Workato and Singapore public education institutes team up to prepare students for the future of work with AI

Workato’s Agentic Orchestration Platform and training programmes around artificial intelligence (AI) and automation will now be available to students and teachers at selected tertiary educational institutes in Singapore.  

This has been made possible through the AI Institute Alliance, jointly launched by Workato and public education partners at the World of Workato Singapore event on September 22. 

The partners included Nanyang Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), and National University of Singapore (NUS). 

​​​​​The AI Institute Alliance aims to boost the local ecosystem of AI talent by equipping the next-generation workforce with opportunities that translate to workplace readiness, economic impact, and AI careers. 
 

Delivering the welcome address at the event, NUS’ Vice Provost Simon Chesterman highlighted the need for universities to prepare students for a workplace redefined by AI. 

“Increasingly we are using AI on a daily basis, and this is something that we at universities are now grappling with: how to prepare students for a world that is being transformed by AI, because a lot of what we do at university assumes that our graduates will be moving words and numbers around on the screen all day for their jobs,” said Chesterman.  

The integration of AI in higher education has highlighted the long-held “tensions” between transformative education and producing qualified graduates, he added, suggesting the need to define whether students should be viewed as “customers” or “products” of the education system in this age of AI. 

“As AI disrupts the traditional model of higher education, universities can benefit from collaboration with industry to ensure that our graduates have the skills both to survive and thrive in this brave new world,” said Chesterman, who is also Senior Director of AI Governance at AI Singapore. 

He continued: “That means understanding the potential and the limitations of the latest technology, as well as having the adaptability and resilience to identify and seize the next big thing. It also means accepting that you will never truly finish your education, we all need to be lifelong learners.” 

For Workato, preparing the next-generation workforce demands an understanding of the broader role of AI in enterprise orchestration. 

This meant a workflow where AI agents are embedded across every role and process, not just to assist, but to execute, adapt, and unlock new opportunities. 

Following the AI Alliance Launch, event delegates were treated to Workato's first ever Agentic Builder Essential workshop held in Singapore. 

Led by Workato's Senior Technical Instructor, Mary Gabriola, the three-hour session provided attendees with a hands-on session to design, build, and deploy AI agents via Workato's latest AI features. 

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Building on past success 

The AI Institute Alliance builds on Workato’s existing contributions to AI training within Singapore’s education sector. 

Since 2022, Workato has partnered with various public education institutions in Singapore to provide tertiary students with essential automation and integration skills. This has led to over 3,000 students being trained, 2,000 certifications issued, and 60 job placements. 
 
Students can obtain foundational certifications on topics like automation and Agentic AI basics under the Workato Academy programme. 

Trainees can also pursue role-specific certifications, such as the Marketing Process Automation certificate, as well as advanced programmes like the Automation Pro III modules. 

Nanyang Polytechnic’s Director, School of Business Management, Doris Teh, highlighted the impetus of AI skills in Nanyang Polytechnic’s curriculum. 

"Since 2022, our partnership with Workato has seen more than 300 learners from Nanyang Polytechnic's School of Business Management gaining professional certification in business process automation.” 

Speaking to GovInsider, Teh said: “We are glad to work closely with forward-thinking partners like Workato to build future-ready capabilities in our graduates, to empower them to succeed in tomorrow's AI-driven workplace.” 

 
SUSS’s Dean, School of Business, Associate Professor Ding Ding, remarked that the AI Institute Alliance launch was an important milestone in advancing applied education that combined theory with real-world practice. 

 
"Through this alliance, our students will benefit from exposure to cutting-edge AI applications, collaborative industry projects, and the opportunity to build future-ready skills.”  

 
"This is not just about equipping graduates with technical expertise, it is about empowering them to lead responsibly, innovate effectively, and contribute to sustainable growth in a rapidly changing economy,” said Assoc Prof Ding Ding.  

Securing Singapore's AI future 

Workato’s Senior Vice President and General Manager, APAC, June Lee, said that the AI Institute Alliance aims to support Singapore in becoming a global AI hub. 

“By bringing together leading educational institutions with industry expertise, we are creating pathways for the next generation of AI talents to drive meaningful transformation across enterprises,” she said. 

 
Earlier in June, Workato and Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) held the  National Developer Challenge which convened talents from the private and public sectors to reimagine the future of work through automation, integration, and AI. 

Participants were given full access to the Workato enterprise platform and exclusive AI features, empowering them to develop advanced and scalable real-world solutions. 

Over S$18,000 in cash prizes were awarded to outstanding solutions following weeks of development, mentorship, and intense pitching. 

Workato will also partner with AI Singapore to sponsor a track at the upcoming National AI Student Challenge 2026.