day SkillsFuture Festival @ South West on 16 October 2026, together with Ms Low Yen Ling, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, and Mayor of South West District. Held at Westgate, the Festival will end on 17 October 2026. This event is part of the annual SkillsFuture Festival, which aims to help participants build their skills and take charge of their career health.  

Bringing Career and Skills Support Closer to the Community

2             To support residents in their skills and career development, the SkillsFuture Advice (SFA) – a partnership between the five Community Development Councils (CDCs) and the Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA) will be renewed for another three years and renamed Careers & Skills for Community (CSC) with effect from 1 December 2026. The renewed initiative will place greater emphasis on career health and AI at the workplace, alongside lifelong learning and skills development, helping residents stay relevant and navigate evolving job and skills demands.

3             CSC will serve as a first point of engagement, connecting residents with career guidance, training and employment support. Residents will receive more targeted information and guidance, including referrals to relevant SWDA programmes, training opportunities and employment services based on their individual needs. The initiative aims to reach about 50,000 participants annually across the five CDCs. Through CSC, the five CDCs will work with SWDA and its subsidiary, Lifelong Learning Singapore, to make career and skills resources more accessible at the community level. This complements SWDA’s broader efforts to support individuals and employers in navigating changes in jobs and skills.

Strengthening Community AI Literacy Through New Partnership

4          South West CDC will also embark on a three-year partnership with the Singapore AI Association (SAIA) to strengthen AI literacy and promote responsible AI adoption across the South West District. Through community workshops and engagements, the partnership aims to equip more than 3,000 residents across different age groups with practical AI knowledge and skills, helping them build confidence in using AI in their daily lives and at work. These learning opportunities will extend beyond the Festival through community and grassroots platforms across the district.

5          The partnership will also introduce an AI Ambassador network, with an initial group of 15 volunteers supporting community AI workshops and engagements. The AI Ambassadors will help residents better understand and use AI responsibly, while encouraging peer-to-peer learning and greater digital inclusion. The network will progressively expand across the South West District, creating more opportunities for residents to contribute their skills and support others in their AI learning journey.

6          “AI is transforming how we live and work. If we can harness its potential, we can ride on its power and benefits. Our new partnership with the Singapore AI Association aims to help residents learn and use AI in their daily lives and at work. By attending the talks and workshops on AI at the festival, they will have the chance to discover this new technology and take steps to future-proof themselves in a fast-evolving world. I thank SWDA, LLSG and all our partners for working closely with South West CDC as we empower and enable our residents to not fear AI but to use it as a tool to advance themselves, and live and work better,” said Mayor Low.

Bringing Practical AI Learning, Skills Development and Job Opportunities to Residents

7　      SkillsFuture Festival @ South West has served as a community platform to encourage lifelong learning and connect residents with opportunities to develop new skills since 2018. Themed ‘Career Health in the Age of AI’, SkillsFuture Festival @ South West 2026 will bring together career guidance, skills development and employment support in one community setting. Residents can look forward to hands-on AI demonstrations and experiential activities to discover how AI and emerging technologies are transforming the workplace and everyday life. Training and community partners will also showcase courses and skills pathways across the Digital, Green and Care economies, helping residents identify opportunities to upskill and reskill.

8　      To connect skills development with employment opportunities, the Festival will also feature the South West Community Job Fair under Jobs Nearby @ CDC. Across the job fair and the South West District Job Bank, close to 10,000 job opportunities will be available across different sectors. Residents can meet employers face-to-face and participate in on-site interviews at the job fair, while Job Ambassadors will provide personalised job matching support and connect jobseekers with suitable employment opportunities, including jobs closer to home.

9        Photos for the launch of SkillsFuture Festival @ South West 2026 may be downloaded from the following link ↗ (opens in new tab).