IMDA and IBM join forces to accelerate digital skills development in Singapore

Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has signed a memorandum of intent, where IBM will hire and train 300 Singaporean professionals over the next four years in emerging tech areas.

They will be trained under the TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) company-led training programme and the TeSA Mid-Career Advance programme, for roles such as digital consultants, big data engineers, data scientists, cloud architects, UX designers and full-stack digital developers, in support of the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package.

Digital transformation

According to IMDA, the Covid-19 pandemic has provided the impetus for companies to accelerate their digital transformation. IBM’s “Future-Ready Intelligent Digital Workforce” programme, when implemented, aims to meet the demand for technology consulting and deep technical skills needed to support the acceleration of digital transformation across all industries.

The programme welcomes a diversity of talent with relevant skills and knowledge base and provide them with opportunities to deepen their digital skills, technical expertise and hands-on practical experience.

Some 240 Singaporean professionals will be under the TeSA company-led training programme, and an additional 60 Singaporean mid-career professionals will join under the TeSA Mid-Career Advance programme. Participants will range from fresh graduates to professionals in later stages of their careers.

“As we push forward with our national digitalisation movement, the ICT sector continues to hold promise for job creation. “It remains important to provide opportunities for our professionals to build the necessary skills for tech jobs that power the sector,” said Kiren Kumar, assistant chief executive, IDMA and EDB executive vice president.

“I urge more companies to join our national effort to create jobs and training opportunities for all Singaporeans.”

The programme emphasises continual learning and participants will be expected to keep up-to-date with their skills development through a variety of activities – such as self-paced online learning modules or instructor-led workshops – and qualify for specific certifications depending on their roles.

“It remains important to provide opportunities for our professionals to build the necessary skills for tech jobs that power the sector”

Programme participants will undergo intense, immersive exposure to emerging technologies such as AI, advanced analytics, blockchain, cloud, cybersecurity and IOT, and will be given opportunities to build technical skills through hands-on training.

New hires will be assigned to work with cross-functional local, regional, and global teams in a variety of projects, to gain practical experience. There will also be a focus on industry transformation, business reinvention, and delivering tangible business outcomes quickly.

“The global pandemic has forced businesses to speed up their digital transformation – in many cases, completing in weeks what may have in the past taken months or even years,” added Hui Li Lee, managing partner, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), IBM Services.

“To accelerate that transformation even more and help companies in Singapore take full advantage of exponential technologies such as AI, blockchain, cloud and cyber-security, IBM Services will continue to collaborate and co-create with our clients to go beyond ‘random acts of digital’.”

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