Duration

3 months (2018)

Tools

Paper, Google Workspace apps

Role

Researcher

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Under A Non-disclosure Agreement

Some of the details in this case study may be vague to protect the client's intellectual property.

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What drives someone to upskill — and what holds them back?

That was the big question Nanyang Polytechnic came to us with in 2018. Singapore’s workforce was evolving fast. Automation, digital disruption, and new career models were reshaping what it meant to stay employable. NYP wanted to get ahead of that curve, not just by offering courses, but by truly understanding the people they were trying to reach.

Challenge

Lifelong learning sounds like a no-brainer. But in reality? Time, money, fear of failure, and sheer decision fatigue often get in the way. NYP needed to figure out:

• Who’s actively seeking to reskill or upskill?
• What’s motivating them — or holding them back?
• And how can NYP show up in a way that feels relevant, not just available?

Approach

We mapped the lifelong learning landscape through a 3-part study:

• Incidence check: A national survey to spot who’s interested in CET (Continuing Education & Training) and who isn’t