The Workforce Development Applied Research Fund (WDARF), a national-level research fund offered by the SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), aims to foster high quality and rigorous applied research in skills, workforce development and lifelong learning to support the SkillsFuture Singapore's key thrusts and national-level policies. It encourages inter-disciplinary research and seeks to strengthen research capabilities, through leveraging both local and international expertise. The WDARF Grant Call is administered by the Institute for Adult Learning (IAL) on behalf of the SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG). The grant is awarded through an open, competitive bidding approach, where submitted proposals go through a technical expert review and evaluation, before they are presented to a Research Committee for approval.
Workforce Development Applied Research Fund (WDARF) 2026 Grant Call
The WDARF 2026 Grant Call will be opened for Expression of Interest (EOI) submission from 02 June 2026 to 13 July 2026.
Previous Result
Grant Call 2020
Neurophysiological Measures for Task Handling Complexity
Prof Lye Sun Woh, Nanyang Technological University
The proposed project seeks to investigate and possibly develop a new evaluation measure known as the “capability-task quotient” (C-TQ) using neurophysiological characteristics of the operator over a time period when handling various task complexities. The aim is to measure and analyse both short and sustained level of neurophysiological activities and characteristics of the operator over a period of time when handling various task complexities in a certain work environment setting. The results would have potential to reshape how humans are hired, allocated or assessed with regards to a given task or job scope. If market size is an indicator, this would translate into billions of dollars of savings with a more efficient, effective fulfilled workforce with greater latitude to minimise human errors. The type of task learning and training required by the operator can also be enhanced.
Grant Call 2022
The Effectiveness of Coaching to Support ICT Workplace Learners’ Transition between Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and Workplace
Associate Professor Lim Sok Mui May, Singapore Institute of Technology
This project focuses on understanding the effects of coaching in helping ICT workplace learners achieve deep-level changes and transformed learning, for a more positive experience transitioning between their student-employee roles. Through this research, we would better understand the academic trajectory (e.g., whether coaching had a long-term impact on how well students maintain their grades) of workplace learners who received coaching, and motivational trajectory over their course of study (e.g., assessed/indexed by a myriad of measures such as dropout rates, resilience, confidence, and stress levels).
Grant Call 2024
The power of we: Using group-based methods to empower skills training participation and performance among lower-wage workers
Dr Laurel Teo, National University of Singapore
This objective of this project is to develop and test novel intervention formats built on group processes, to enhance skills training participation and performance among lower-wage workers. The project aims to explore the extent to which such group-based training formats are more effective than traditional, individual-based skills training formats. These group-based formats will be informed by established relevant theories in the field, covering on existing research in planned behaviour, social class, and self-management.
Grant Call 2020
Changing Mindsets to Enable Workers to Thrive in an Uncertain Job Market
Dr Patricia Chen, National University of Singapore
This research aims to address the psychological barriers that could hinder workers’ motivation to engage in lifelong learning. The study introduces two theoretically novel mindsets as potential solutions to reduce these psychological barriers (i.e. do not believe that they can learn new, different kind of skills, fear of failure). The first is an “expansive growth mindset” (the belief that one can take up and master new, different kinds of skills) and the second, an “experimental mindset” (an orientation towards approaching any problem through iterative experimenting—including generating various possible solutions, trials-and-error, gaining feedback, revising methods based on the feedback and trying again). The team will conduct psychological research on Singapore working adults to measure and test the global efficacy of these mindsets. In Aim 1 (i.e. understanding two important psychological barriers to upskilling and reskilling), the team will design and validate measures of these theoretically novel mindsets, and examine their relation with people’s learning attitudes and motivations. In Aim 2 (i.e. designing and testing mindset interventions to address the psychological barriers), the team will design and test scalable mindset interventions to motivate greater engagement in upskilling and reskilling (e.g. greater uptake of SkillsFuture credits). The findings will contribute to possible solutions to enhance lifelong learning in Singapore.
Grant Call 2020
Digital Capacity Building for Own-account Workers in Singapore
Dr Carol Soon, National University of Singapore
The objective of this study is to advance the digital skills and competencies of own-account workers in Singapore through benchmarking a set of job-ready digital skills and mapping a framework for digital skills development. The project seeks to unlock the benefits of digitalisation for a segment of Singaporean workers who tend to be digitally low-skilled so that they too can participate meaningfully in the digital economy. Findings from the study will support the policymaking work of SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), the SG Digital Office (SDO) and the National Jobs Council.
