With the Joint Admissions Exercise now closed and posting results due out in early February, many families — and working adults — are reflecting on a bigger question: how much does a diploma choice really shape a career over time?

On Viewpoint, Lynlee Foo speaks with The Straits Times reporter Teo Kai Xiang, whose analysis shows that most polytechnic diploma programmes in Singapore last less than a decade before being renamed, merged, or phased out.

The conversation explores why courses evolve so quickly, the shift from specialised to broader programmes, and what actually endures — from transferable skills and adaptability to career flexibility in a fast-changing economy.