Collaboration between the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) of Singapore and Huawei’s ‘seeds of the future’ programme has taken shape, sending 10 Singaporean undergraduates on a two-week learning journey to China.
Specifically, the vendor’s initiative is a global corporate social responsibility (CSR) flagship programme established in 2008 to develop local technology talent.
Furthermore, such private-public partnerships are in line with the Singapore government’s commitment to nurturing local talent in the information and communications technologies (ICT) sector.
“The students will get the opportunity to learn about the latest ICT developments and acquire industry experience, in line with our aim to create a pipeline of industry-ready graduates,” said Tan Kiat How, CEO, IMDA.
A selected group of students supported under IMDA’s industry preparation for pre-graduates (iPREP) programme will participate in intensive courses in Huawei’s headquarters in Shenzhen, China.
“IMDA is happy to partner Huawei in providing our undergraduates with the invaluable experience of understanding the business culture in China’s ICT industry,” added Tan.
In a recent study, it was estimated that US$10 billion will be added to Singapore’s gross domestic product (GDP) as the economy undergoes a digital transformation.
Singapore’s ambition to be the world’s first smart nation has provided renewed emphasis on the city-state to develop local talent in line with the needs of the technology sector.
It is not just about technology, however, it is also a chance to immerse the students in Chinese culture.
One week will be spent in Beijing to experience Chinese culture and another week will be spent in Shenzhen, China, to gain experience in the latest technology, including cloud computing, internet of things (IoT) and 5G, with the programme fully funded by Huawei.
“We are delighted to partner IMDA in line with Singapore’s strategy to boost ICT talent pipeline,” added Lei Hui, CEO of Huawei International.
“I am confident the partnership will give local students the opportunity to learn new and relevant industry skills, enabling them to fulfil their ambitions in science and technology and contribute to Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative in the long run.”
Four of Singapore’s universities will be represented on this trip, including the National University of Singapore (NUS), National Technological University (NTU), Singapore Management University (SMU), and Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT).
The 10 students will come from disciplines such as computer science, information systems, business analytics, and electrical and electronic engineering.
