Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) is set to invest S$20 million in new initiatives aimed at expanding and enhancing the nation’s tech talent pool, with a specific focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Over the next three years, IMDA plans to intensify efforts in pre-employment training and mid-career upskilling programs. The goal is to boost AI-related SG Digital Scholarships and facilitate overseas internships, providing students with industry exposure post-graduation.
IMDA is collaborating with key partners, including SkillsFuture Singapore, Workforce Singapore, SGTech, and the Singapore Computer Society, to assist companies in equipping their employees with essential AI skills.
As part of the Information and Communications (I&C) Jobs Transformation Map (JTM), IMDA is working with five training partners to offer over 180 AI-related courses, aiming to reskill 18,000 tech professionals over the next three years.
The ongoing TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) program, launched in 2016, has trained over 17,000 individuals in AI, data analytics, software and applications, 5G, cloud, and cybersecurity. IMDA is scaling up this initiative and extending internship durations for students in ITE and Polytechnics from 6 to 12 months.
Through the TeSA for Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and Polytechnics Alliance (TIP Alliance), IMDA has secured 800 job opportunities for graduates in leading tech companies.
These initiatives have gained support from over 200 companies, fostering skills-based hiring and providing practical guidance for firms to attract, assess, and develop tech talent based on competencies.
