IBM, DISG and IMDA collaborate to create 300 technology consulting job opportunities

SINGAPORE – 20 NOV 2020

IBM (NYSE: IBM) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) today 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. The signing of the Memorandum of Intent was witnessed by Minister for Communications and Information S Iswaran.

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided the impetus for companies to accelerate their digital transformation¹. 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. 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. These participants will range from fresh graduates to professionals in later stages of their careers.

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. Programme participants will undergo intense, immersive exposure to emerging technologies such as AI, Advanced Analytics, Blockchain, Cloud, Cyber Security 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 be a focus on industry transformation, business reinvention, and delivering tangible business outcomes quickly, especially in an environment of uncertainty and charting the “new normal” post-COVID.

“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. IMDA’s and DISG’s collaboration with IBM, to help 300 Singaporeans acquire advanced tech skills, is part of our investment in a pipeline of local tech talent as we make a decisive push for digital transformation in our country, so that Singaporeans can continue to do well,” said IMDA Assistant Chief Executive and EDB Executive Vice President, Kiren Kumar. “I urge more companies to join our national effort to create jobs and training opportunities for all Singaporeans.”

“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. 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,” said Hui Li Lee, Managing Partner, GBS ASEAN, IBM Services. “We take a holistic, outcomes-focused view which encompasses people, processes and technology. That is why, in addition to skills development, our Future-Ready Intelligent Digital Workforce programme will place emphasis on the practical application of those skills in real-world business scenarios so that, for example, data and AI can make workflows smarter and insights are applied to improve the customer experience.”

“IBM is delighted to partner with IMDA and DISG to fulfil our clients’ demand for deep digital and technical skills and also to support Singapore’s nation building efforts to uplift the overall local talent pool. Singapore as the headquarter of IBM ASEAN, IBM Services is well placed to be the Advanced Digital Talent and Future Skills Competency hub to support IBM clients in Singapore and the region,” added Hui Li.

To apply for the programme, go to https://www.ibm.com/sg-en/campaign/future-ready-work-force or send an email to IBMCLT@sg.ibm.com.

To learn more about the job roles and career opportunities join the IBM Services Job Fair on 28 November.

Visit the IBM ASEAN Careers Website: https://www.ibm.com/employment/asean/professionals/ or IBM Careers Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LifeAtIBM.AP

Register for the job fair here: https://ibmglobal.yello.co/external/events/UjY5Hxb8f6IGemCyu5GRow and the IBM Talent Acquisition team will get in touch with you on the next steps.

For details on other TeSA Company-Led Training and TeSA Mid-Career Advance programmes, go to go.gov.sg/tesaclt or go.gov.sg/tesatmca