Singapore Government partners with polytechnics to build digital skills

The Singapore Government is tapping its student pool to build and groom tech expertise.

GovTech agency yesterday signed agreements with eight polytechnics and universities to “develop the technology ecosystem” by building the “capabilities and competencies of the students”, it wrote in a press release.

GovTech will train over 300 students, and provide opportunities to learn industry skills through final-year projects, internships and attachments.

The agency will hold workshops and consultations with public sector agencies to understand the challenges faced, and reach out to institutes of higher learning, universities and research institutes for possible solutions.

“We believe that an active partnership between public agencies, academia and commercial entities can help us create the best digital services for citizens and smart solutions for our city”, said Jacqueline Poh, Chief Executive of GovTech.

The institutes of higher learning are the Institute of Technical Education; Nanyang Polytechnic; Ngee Ann Polytechnic; Republic Polytechnic; Singapore Institute of Technology; Singapore Polytechnic; Singapore University of Technology and Design; and Temasek Polytechnic.

The collaboration “will enable our staff and students from the engineering and technology diploma courses to develop solutions that can impact the future needs of society” and help “nurture our students to not only acquire new skill sets but apply them to real world problems through internships and final-year projects”, said Soh Wai Wah, Principal of Singapore Polytechnic.