[SINGAPORE] In a bid to push for more talent fluent in artificial intelligence (AI), the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) announced on Friday (Aug 29) that it will partner with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and training provider Trainocate to equip up to 100 individuals with AI and cloud skills.
The AWS Career Launchpad, which is supported by IMDA’s TechSkills Accelerator, targets both fresh graduates and mid-career workers who are aspiring to be cloud professionals. The programme will focus on building generative AI capabilities, and will last between six and 12 months, from now until 2027.
Participants will be able to obtain AWS-certifiable skills and gain hands-on experience through projects from companies in the AWS Partner Network, which includes 130,000 global businesses ranging from consulting firms to software companies.
The AWS certifications attained through this programme can be used to gain academic recognition under the Singapore Institute of Technology’s Competency-based Stackable Micro-credential Pathway.
Launched in 2016, the TechSkills Accelerator has placed more than 21,000 locals into tech jobs and upskilled more than 340,000 individuals in relevant tech skills, the press statement noted.
Strengthening cloud capabilities
Speaking as the guest of honour at the Singapore Computer Society’s (SCS) Tech3 Forum on Friday, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo announced that SCS will partner with IMDA and SkillsFuture Singapore to launch the Skills Pathway for Cloud.
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This makes it the second skills pathway developed by SCS, with the first being the one focused on cybersecurity that was launched in 2024.
The programme aims to groom professionals in cloud capabilities by providing a structured route for individuals to attain industry-recognised certifications that will enhance their career prospects, said the press statement.
The Skills Pathway for Cloud is structured into two levels. Upon completion of the first level, participants can be considered for potential internship opportunities with participating employers. Those who complete the second level can be considered for possible full-time employment with participating employers for four key entry-level roles.
The four roles are:
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cloud infrastructure engineer;
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development, security, operations platform engineer;
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cloud software engineer;
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cloud solutions architect (associate).
The 14 participating employers include DBS, the Centre for Strategic Infocomm Technologies, Home Team Science and Technology Agency, and ST Engineering.
Although the number of jobs the Skills Pathway for Cloud would create was not disclosed, it was noted that more than 180 individuals have secured internships and employment from the Skills Pathway for Cybersecurity.
The press statement added that the strong uptake and success of the Skills Pathway for Cybersecurity have reinforced confidence that companies can come together to agree on the skills and courses needed for particular roles.
It also noted a “sharply rising demand” for IT-related training, with SkillsFuture Singapore-supported learners in cybersecurity, AI and digital marketing rising from 34,000 in 2023 to 96,000 in 2024.
Teo emphasised that the tech workforce remains important and will also benefit from becoming “more fluent in AI”.
Speaking at the The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, she added: “Along with increased digitalisation, our tech workforce has expanded considerably from around 172,000 in 2019 to around 214,000 in 2024, a 25 per cent growth over five years.”
The minister noted that IMDA’s upcoming Singapore Digital Economy Report 2025 showed that three in four workers surveyed already use AI tools regularly at work, and 85 per cent of them reported that AI improves their efficiency and work quality.
Teo explained that more than two-thirds of companies using AI plan to prioritise staff training and upskilling. “As cloud infrastructure underpins our digital economy and powers AI technologies, this pathway aligns training with industry demand.”
