Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) has launched a new centre aimed at helping organisations and their employees navigate workforce changes driven by artificial intelligence, placing people at the heart of transformation efforts.
The Centre for Shaping Human-First Transformation, known as SH1F+, was officially launched on 29 July 2026. The event was attended by Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State for Education and for Sustainability and the Environment.
SH1F+ is designed to support workers whose roles are evolving and the companies they work for, ensuring that change is sustainable. While technology is accelerating the need for transformation, research shows that successful adoption depends heavily on workforce readiness, capability development and employee buy-in. A TIAA Institute study highlighted that technology adoption is fundamentally a human and organisational challenge. Separately, ADP Research Institute found that only about 15 per cent of workers in Singapore feel secure in their current jobs amid growing uncertainty about the future of work.
NP Principal and CEO Lim Kok Kiang said many organisations still face gaps in strategy, culture, capabilities and job redesign. “Leveraging NP’s experience in consultancy and training anchored in human-centricity and behavioural insights, coupled with our high-touch support, SH1F+ will help organisations make and sustain change for the long term,” he said.
The centre takes a people-centred approach in two main ways. First, it uses proprietary Sandbox software that allows leaders, managers and teams to assess current workforce capabilities, explore future possibilities and align transformation strategies with business priorities. Employees remain central to the process of redesigning roles, identifying new skills and preparing for new ways of working. Second, SH1F+ designs and delivers structured programmes to build the competencies, mindsets and confidence of employees based on identified needs.
Ngee Ann Polytechnic is collaborating with Ernst & Young Advisory Pte Ltd (EY) to deliver end-to-end consultancy services. These cover advisory support, capability building, technology adoption and workplace learning. Eligible organisations can access the SkillsFuture Workforce Development Grant (Job Redesign+) scheme, which provides funding support of up to 70 per cent for small and medium enterprises and 50 per cent for non-SMEs, capped at S$150,000 per enterprise.
Goh Jia Yong, Partner for People Consulting at EY, said workforce transformation in the age of AI must be human-first rather than technology-first. “As organisations accelerate AI adoption, many are rethinking how jobs are designed, how people are trained and how work is organised. Through SH1F+, EY and NP bring together complementary strengths to help organisations redesign roles, upskill talent and enable meaningful human-AI collaboration,” he said.
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SH1F+ draws on NP’s existing ecosystem of specialised centres. The Human-Centred Design Institute (HCDI), established in 2022, provides training in the LUMA System of Innovation. The Centre for Organisational Resilience and Inclusion (CORI), set up in 2024, focuses on building resilience and readiness for change. The Centre for Behaviour and Nudge Design (BaND), launched in 2025, combines behavioural science and design thinking with AI tools. A new Centre for Workplace Well-Being (coWELL) will be launched in 2026 to support mental well-being during periods of change.
The human-first approach has already been tested in practice. Through UOB’s Better U Pivot Programme, NP is supporting up to 500 employees transitioning into evolving roles with structured training, personalised coaching and workplace learning. Participants have moved into new positions and continue to deepen skills in areas such as AI and digital capabilities.
Murata Electronics Singapore partnered with NP to create a talent growth and capability development framework. The company’s New Business Architect role was redesigned and standardised across six countries. Through structured on-the-job training, employees gained and applied new competencies, demonstrating that transformation works best when staff are actively supported.
By combining consultancy, training and workplace learning with a strong focus on people, SH1F+ aims to help organisations adapt to technological change while strengthening the capacity and confidence of their workforce.
