In working toward this goal, IDA will press on with efforts to upgrade Singapore’s infocomm professionals and to develop infocomm competency in key economic sectors to take advantage of infocomm technology. “To this end, IDA will continue to identify key infocomm capabilities and develop strategies and programmes to ensure that both infocomm students and professionals are equipped with relevant skills to meet the needs of the industry,” said Mr Leong Keng Thai, Deputy Chief Executive/Director-General Telecoms, Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore.

In line with this, IDA and the Workforce Development Agency have developed a National Infocomm Competency Framework which defines the competencies needed for various key infocomm occupations.

Certification

Certification continues to be a key prong in Singapore’s efforts to upgrade infocomm professionals and ensure that their skillsets are aligned with international standards. For example, Singapore Computer Society (SCS) and IDA have rolled out several certification programmes, the most recent of which is the “Certificate on Outsourcing Management for IT”, the world’s first IT outsourcing certification, which was launched in 2007.

"Such national certification efforts will ensure that Singapore's infocomm professionals are equipped with capabilities which carry both industry-wide recognition and international acceptance,” said Mr Leong.

In recent years, there has also been a growing emphasis on equipping infocomm professionals with business domain knowledge and skills. “Businesses will wholeheartedly welcome IT professionals who can show how IT can be used to increase business value,” said Professor Desai Narasimhalu from the School of Information Systems, Singapore Management University. Professor Narasimhalu also chairs the SCS Liaison Committee.

One initiative in line with this is the recent launch of the Service Science Management and Engineering (SSME) programme, an integrated programme aimed at nurturing multi-disciplinary infocomm talent. The SSME programme was put together by IBM together with the Institute of Systems Science, Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore, Singapore Management University and 15 other organisations.

The Service Science Management and Engineering (SSME) programme was launched recently to nurture multi-disciplinary infocomm talent.

Building the pipeline

Human resource consultants are keeping a close watch on these manpower development efforts. “The infocomm manpower situation is currently facing a major imbalance with a tremendous increase in demand and a very short supply of talent to meet the IT staffing needs of our clients. This is apparent across all the IT positions,” said Mr Rohit Chattree, Director of Adecco Information Technology. “We foresee that in 2008, the situation may get even tighter, with too many clients looking to hire from the same pool
of talents.”

The good news is the record number of applications received for the National Infocomm Scholarships in 2007 attests to infocomm’s continued appeal as a career option.

Last year, 39 scholarships were offered to students to pursue degrees at top local and overseas universities. Of these scholars, nine were awarded the flagship infocomm master scholarship to pursue integrated bachelor cum master degree programmes offered by NTU, NUS and SMU in collaboration with renowned overseas universities such as the Carnegie Mellon University and the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Catching them even younger are initiatives like the Infocomm Clubs and the National Infocomm Competition. Infocomm Clubs is a school Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) where youths from ages nine to 18 play and learn with infocomm. Now into its third year, there are 150 Infocomm Clubs with about 7,000 student members.

“The Infocomm Clubs programme has assisted the school in generating greater awareness and sustaining interest in infocomm amongst the school population,” said Ms Sharon Xu, a teacher at Raffles Institution. “With a more structured training curriculum, our students are able to interact with other young infocomm talent nationwide, and thus are encouraged to practise their skills through projects and competitions.”

Also drawing strong interest from students is the National Infocomm Competition. In 2007, some 2,500 students took to the infocomm arena to compete in a series of 12 infocomm challenges which ran from May 2007 till December 2007.

Towards a digitally-inclusive society

With all systems go on the talent development front, there is one more dimension to the people factor that the Singapore Government is mindful of – the need to develop an all-inclusive digital society.

“As infocomm becomes increasingly indispensable, it is important to build an inclusive digital society where no one gets left behind,” says Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, the Second Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts. “The Government will be focusing on hardware, connectivity, education and opportunities. Needy students should be able to obtain computer and Internet access; people with disabilities should be able to receive infocomm training to improve employability; and the less tech-savvy, including the elderly, should be able to get connected effortlessly in the Digital Age.”

IDA’s NEU PC programme, introduced in 1999 to help equip needy households with computers and connectivity, was recently enhanced with extra mile financial support for applicants who are unable to co-pay the subsidised computer and broadband bundle of S$285. Called the iNSPIRE Fund, the new scheme allows students – an estimated 4,000 students over the next four years - to render community service in lieu of payment.

Silver Infocomm Junctions (above) are being set up to equip senior citizens with digital lifestyle skills and knowledge.

For senior citizens, learning hubs called Silver Infocomm Junctions (SIJs) are being set up to give them an opportunity to learn to make voice-calls over the Internet, meet friends online and play computer games. The SIJ is part of a three-year Silver Infocomm Initiative under the iN2015 masterplan to equip 30,000 senior citizens with digital lifestyle skills and knowledge. At least eight SIJs will be established over the next three years.

Also coming on-stream by mid-2008 is an Infocomm Accessibility Centre (IA Centre), housed within the premise of the Society for the Physically Disabled. With facilities such as an Infocomm Assistive Technology library and vocational training services, the IA Centre aims to train some 4,000 people with disabilities over the next three years to help increase their self-independence and job prospects.

Going forward, Mr Graeme Muller, Head of the Asia/Pacific Predictions Committee at research firm IDC, expects to see a proliferation of projects that combine the efforts and resources of public, private and civil society stakeholders to tackle the digital divide. “With strong political will, accompanied by available funding, 2008 is expected to be the year where governments lead the way in deploying technologies to extend connectivity and build towards a society of digital inclusion,” he said.