Officially launched by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the Lifelong Learning Institute on 16 September 2026, SkillsFuture Festival 2026 brought learning opportunities to Singaporeans through more than 47 events. Centred on the theme “Career Health in the Age of AI”, the festival encouraged individuals and organisations to explore new skills and prepare for changing workplace demands.
As part of the festival, Vertical Institute conducted five events across September and October 2026. From workforce readiness and AI productivity to UI/UX design, digital marketing and SEO, these sessions brought together business leaders, professionals and individual learners for practical discussions, demonstrations and hands-on activities.
Quick Takeaways
- Vertical Institute conducted five events as part of SkillsFuture Festival 2026 across September and October.
- Two business-focused sessions explored workforce readiness, AI adoption and workplace productivity.
- Three workshops introduced practical AI applications in UI/UX design, digital marketing and SEO.
- Attendees explored workplace scenarios, participated in demonstrations and practised applying digital skills.
- Vertical Institute continues to offer learning opportunities through its courses and upcoming workshops.
Table of contents
Supporting Workforce Readiness and AI Adoption
As AI changes how organisations operate, preparing employees requires more than adopting new technology. Through two business-focused events, Vertical Institute brought professionals together to explore workforce development, AI adoption and workplace productivity.
The Workforce Readiness Summit (22 September 2026)
Vertical Institute kicked off its SkillsFuture Festival 2026 events with The Workforce Readiness Summit on 22 September 2026.
The session brought together directors, managers, HR and operations professionals from industries including education, construction, manufacturing and social services.
Key discussion highlights included:
- Workforce readiness: Identifying skills gaps and preparing employees for changing workplace demands.
- AI adoption: Exploring practical approaches to introducing AI within organisations.
- Leadership and communication: Understanding how effective communication and leadership support team development.
- Enterprise upskilling: Exploring available funding options to support employee training.
The summit encouraged business leaders to consider how they could prepare their teams for workplace changes through skills development and planning.
Corporate Training Equip your teams with practical, industry-relevant AI and technology skills through corporate training from a Singapore-based provider accredited by SWDA and IBF. 
AI-Integrated
AI Productivity Booster (29 September 2026)
On 29 September 2026, Vertical Institute continued its business-focused sessions with the AI Productivity Booster workshop.
The event brought together professionals, including managers, quantity surveyors and an IT specialist, to explore practical applications of AI and automation.
Key workshop highlights included:
- Identifying repetitive tasks: Recognising time-consuming workplace activities that AI and automation could support.
- Improving productivity: Exploring how automation can reduce manual work and support daily operations.
- Setting clear goals: Defining objectives before introducing AI into existing workflows.
- Managing workplace changes: Understanding how communication can support employees during AI adoption.
The session highlighted how organisations can approach AI adoption by identifying workplace needs, setting clear objectives, and preparing employees for change.
Upskill Your Team Today Empower your team with AI and workflow automation skills
Exploring AI Applications in Design, Marketing and Search
Beyond workplace AI adoption, Vertical Institute conducted three hands-on workshops exploring how AI supports different digital skills. These sessions introduced practical applications in UI/UX design, digital marketing and SEO through demonstrations, guided exercises and real-world examples.
Your First Step into UI/UX with AI (16 October 2026)
On 16 October 2026, Vertical Institute introduced learners to the fundamentals of UI/UX design and how AI can support the design process.
The workshop welcomed professionals from IT, marketing, communications, operations and education backgrounds to explore the fundamentals of user-centred design.
Key workshop highlights included:
- Design thinking: Exploring how to understand user needs and define problems before developing solutions.
- AI-assisted ideation: Sketching app ideas with AI support to explore potential design solutions.
- Live Figma demonstration: Exploring a food-ordering app prototype featuring allergy profiles, safe menu options and checkout alerts.
Through these activities, attendees explored how design thinking and AI tools can work together to develop digital solutions that address real user needs.
UI / UX Design Course Design impactful digital experiences, enrich your portfolio. 
AI-Integrated 
AI-Powered Digital Marketing (21 October 2026)
On 21 October 2026, Vertical Institute conducted its AI-Powered Digital Marketing workshop, exploring how AI tools can support content creation and marketing workflows.
The session brought together business directors, a founder, marketing and sales managers, a data analyst and a freelancer. Attendees represented industries including IT, F&B, education and healthcare.
Key workshop highlights included:
- AI marketing workflows: Exploring how AI tools can support everyday marketing tasks and content creation.
- AI tools and prompting: Comparing free and paid AI tools and structuring prompts using context, task and format.
- Hands-on content creation: Practising AI-assisted creation of images, advertising creatives, character sheets and video prompts.
The workshop gave attendees opportunities to explore how AI tools and structured prompting can support different stages of digital marketing.
Digital Marketing Course Gain digital marketing skills in SEO, SEM, social media & more. AI-Integrated 
SEO Lab: Staying Visible in the Age of AI Search (23 October 2026)
Vertical Institute concluded its SkillsFuture Festival 2026 events with the SEO Lab on 23 October 2026, focusing on how AI is changing search behaviour and online visibility.
The workshop brought together directors, founders, a brand consultant, a digital marketer and jobseekers.
Key workshop highlights included:
- AI and search behaviour: Exploring how AI is influencing the way people search for information and discover websites.
- On-page SEO: Reviewing webpage elements, including meta tags and on-page content, to identify areas for improvement.
- Hands-on webpage audits: Evaluating webpages and discussing findings through group feedback to prioritise potential fixes.
Through practical audits and discussions, attendees explored ways to improve website visibility while adapting to changes in AI-powered search.
SEO Marketing Discover AI-driven SEO strategies to increase rankings and web traffic. AI-Integrated 
FAQs About SkillsFuture Festival 2026
SkillsFuture Festival 2026 was a nationwide learning initiative featuring more than 47 events. Centred on “Career Health in the Age of AI”, the festival encouraged Singaporeans to explore upskilling opportunities and prepare for changing workplace demands.
Vertical Institute conducted five events covering workforce readiness, AI productivity, UI/UX design, digital marketing and SEO. The sessions combined industry discussions, demonstrations and hands-on activities to help individuals and organisations explore practical skills.
You can subscribe to Vertical Institute’s newsletter or follow our social media channels for announcements about upcoming workshops, learning events and other upskilling opportunities.
Missed SkillsFuture Festival 2026? Stay Updated on Our Upcoming Events
Thank you to everyone who joined us at SkillsFuture Festival 2026! Across five events, we had the opportunity to connect with business leaders, professionals and lifelong learners who share an interest in developing new skills.
While this year’s festival has concluded, Vertical Institute remains committed to making practical AI and digital skills accessible to individuals and organisations across Singapore.
Missed our workshops or interested in joining future sessions? Subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on social media, at Facebook or Instagram, to stay informed about upcoming events and learning opportunities.
We look forward to welcoming you at our next event!
