IMDA develops industry-ready talents with the support from schools, companies and start-ups

Close to 850 talents celebrated at the IMDA Awards Ceremony

SINGAPORE – 29 September, 2017: Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information, Dr Janil Puthucheary today presented close to 850 awards to tech and media students, as part of the national efforts to develop the next generation of infocomm media (ICM) leaders. 

Inaugural showcase of student-led projects developed for industry
A group of student beneficiaries aged between 17 to 22, from the Industry Preparation for Pre-Graduates (iPREP) programme, unveiled their projects at the inaugural exhibition showcase. The showcase exemplified the students’ flair and creativity in using frontier technologies such as software development, data visualization and Internet of Things to develop innovative solutions to solve real-life business problems during the students’ internship with companies. 

These projects were developed for larger organisations and start-ups, such as Autodesk Asia, Hook Coffee, Jewel Paymentech and Urban Redevelopment Authority. 

“We live in exciting times where the world is a click away. There are immense opportunities for students who are considering a career in the Infocomm and Media (ICM) sector as Singapore gears up to be a thriving digital economy and a Smart Nation. Demand for ICM professionals is expected to increase by more than 40,000 over the next three years alone. Today, we are taking an important step to nurture the next generation of digital leaders and innovators.” said Mr Tan Kiat How, Chief Executive, IMDA. 

Developing a pipeline of skilled, industry-ready ICM talents
At the awards ceremony, close to 50 scholarships were given out to recipients who are embarking on Infocomm and Media studies ranging from domains including cyber security, informatics and IT, engineering in technology, data analytics, interactive and digital media, TV production, film, journalism and more. These award recipients will be nurtured by global corporations, local businesses and government agencies to be industry-ready. 

The scholarships awarded include the Infocomm Polytechnic Scholarship, National Infocomm Scholarship, National Cybersecurity Postgraduate Scholarship and Media Education Scholarship. Through the range of opportunities offered under the scholarships, we aim to groom a strong pool of tech professionals for emerging tech roles such as software engineers, data scientist and cybersecurity professionals who will serve as Singapore’s digital vanguards and frontliners in a digital economy. In addition, the 800 beneficiaries of the iPREP programme will have access to funding for courses and certifications, as well as opportunities for industry internships and mentorships, so as to equip them with relevant skillsets and work experiences in preparation for employment after completing their studies. 

Made possible with support from industry and schools
With the support from the post-secondary education institutions and company-led efforts from the industry, there are many programmes available for students and professionals to tap on for greater access and support to a purposeful education and career in the tech and media sectors. Through recognition of our students’ and professionals’ quest for knowledge and skills acquisition, IMDA aims to attract more talents and industry partners to open up more pathways to reach Singapore’s goal for a vibrant digital economy in a Smart Nation.

Related Resources
Annex A:  Factsheet of the iPREP Programme (145.85KB)
Annex B:  Factsheet of the IMDA Scholarships (287.72KB)