Overview
Submission Due Dates
Expression of Interest (EOI): 18 July 2025
Full Proposal (by invitation only): End-September 2025
Grant Information
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 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.
Eligibility
This grant call is open to faculty members/researchers from Local Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) such as Universities, Polytechnics and ITE; and Local Organizations with research units such as
- Research Institutes
- Social / Industry Groups
- Continuing Education and Training (CET) Providers
- Government Organisations
Foreign institutions and researchers may partner a local institution to apply. Foreign researchers may participate as Co-Principal Investigator or Collaborator. The research team may comprise of international researchers, but must include at least one Singaporean or Singapore Permanent Resident within the team.
The Principal Investigator must fulfil the following requirements at the point of application:
- Holds primary full-time appointment (defined as minimum commitment of at least 9 months per year) or an affiliation with a local institution
- Holds an EdD or PhD qualification
- Has at least five (5) years of research experience, and has assumed the responsibility of a Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator for at least one (1) research project
- Has managed project grants of the magnitude requested in the application
- Has a track record of leadership ability in leading research projects and providing mentorship to research team, as well as having productive research outcomes.
Applicants should be engaged in social science research, educational/learning research, business and management research, or human resource research.
Interdisciplinary collaboration is encouraged - specialists in engineering, artificial intelligence, technology, and other fields are welcome to apply in partnership with eligible faculty members/researchers. The faculty member/researcher is expected to anchor the project with a robust theoretical framework based on a comprehensive literature review while the specialists contribute their expertise such as in tool development and sector-specific knowledge.
Criteria
To be considered for funding through the WDARF, proposed research should fulfil the below criteria:
Applied Research
WDARF only supports proposals that focus on applied research. Applied research refers to research where solving current / emerging issues in policy or practice is the core focus. It attempts to generate new knowledge to achieve a better understanding of what is taking place in the context of action, connected to a project’s aims and objectives. This is a highly practical endeavour, and it is much more than using or creating tools, kits, or apps, and collecting data to prove that a new technology or intervention works.
Proposals will need to demonstrate how their targeted research findings and insights can be scaled and translated into policy and practice in the area of skills development and adult learning in Singapore.
Aligns to at least one Research Theme AND address at least one Challenge Statement
Challenge Statements
- Overcoming Barriers to Participation
- Don't PET the CET
- Digitalising Adult Learning
- Every Workplace a Learning Workplace
Research Themes
- Developing Effective Adult Learning Pedagogies, and Skills Development and Enterprise Strategies
- Facilitating Learning and Career Choices among Adult Learners
- Enhancing Employment Outcomes through Adult Learning and Skills Development
Original Research
Proposed research should stand up to scrutiny for its originality, addressing gaps which have not been covered in existing WDARF-approved projects, in addition to remaining distinct from relevant up-to-date published research literature.
The list and write-ups of existing WDARF-approved projects are available here.
Funding Limit
This grant call welcomes proposals of varying funding amounts. There is no funding limit.
While all proposals should be appropriately scoped and costed, larger grants are expected to generate findings that contribute to broader generalizations and have a wide-reaching impact. Smaller grants—particularly those below $300,000—are encouraged, as they can focus on developing transferable insights from specific instances or contexts, leading to actionable solutions for identified problems. Applicants are encouraged to align their proposals with these expectations to maximize the relevance and applicability of their research outcomes.
Project Duration
Project duration shall be capped at 24 months.
Key Evaluation Criteria
- Relevance
- Significance of research problem: Is the research problem of significance at the present time?
- Relevance to WDARF research themes and challenge statements: Does the research problem address the WDARF research themes and challenge statements?
- Importance of Research to Potential Users (policy and practice) and to Knowledge
- Contribution to policy and/or practice: Does the application have the potential to inform or enhance practice in the area of skills development and adult learning in Singapore? Does the application identify outputs and channels for engaging with policy makers that are realistic and feasible?
- Contribution to knowledge and scholarly research: Does the research have the potential to make a notable contribution to current understandings in skills development and adult learning in Singapore?
- Technical Merits
- Clarity of research questions and objectives: Are the research questions and objectives clear and suitable to address the research problem.
- Review of relevant literature: Is there a review of existing literature relevant to the research problem? Does the review demonstrate an understanding of current knowledge in the area of proposed research?
- Conceptual framework: Does the proposal offer a conceptual framework? Is there a logical relationship between the framework and the problem addressed by the study?
- Methodological framework: Is the methodological approach clearly explained? Is the approach appropriate to address the research questions / objectives? Is the approach supported by adequate discussion of current literature relevant to the proposed approach?
- Clarity and adequacy of research methods: Do the methods allow the researchers to plan, collect, analyze, and interpret data in order to make defensible conclusions? Are the research method(s) clearly and adequately described in terms of the following (where relevant): Research Design, Sampling Plan, Instrumentation, Data Gathering (Collection) Technique, Analytical Framework
- Outputs, Dissemination and Impact
- Research: Are scholarly outputs identified? Are these outputs specific, achievable, and appropriate for the research focus? Is completion of scholarly outputs included in the overall research plan?
- Policy and practice: Are the pathways to impact and plans for involving and disseminating research insights to potential users, including those involved in policy and/or practice, clearly articulated. Are they specific and quantified? Are they realistic and achievable?
- Project Team and Execution
- Track record of investigators: Do the investigators have the relevant expertise?
- Reasonable staffing support: Are the proposed staff resources appropriate to achieve the objectives outlined in the proposal?
- Realistic Timeline: Is the timeline for the completion of research reasonable and achievable? Will the findings be produced in a timely manner? Are the plans for dissemination and impact realistic and achievable?
- Reasonable Budget: Is the size of the budget requested reasonable relative to the targeted deliverables?
- Inter-Institutional/Inter-Disciplinary Collaboration: The project integrates representatives from different institutions and across multiple relevant disciplines?
Application
All interested applicants must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) by 18 July 2025 using the form below. Only shortlisted applications will be invited to submit full proposals.
Relevant Documents
Please read the below documents carefully before proceeding with your application.
WDARF Research Focus 2025
WDARF Best Practices Guide 2025
WDARF Administrative Guidelines 2025
WDARF Grant Agreement – Terms and Condition
Engagement Sessions
We are arranging two virtual engagement sessions to share with you more information on the Grant Call, the research focus areas and latest application processes on the following dates / time.
- 11 June 2025, Wednesday @ 2pm
- 12 June 2025, Thursday @ 10am
Please note that all times are in Singapore Standard Time.
To sign up for the engagement sessions, please click here to register. An email will be sent to you with the meeting link. All are welcomed!
FAQs & Contacts
Please refer to the FAQs for more information. For further enquiries, please email the Research Division at [email protected].
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