Permanent Secretary (Education Development) of the Ministry of Education and Chairman of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Learning Transformation Advisory Board, Lieutenant-General (LG) (NS) Neo Kian Hong, launched the SAF's next generation internet-based learning platform - LEARNet Portal 2.0 - at the opening ceremony of the SAF Learning Symposium (SLS) 2014 at SAFTI Military Institute (SAFTI MI) today.

Officiating at the ceremony, LG(NS) Neo said that the SLS 2014 has continued to be a useful platform to share learning trends, concepts and best practices in the education industry. Noting the need to prepare the SAF personnel to operate in a complex and fast-changing environment, LG(NS) Neo emphasised the SAF's commitment in continuing its learning transformation journey, which was centered on the vision of "Learning SAF, Thinking Warriors". He added that the SAF has put in place good institutions and initiatives such as the SAF Learning Community, LEARNet and Centre for Learning Systems to realise the vision. Highlighting the importance of sustaining the learning culture in the SAF, he said, "The leaders have to be role-model themselves as lifelong-learners and influence their subordinates to learn."

LEARNet Portal 2.0, an improved version of Portal 1.0, features new apps and functionalities to deliver an integrated user experience where servicemen and women can access multiple learning tools, such as forums, blogs and the knowledge repository known as the SAF Knowledge Exchange, with a single log-on. The previous version required multiple log-ons by the users to access the various supporting applications in the portal. Portal 2.0 also features enhancements that allow the SAF personnel to access the platform offline and on their mobile devices. The enhanced portal will be implemented SAF-wide from November 2014 onwards.

SLS 2014, the 3rd in the series since 2012, is a key platform for SAF leaders and the training community to exchange professional knowledge with international and local experts. This year's theme is "Operationalising the SAF Learning Transformation". Held at SAFTI MI from 1 to 2 October 2014, SLS 2014 features a series of workshops on learning design, pedagogy and technology, as well as the presentation of the SAF Learning Innovation Awards to recognise Training Institutes and their staff for excellence in learning innovation.

Mr Julian Stodd, facilitator of the workshop on "Creating Effective Mobile Learning in the Social Age", would be sharing with the SAF training community on the methodology that would allow engaging and effective mobile learning design. The founder and co-owner of Sea Salt Learning, which helps organisations stay relevant in the social age, said, "How we learn today has been transformed by technology changing social behaviours. By taking a keen interest in the latest learning pedagogies and technology, the Singapore military is being very progressive in staying relevant to the new developments in training and learning."

This year's Symposium also marked the progress of the SAF's Learning Transformation with the establishment of the SAF Learning Transformation Advisory Board. Comprising members from the public and private sectors in learning-related fields, the Board serves to advise the SAF on training effectiveness and the latest developments in learning pedagogy, technology as well as best practices in the industry.

The Symposium was hosted by Commandant SAFTI MI Brigadier-General (BG) Benedict Lim. Also present were Chief of Staff, General Staff BG Lim Hock Yu, Commander Army Training and Doctrine Command BG Chan Wing Kai, other senior SAF officers and local and overseas workshop facilitators who would be speaking at the Symposium.