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 2021
Examining the Implementation of Practice-based Work Approach for the Professional Learning of Associate Faculty
Associate Professor Jennifer Yeo, Singapore University of Social Sciences
This study aims to examine the design of a practice-based learning approach in two graduate certificate courses aimed at building up the teaching and learning capacity of Associate Faculty (AF).
Grant Call 2019
From classroom training to workplace practice: Understanding workers’ learning motivation, skill acquisition and skill utilisation in the context of Continuing Education and Training (CET)
Dr Lee Ai Noi, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University
Continuous education and training (CET) opportunities available to workers is crucial to ensure a relevant and resilient workforce. Using a three-time point design of data collection, this study aims to examine the influence of individual and workplace situational factors on workers’ learning motivation, skill acquisition and skill utilisation before and after completion of a CET course; and whether a more structured workplace learning context can increase the likelihood of individual skill utilisation.
Grant Call 2021
Improving Professional Development through an Intelligent Adaptive Learning Approach: An In-depth Study on Construction Project Managers
Associate Professor Goh Yang Miang, National University of Singapore
This study focuses on the use of an adaptive learning approach to improve professional development for construction project managers. Adaptive learning, which has been successful in higher education, offers personalized learning pathways that can address the time constraints faced by professionals. However, there is limited research on the effectiveness of adaptive learning in professional development.
Grant Call 2021
Battling Ageism, Myths, Misperceptions of Mature and Older Workers and Learners: Breaking Barriers, Mitigating Precarity, and Finding Fulfilment in Late Adulthood
Mr Poon King Wang, Singapore University of Technology and Design
This research study adopts an ecosystem/whole of society lens to understand ageist beliefs and proposes ways to breakdown these perceptions. Additional aims are to understand how mature/older workers plan for and transit into different phases of learning, work, and retirement as they experience change in priorities, health conditions, financial circumstances, and life aspirations, and how lifelong learning enriches them so that they continue contributing to the economy and positively influence society.
Grant Call 2021
How and Why University Graduates Seize Opportunities Offered by Lifelong Learning Policies
Dr Paul A. O'Keefe, National University of Singapore
This project will provide a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to understanding participation in Lifelong Learning (LLL) programmes, particularly SkillsFuture Credits and other SkillsFuture programmes. We will focus predominantly on university graduates, to understand key factors that lead highly educated workers to use LLL policies, and how such policies could be designed to encourage greater usage of LLL programmes.
