IMDA Awards Ceremony supports industry-ready talents

Close to 850 awards have been presented to tech and media
students as part of Singapore’s efforts to develop the next generation of infocomm media (ICM) leaders.

A group of student beneficiaries aged between 17 to 22, from the Industry Preparation for Pre-Graduates (iPREP) programme also unveiled their internship projects at an inaugural exhibition. The showcase exemplified solutions to real-life business problems created using software development, data visualisation and the Internet of Things.

Each project was developed for larger organisations and startups, such as Autodesk Asia, Hook Coffee, Jewel Paymentech and the Urban Redevelopment Authority. “We live in exciting times where the world is a click away. There are immense opportunities
for students who are considering a career in the infocomm and media (ICM) sector as Singapore gears up to be a thriving digital economy and a Smart Nation. Demand for ICM
professionals is expected to increase by more than 40,000 over the next three years alone. Today, we are taking an important step to nurture the next generation of digital leaders and
innovators,” said Tan Kiat How, Chief Executive, IMDA.

At the awards ceremony, close to 50 scholarships were given out to recipients who are embarking on infocomm and media studies ranging from domains including cybersecurity, i
informatics and IT, engineering in technology, data analytics, interactive and digital media among others. These award recipients will be nurtured by global corporations, local businesses and government agencies to be industry-ready.

The scholarships awarded include the Infocomm Polytechnic Scholarship, National Infocomm Scholarship, National Cybersecurity Postgraduate Scholarship and Media Education Scholarship. Through the range of opportunities offered under the scholarships, Singapore aims to groom a pool of tech professionals for emerging tech roles such as software
engineers, data scientists and cybersecurity professionals.

In addition, the 800 beneficiaries of the iPREP programme will be given access to funding for courses and certifications, as well as opportunities for industry internships and mentorships, so as to equip them with relevant skillsets and work experiences in preparation for employment after they graduate.