On 9 July, James Cook University in Singapore (JCU in Singapore) and the Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen their collaboration in education, research and industry engagement.

“This marks a significant milestone, with JCU in Singapore being the first Private Education Institution in Singapore to sign a formal agreement with SHRI,” says Professor Carole-Anne Upton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Singapore, James Cook University.

“The partnership also reflects our commitment to embed ourselves meaningfully into Singapore’s HR community – contributing research, training, and insights that are relevant and responsive to the local industry’s evolving needs,” she adds.

Under this agreement, both organisations have formally committed to a strategic partnership aimed at advancing human resource management and education. Key areas of collaboration include supporting JCU in Singapore in obtaining SHRI membership for its students to access professional development opportunities and build connections within the HR fraternity, jointly organising knowledge-sharing events with industry experts, undertaking collaborative research to address emerging HR challenges, and co-developing academic and training programmes. The partnership also opens doors to exploring further mutually beneficial initiatives that leverage the strengths of both academia and industry.

The signing ceremony was graced by Guest-of-Honour Mr Patrick Tay, Assistant Secretary-General at the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), who delivered an opening address and was part of a panel discussing how skills-based approaches can transform hiring practices and workforce development across sectors.

“SHRI and JCU in Singapore already have a working relationship that has been going strong for the past two years. We’re pleased to make our friendship official with this MOU as we continue working together to set the stage for even greater cooperation between the academic and HR communities,” says Mr Alvin Aloysius Goh, CEO of SHRI.  

The two organisations’ existing collaborations include commissioning a research project on flexible workplace arrangements among small and medium enterprises, participating in SHRI’s nationwide HR competition and making SHRI membership more accessible to JCU in Singapore students.

“This MOU isn’t just a ceremonial document. Before this, we have worked together seeing small, yet meaningful successes. This includes commissioning research for JCU in Singapore students doing their Applied Research Modules in 2024/2025, and extending SHRI membership to students at a preferential rate from June 2025. It made it clear that a formal partnership was the next logical step. I would like to thank JCU in Singapore’s Ms Geraldine Kee and SHRI’s Ms Freda Ang for the support,” elaborates Dr Kim-Lim Tan, Senior Lecturer at JCU in Singapore’s Business School.

“Singapore is home to two leading HR bodies – SHRI, a long-standing champion of HR professional development and industry engagement, and the Institute for Human Resource Professionals (IHRP), the national certification body driving professional standards and HR transformation. With this MOU, JCU in Singapore is the first private education institution in Singapore to establish formal collaboration agreements with both HR bodies,” says Associate Professor Wang Pengji, Academic Head, JCU Business School.

“By bridging academic knowledge with industry expertise, the collaboration aims to equip students with the skills, perspectives, and networks needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving workforce – both in Singapore and beyond,” she adds.

Find out more about the JCU in Singapore.

Learn more about the Business School at JCU in Singapore.

Contacts

Associate Professor Dr Wang Pengji Pengji.wang@jcu.edu.au

Dr Kim-Lim Tan kimlim.tan@jcu.edu.au

Media: Ms Pinky Sibal pinky.sibal@jcu.edu.au / Ms Hoe Shu Rin shurin.hoe@jcu.edu.au