James Cook University (JCU) in Singapore has established a new academy designed to support access to Continuing Professional Development — named James Cook Academy. In addition, James Cook Academy has acquired Eagle Infotech — which offers a wide range of courses in information technology, digital marketing, communication, and more — to support its mission of providing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for Singapore’s workforce. A signing session between JCU in Singapore and Eagle Infotech was held on 29 November 2021 with completion of the acquisition on 30 November 2021.

Incorporated in 1988, Eagle Infotech is a Registered Training Provider (RTP) accredited by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG).  Offering a suite of technology and soft skill courses, Eagle Infotech has helped to equip over 50,000 learners from many different industries with the capability to navigate a rapidly-evolving workplace.

As a wholly-owned subsidiary of JCU in Singapore, James Cook Academy will support Eagle Infotech to further diversify its course offerings and delivery modes to deliver flexible and personalised programs, and will work with industry partners to develop tailored CPD courses. This ensures that more people in Singapore will have the opportunity to upgrade their skills and remain relevant and employable in today’s ever-changing world.

Indeed, the global economy is facing great uncertainty and change, but the Singapore Government recognises the opportunity to innovate and strengthen our capabilities amidst this disruption. The report of the Committee on the Future Economy (CFE) highlighted the need for workers to continuously deepen and refresh their skills in order to stay relevant as a critical priority for the Singapore Government. In line with this, James Cook Academy also supports the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal of Quality Education, which seeks to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”.

Professor Chris Rudd OBE, Chairman of James Cook Academy, and Deputy Vice Chancellor and Head of Campus, Singapore at JCU said, “I am pleased to have Mr Andrew Chew take the reins as CEO of James Cook Academy in addition to his current role as Chief Commercial Officer of James Cook University, Singapore. The ambition of the University to enter the CPD space has been realised with Andrew’s leadership of the set-up of James Cook Academy and its acquisition of Eagle Infotech. I am also proud to welcome the staff, students and partners of Eagle Infotech — important stakeholders in the CPD community — to the broader James Cook University family.”

“Establishing a strong presence in CPD is the next step for James Cook University to contribute to Singapore by helping to upskill the local workforce through short courses and training programs in Industry 4.0 and areas that fit the needs of the Singapore workforce and community. It is very exciting to see all of this come to fruition and I look forward to working with Eagle Infotech’s Managing Director, Mrs Liana Tang and her staff to enable the business to soar to new heights,” says Mr Andrew Chew, Chief Executive Officer of James Cook Academy and Chief Commercial Officer of JCU in Singapore.

Eagle Infotech Managing Director, Mrs Liana Tang acknowledged JCU’s reputation in Singapore as an institution, known not only for its quality but also for its outreach and support for its students through their educational journey, saying, “The dedicated team at Eagle Infotech are delighted to be joining an institution that shares its values and its commitment to supporting all Singaporeans to achieve their career goals through lifelong learning. We look forward to working with James Cook Academy to enable more people to innovate and adapt to the fast-changing needs of the global workplace.”

Find out more about the Singapore campus of James Cook University.

Contacts

James Cook Academy: Mr Andrew Chew [email protected]
Media: Ms Pinky Sibal [email protected]