1. Home
  2. Schools & Courses
  3. ACE
  4. Courses and Programmes
  5. Work-Study Post-Diploma (Specialist Diploma in Digital Social Service)

Work-Study Post-Diploma (Specialist Diploma in Digital Social Service)

Specialist-Diploma-in-Digital-Social-Service

About the Course

The Work-Study Post-Diploma (Specialist Diploma in Digital Social Service) provides students an edge in the social service industry by offering knowledge and application of various digital strategies in advocacy, stakeholder engagement, fundraising, and programme evaluation along with base knowledge on social services and social work.  

Graduates of this programme will be able to apply best practices in digital service management. There will be opportunities for hands-on learning to conduct pilot testing for a digital-related project or programme for an organisation with a social purpose. 

The programme aims to provide a pathway for career development in the social services and further education through two (2) Post-Diploma Certificates (PDCs). Upon completion, participants will be awarded a Specialist Diploma in Digital Social Service and receive credit exemptions for the bachelor’s degree in Social Work at SUSS.

Target Audience

Diploma graduates in Business and Administration, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Services.

What is so unique about this programme? 

First of its kind, this programme will enable you to cultivate digital dexterity in charting new solutions for the social services:

  • Analyse digital tools that are accessible to the social service organisation
  • Develop an effective digital social service project

At the same time, students gain a foothold for a career development in social work:

  • Examine human growth and life span development   
  • Introduction to social work and social services

How often do I need to attend the course?

Lessons will be held twice a week online with some in-person sessions at RP ACE @ Woodlands / Singapore University of Social Sciences.

Day of Lessons Duration
Weekday

6:30pm – 9:30pm

Participants will be awarded the Post-Diploma Certificate (PDC) upon successful completion of each certificate programme. The Specialist Diploma in Digital Social Service by Republic Polytechnic will be issued upon meeting 50% of attendance requirement and passing the assessment criteria of both PDCs.

Certification (120 hours) Modules (ranging from 30 to 45 hours each)
Post Diploma Certificate in Digital Social Programmes and Analytics
By Republic Polytechnic:
  1. Emerging Trends in Social Purpose Organisations
  2. Digital Analytics in Applied Research 
  3. Social Advocacy in a Digital Era 
  4. Digital Project for Social Purpose Organisation
Post-Diploma Certificate in Social Services
By Singapore University of Social Sciences:
  1. Human Growth and Life-Span Development – Birth to Adolescence
  2. Human Growth and Life-Span Development- Adulthood to Old Age
  3. Introduction to Social Work
  4. Introduction to Social Services

This includes self-learning hours in the form of online learning, assessments, case study analysis and revision required by the module.

Module Synopses

1. Post-Diploma Certificate in Digital Social Programmes and Analytics by Republic Polytechnic

Emerging Trends in Social Purpose Organisations (30 hours)

This module will be a primer of the latest trends and framework in social financing, social innovation, collaborative philanthropy and industry terminologies for strategic giving and business sustainability.  This includes an understanding of how social purpose businesses curate strategic giving program and in managing its volunteers and the operational issues in identifying stakeholders and risk management in the new digital world. 

At the end of the module, students will be able to gain relevant insights, as well as a vast array of highly practical techniques frameworks and policies that are being used in the field to govern the delivery of innovative programmes, including the delivery of remote/automated services.

Digital Analytics in Applied Research (30 hours)

This module looks into digital technologies and social innovation tools that track and measure the success of social services and familiarizes students with the methodological deliberations in collecting and analysing digital data to assess the effectiveness of a programme or to conduct a needs assessment. 

Students gain knowledge on the methodological deliberations in conducting applied research online, digital ways of capturing social data, as well as identification and selection of appropriate data analytics tool to produce the research analyses.

Social Advocacy in a Digital Era (30 hours)

This module seeks to equip social purpose businesses and organisations in identifying users’ personas, motivational factors and other audience segmentation characteristics to classify their demographics and psychographics which then enables creative targeting, messaging and engagement strategies to connect with volunteers, funders and beneficiaries.

Students gain knowledge on digital tools for social advocacy, the availability of online metrics and generate social advocacy ideas and plans digitally in utilising automated modes of tracking user engagement.

Digital Project for Social Purpose Organisation (45 hours)

Meeting complex client needs in the social service sector requires exploration and experimentation of ideas in redesigning service delivery and this module provides the tools and practical engagement to meet this objective. 

Students gain access to tools to facilitate lateral, parallel and design thinking in developing new ideas for the proposal, as well as needs-specific digital tools in implementing the project. 

Students will develop projects in the any one of the following areas: digital applied research, virtual engagement with stakeholders or digital fundraising, amongst others.
 

2. Post-Diploma Certificate in Social Services by Singapore University of Social Sciences

Human Growth and Life-Span Development – Birth to Adolescence (36 hours)

The course will also examine contemporary concerns from birth through adolescence. Presented in depth and breadth, and supplemented with interactive, hands-on tutorial activities and online forums, this course will provide the students with a solid foundation in the knowledge of human growth and life span development as they prepare for a career in the helping profession. The course also discusses developmental issues and social concerns related to the various stages of the life-span such as issues on parenting children and adolescents, child-abuse, juvenile, eating disorder etc., all of which have implications for a career in the helping profession.

Human Growth and Life-Span Development- Adulthood to Old Age (36 hours)

TThe course will also examine contemporary concerns from young adulthood through old age. Presented in depth and breadth, and supplemented with interactive, hands-on tutorial activities, and online discussions, this course will provide the students with a solid foundation in the knowledge of human growth and life span development as they prepare for a career in the helping profession. The course also discusses developmental issues and social concerns related to the various stages of the life-span such as career change, love and relationship, midlife crisis, sandwich generation, retirement, and aging; all of which have implications for a career in the helping profession.

Introduction to Social Work (20 hours)

This course serves as a foundation module for Social Work students and will provide an overview to students an understanding of the development, nature, purpose, values, principles, theories and other major concepts of the Social Work profession. It will also introduce students to the different roles, functions and core skills of the Social Work profession. The course will also provide students with an understanding of the core concepts relating to social policies and social welfare. 

Introduction to Social Services (20 hours)

This course serves as a foundation module for Social Work students and will provide an overview to students an understanding of the development, nature, purpose, values, principles, theories and other major concepts of the Social Work profession. It will also introduce students to the different roles, functions and core skills of the Social Work profession. The course will also provide students with an understanding of the core concepts relating to social policies and social welfare.
Please click here to view the updated course schedule and fees on the Skills Training & Enhancement Portal (STEP).

WSP Eligibility

Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents who are: 
  • within three years of graduation from the Polytechnics or the Operational Ready Date (ORD) for full-time National Servicemen, or
  • within five years of graduation from the Polytechnics, and if their employer is a participating company.

Course Entry Requirement

Applicants should preferably be a graduate of a feeder programme as listed here.

Admission will be reviewed and approved by the polytechnic on a case-by-case basis.

Please click here to view the updated course schedule and fees on the Skills Training & Enhancement Portal (STEP).
Related Courses
     
Hot Links
     

Last updated on 16 Feb 2024

Need more help?

If you are still unsure about which course to pursue, please contact our Academy for Continuing Education.