Singapore Polytechnics, non-profit to work with IBM to offer digital training

Two Singapore institutes of higher learning (IHL), Singapore Polytechnic and Republic Polytechnic, and non-profit Junior Achievement have partnered with IBM to provide youth and adult learners with curated learning pathways in tech domains. 

The partnership aims to skill 4,500 local youth and adult learners by providing access to more than 1,000 courses for in-demand jobs across multiple industries, such as AI, data analytics, sustainability, cybersecurity and more. 

The initiatives are aligned with Singapore’s National AI Strategy 2.0 to increase the number of artificial intelligence (AI) professionals and foster a vibrant AI ecosystem.  

With the rise of AI and technology, organisations are seeking to hire additional staff equipped with the skills to adopt AI and increase efficiency, productivity, and customer service, said IBM’s Vice President for Corporate Social Responsibility and Chief Impact Officer, Justina Nixon-Saintil at the launch event. 

The problem is that organisations “are pushing people beyond what they are comfortable with and beyond the skills that they currently have today,” she added.  

Nixon-Saintil noted that over 52 per cent of CEOs in Singapore said that they are struggling to fill technology roles due to limited artificial intelligence (AI) skills availability, according to a study commissioned by IBM. 

The new collaborations will provide free-of-cost lessons in AI fundamentals, tech, and cybersecurity, she said.  

Singapore’s Minister of State, Ministry of Digital Development and Information, Rahayu Mahzam said it is essential that “we democratise access to the skills needed to thrive in this new era”. 

“We need to broaden AI education and ensure that all segments of society, regardless of background, have the power to participate in the workforce… ensuring that the benefits of AI are shared across society,” she added. 

AI and the future of education  

IHLs will leverage IBM’s technology to enhance their pedagogy and provide an improved experience for students.  

For instance, Singapore Polytechnic has included GenAI into its common curriculum to enhance understanding and proficiency in prompt engineering, Singapore Polytechnic’s Deputy Principal, Loh Yew Chiong, shared.  

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The institute is adopting IBM’s SkillsBuild resources in various modules in its Diploma in Information Technology (DIT) and Diploma in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics (DCDF) courses to prepare students for a smooth transition into industry. 

In terms of evolving its pedagogy, Singapore Polytechnic has implemented data-driven lectures using information from online courses to tailor face-to-face sessions according to students’ performance and grasp of the material.  

Loh noted that in the past, lecturers had no way of understanding how much students were learning from lectures alone. With the data captured through online quizzes, lecturers can now tailor their classes based on each student’s understanding of the assignments. 

“We use this approach to have a differentiated learning experience for our students,” he said. 

Similarly, Republic Polytechnic has been employing AI in curriculum development and to augment human creativity. 

“[AI] gives you a framework and it uncovers some hidden spots,” said Republic Polytechnic’s Chief Technology Officer, Fong Yew Chan, on using AI in the initial creative process.  

The objective is to embark on a high-level AI journey and implement it across all departments and schools in the future, he shared.  

Enabling digital literacy  

In line with making digital education accessible for all, IBM’s partnership with Junior Achievement Singapore, a non-profit supporting young people in developing business skills, aims to support the upskilling of under-represented populations like domestic workers and single mothers. 

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Junior Achievement Singapore’s Founder and Executive Director, Ng Hau Yee, shared that the organisation aims to deliver AI and cybersecurity courses to empower the community for future career aspirations this year. 

In addition to adult learners, the organisation works with secondary school students to raise awareness about the importance of digital skills and inspire them to pursue STEM careers. 

One of their initiatives involves using virtual reality (VR) to broaden their career exposure, where students can experience a virtual day in life in the tech industry. This encourages students to grow their digital potential by taking courses in the future, Ng said. 

In 2022, IBM committed to training digital skills to one million women and girls in Asia-Pacific by the end of 2027. With the SkillsBuild programme, IBM’s work in Singapore aims to provide this training to more youth and adult learners to prepare them for their professional careers. 

Preparing for the future of work  

The courses under IBM SkillsBuild cover multiple industries, from data analytics to sustainability and cybersecurity, and provide digital credentials upon completion of the courses. 

The industry-backed credentials provide a tangible way for adult learners and college students to prove their skill sets and enhance their professional profiles, acting as a road toward “increased economic and social mobility”, Nixon said.  

In addition, the platform offers mentorship from IBM leaders covering workplace training, design thinking, creativity, and collaboration, to ensure the learners have a competitive advantage to succeed in the workforce.