[Photo: Yuan Ching Secondary student Clarice Lee (left) looks on as her schoolmates Yeo Song Boon (centre) and Wong Si Ting, all 15, test a perfume they made in a competition at Singapore Polytechnic. The polytechnic will introduce a diploma in perfumery and cosmetic science next year.]

By Jennani Durai

BEAUTY salons, spas and wellness centres - that is where many jobs will be found over the next few years.

Another sector which will need more manpower is veterinary science, or the responsible care of animals used in research.

The five polytechnics here are banking on these industries and others, and from next year they will introduce courses on everything from perfumery and cosmetics to wellness and spa management.

The polytechnics' close links with industries have traditionally made them a good barometer of which sectors are likely to see growth, and their yearly list of new courses acts as a crystal ball of sorts, offering a peek into the hot jobs of tomorrow.

Indeed, according to the Economic Development Board, the beauty industry in Singapore, which raked in $120 million last year, is projected to grow by 30 per cent annually.

And with five of the top 10 flavour and fragrance houses in the world now based here, Singapore Polytechnic is gearing up to produce skilled workers for them.

To that end, it will introduce a new course leading to a diploma in perfumery and cosmetic science.

Acting course manager Amos Goh is quick to point out that the course is more about lab work than lipstick.

'It's more chemistry-based. It's not about make-up, manicures and pedicures,' said Mr Goh.

Students who sign up for the course will go on attachments with fragrance powerhouses such as Givaudan, Firmenich and Takasago. While there, they will get hands-on experience in beauty product formulation and development.

Over at Republic Polytechnic, spas will be the focus, and the polytechnic will introduce a diploma in wellness, lifestyle and spa management. Students on the course will learn about wellness therapies and how to run a spa or resort, among other things.

The course is especially timely, with tourist arrivals set to jump when the integrated resorts are completed, said the programme chair, Ms Nancy Chan, who has worked in the tourism, hospitality and health-care industries.

'Travellers now are looking for more than just shopping or entertainment, and spas are becoming a high growth area,' she said.

Ms Chan added that the need for skilled people to manage them is increasing.

For those who are more interested in beasts than beauty, Ngee Ann Polytechnic will offer a diploma in veterinary bioscience.

Students on this course will learn animal anatomy, physiology, nutrition and behaviour, as well as how to clinically diagnose and treat animal diseases.

Ngee Ann has also clinched a partnership with the St Louis Zoo in Missouri, one of the top 10 zoos in the United States.

The tie-up will allow students to participate in research into animal behaviour and breeding programmes.

It may be less glamorous than the beauty industry, but Ngee Ann is convinced the job prospects are just as good.

Said Mrs Tang Guek Im, director of Ngee Ann's School of Life Sciences and Chemical Technology: 'Meetings with researchers from Biopolis and other top science organisations convinced us that there was a need for people who could handle the animals used in laboratory experiments.'

With their training, graduates from this programme will be able to ensure animals used in laboratory settings are well looked after.

'In transitional medicine, for example, drugs need to be tested first on animals to see if there are adverse reactions or to check the dosage,' said Mrs Tang, adding that animals commonly used include mice, primates and pigs.

'Our graduates will be able to help the researchers by monitoring the animals, to make sure they don't suffer unnecessary pain and that their living conditions are good.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times.