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Source:
www.mcys.gov.sg |
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Accreditation Framework For
Local Dating Industry To Attain High Standards Of Professionalism |
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The Ministry of Community Development, Youth
and Sports (MCYS) announced details of the Social Development Unit's (SDU)
accreditation framework comprising a Code of Professional Conduct, and
Accreditation Criteria and Standards, for dating agencies and dating
practitioners. |
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The accreditation framework sets the
benchmark for dating agencies and practitioners to attain high standards
of professionalism and service delivery to singles. Agencies and
practitioners who meet these standards will be awarded the SDU Trust
Mark. |
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Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Minister of State for
Community Development, Youth and Sports, said: '"Fundamentally, the
SDU's accreditation framework must be able to give singles the assurance
and confidence to use the private sector dating agencies. In November
last year, I announced that SDU and SDS will ease out of direct service
delivery in tandem with the growth of the dating industry. We must thus
ensure that the legacy of SDU, its values and operating principles,
continue through the private sector. While accreditation is voluntary,
there are aspects that we cannot compromise on, as we need to protect
the interests of all stakeholders. This explains the robust, yet
realistic requirements that have been incorporated into the framework.'" |
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Benefits for All |
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For accredited dating agencies, they will
enjoy: |
i. Recognition as a competent, credible and
professional company;
ii. Access to SDU's publicity channels to promote services to SDU
members and singles at large;
iii. Preferential screening rates for marriage records at the Registry
of Marriages and the Registry of Muslim Marriages;
iv. Preferred vendor status to provide dating services to singles in the
public sector; and
v. Funding and support for training and development. |
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Similarly, accredited dating
practitioners will enjoy: |
i. Preferred employment candidate
status for dating agencies; and
ii. Funding for continuous training and development. |
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Associate Professor Paulin Straughan,
Chairperson of the Accreditation Council for the Dating Industry,
Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Associate
Professor of the Department of Sociology at the National
University of Singapore, said: '"Traditionally, matchmaking is
entrusted to family members and relatives. With a third-party
dating practitioner and agency coming in to play this role, there
is the issue of trust. However, with accreditation and the SDU
Trust Mark, singles will be able to make informed choices, have
confidence that their personal data are kept confidential, and
that activities will be innovative and of high quality." |
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The Road to Accreditation |
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Before dating agencies and
practitioners can apply for accreditation, they have to understand
the Code of Professional Conduct and the Criteria and Standards of
the accreditation framework. |
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To this end, SDU has collaborated with
the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) to develop
competency standards under their Singapore Workforce Skills
Qualifications (WSQ) framework. |
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The WSQ standards can then be used to
develop competency-based training programmes to equip them with
the relevant knowledge, skills and preferred attributes to deliver
quality services to singles. |
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The training courses will be provided
by the Social Service Training Institute (SSTI) and are expected
to begin its run in November 2007. |
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Upon completion of the required
modules, applicants can check if they comply with the Code of
Professional Conduct and the Criteria and Standards. When they are
ready, they can submit their applications to the Accreditation
Council through SDU. |
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An assessment, which forms part of the
recommendation report to the Accreditation Council, will take
place. |
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Areas of consideration include how the
business is run on a day-to-day basis, whether service quality
evaluation plans, feedback mechanisms, and training and
development programmes are in place. |
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Practitioners will need to commit to
the continual upgrading of skills and knowledge. |
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Upon approval by the Accreditation
Council, dating agencies and practitioners will be awarded the SDU
Trust Mark. They will also be listed in two national registries
that SDU will be setting up - Registry of Dating Agencies (www.rda.gov.sg)
and Registry of Dating Practitioners (www.rdp.gov.sg). |
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Singles should see the first batch of
accredited dating agencies and practitioners by early 2008. |
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Said Associate Professor Straughan:
'"To ensure consistent adherence to criteria and standards,
accredited agencies and practitioners will first be re-assessed
after two years, and thereafter on a three-yearly basis. What is
important to us is that the interest of singles is protected at
all times, and that agencies will appreciate the need to uphold
the Code of Professional Conduct and adhere to the criteria and
standards. We want a win-win situation - where the agencies will
earn the trust of singles and singles in turn, have credible and
trusted sources to turn to for opportunities to meet a partner.'" |
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Interested dating agencies and
practitioners can register their interest in the accreditation
framework with SDU at 1800-8383988. |
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More information on the accreditation
framework can also be found on the SDU website at
www.LoveByte.org.sg
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ISSUED BY MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH AND SPORTS 19 JULY 2007 |
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Source:
www.mcys.gov.sg Media Release 19 Jul 2007 |
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