Empowering Leaders of Tomorrow: MDDI Family Awards 72 Scholarships to Nurture the Next Generation of Digital and Information Leaders

72 scholarships were awarded today by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) and its statutory boards and agencies – Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech Singapore), Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), and National Library Board (NLB). Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister for Digital Development and Information and Minister-in-charge of Cybersecurity & Smart Nation Group, attended the event with Mdm Rahayu Mahzam, Minister of State, Ministry of Digital Development and Information and Ministry of Health.

As Singapore advances its digital transformation, the MDDI Family continues to invest in developing the next generation of technology, media and information leaders. The scholarships are part of the MDDI Family’s collective effort to nurture talent and shore up capabilities in these sectors, preparing them to lead a range of digital development and government communications work across the public and private sectors, in support of Singapore’s digital transformation. Three types of scholarship were awarded to the recipients:

Public Service Scholarship

(A)  Undergraduate Scholarships – comprising the Smart Nation Scholarship, MDDI Information Service and Information Service (Translation) Scholarship, and NLB Scholarship

(B)  MDDI Postgraduate Scholarship

Industry Scholarship

(C)  IMDA SG Digital Scholarship

(A) Undergraduate Scholarships

The MDDI Family offers three categories of undergraduate scholarships to support students pursuing bachelor’s degrees relevant to the ministry, statutory boards, or agencies: 

i. Smart Nation Scholarship

Twelve recipients were awarded the Smart Nation Scholarship (SNS), which seeks to develop future technology leaders who are committed to using technology to create public value. Jointly offered by CSA, GovTech Singapore, and IMDA, this scholarship prepares scholars for careers spanning cybersecurity, digital government, and digital infrastructure, offering opportunities to develop deep expertise across diverse technology domains, and undertake cross-agency rotations.

ii. MDDI Information Service Scholarship and MDDI Information Service (Translation) Scholarship

Three recipients were awarded the MDDI Information Service Scholarship, and one recipient was awarded the MDDI Information Service (Translation) Scholarship. The Information Service scholarship was first introduced in 2008 to attract young talent with an interest in government communications while the Information Service (Translation) Scholarship was introduced in 2015 to attract young talent with an interest in both government communications and translation work. They will play an important role in public communications to ensure that Singaporeans are heard and connected to the Government – by engaging them on national and social issues across various channels, strengthening whole-of-government policy communications, explaining policies to the public, and managing government media relations.

iii. NLB Scholarship

Two recipients were awarded the NLB Scholarship, which aims to build and nurture a multi-disciplinary talent pipeline in promoting reading, information literacy, knowledge creation, and preservation to develop Singapore’s libraries and archives of the future. Scholarship recipients will play a key role in shaping innovative reading and learning experiences, preserving Singapore’s history and heritage, and ensuring that our libraries and archives continue to inspire and serve future generations.

(B)       MDDI Postgraduate Scholarship

Beyond attracting and growing young talent, the MDDI Family also strives to develop the professional and specialised capabilities of in-service officers through the MDDI Postgraduate Scholarship. This year, the scholarship was awarded to five MDDI officers to support their postgraduate studies.

(C)       IMDA SG Digital Scholarship

The IMDA SG Digital Scholarship is an industry undergraduate and postgraduate scholarship that develops global-ready tech and media leaders for Singapore’s digital economy. The scholars have the flexibility to chart their own career and take on key tech and media roles in an organisation of their choice. This year, the scholarship was awarded to 49 recipients who are pursuing their studies across media and tech disciplines. Those pursuing technology-related courses are specialising in in-demand fields such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Cybersecurity, and Quantum.

They will join an over 1,600-strong SG Digital Leadership Accelerator community, including SG Digital Leaders, past scholars who now hold senior positions as founders of high-growth tech startups, leaders in multinational companies, and innovators building world-class tech products. The SG Digital Scholars will be mentored by the community of industry leaders and past scholars. IMDA will support the scholars in their development through internships, funding for overseas internships, exchanges and competitions, certifications, and creating industry networking opportunities for them.

Jointly issued by:

Ministry of Digital Development and Information

Cyber Security Agency of Singapore

Government Technology Agency of Singapore

Infocomm Media Development Authority

National Library Board

For media queries, please contact:

MDDI

Farihah Zainal (Ms)

Senior Manager, Communications & Engagement Division

Contact No: 9182 1894

Email: farihah_zainal@mddi.gov.sg

CSA

Eunice Tan (Ms)

Manager, Communications & Engagement Division

Contact No: 9667 1691

Email: eunice_tt_tan@csa.gov.sg

GovTech Singapore

Sharleen Teo (Ms)

Manager, Communications & Marketing Group

Contact No: 8708 8052

Email: sharleen_teo@tech.gov.sg

IMDA

Smart Nation Scholarship

Debbie Beins (Ms)

Manager, Communications & Marketing

Contact No: 9644 2930

Email: Debbie_BEINS@imda.gov.sg

SG Digital Scholarship

Parveen Kaur (Ms)

Assistant Director, Communications & Marketing

Contact No: 9327 8175

Email: Parveen_KAUR@imda.gov.sg

NLB

Tan Ning Xin (Ms)

Senior Manager, Corporate Communications Division

Contact No: 9839 1535

Email: tan_ning_xin@nlb.gov.sg

About Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI)

The Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) drives Singapore’s digital development in four key domains — the economy, government, security, and society. MDDI oversees the development of the infocomm technology, cybersecurity, and media sectors; the Government’s digitalisation initiatives; and the national library, national archives, and public libraries. The Ministry is also responsible for effective public communications, and the Government’s information and public communication policies. MDDI’s mission is to engage hearts and minds to achieve a thriving digital future for all.

About the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA)

Established in 2015, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) seeks to keep Singapore’s cyberspace safe and secure to underpin our National Security, power a Digital Economy and protect our Digital Way of Life. It maintains an oversight of national cybersecurity functions and works with sector leads to protect Singapore’s Critical Information Infrastructure. CSA also engages with various stakeholders to heighten cyber security awareness, build a vibrant cybersecurity ecosystem supported by a robust workforce, pursue international partnerships and drive regional cybersecurity capacity building programmes. CSA is part of the Prime Minister’s Office and is managed by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information. For more news and information, please visit www.csa.gov.sg.

About the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech Singapore)

The Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech Singapore) is the lead agency driving the nation’s Smart Nation initiative and public sector digital transformation. A statutory board under the Ministry of Digital Development and Information GovTech Singapore builds tech for public good to improve the lives of Singaporeans, while supporting public agencies in delivering digital services and managing enterprise IT operations. The agency also oversees and safeguards government ICT infrastructure, and regulates public sector ICT procurement, data protection, and cybersecurity. For more information, please visit https://www.tech.gov.sg/.

About Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)

IMDA leads Singapore’s digital transformation by developing a vibrant digital economy and an inclusive digital society. As Architects of Singapore’s Digital Future, we foster growth in Infocomm Technology and Media sectors in concert with progressive regulations, harnessing frontier technologies, and developing local talent and digital infrastructure ecosystems to establish Singapore as a digital metropolis. For more news and information, visit www.imda.gov.sg or follow IMDA on LinkedIn (IMDAsg), Facebook (IMDAsg) and Instagram (@imdasg).

About National Library Board (NLB)

NLB nurtures Readers for Life, Learning Communities and a Knowledgeable Nation by promoting reading, learning and history through its network of 28 libraries across Singapore, the National Library and the National Archives of Singapore. NLB also forges strategic partnerships that encourage awareness, appreciation and greater discovery of Singapore's history through its rich collections on Singapore and the region. NLB achieves excellence through innovation, focusing on citizen engagement and co-creation, resource and digital innovation. This creates learning opportunities, greater access to library resources, services, and archival collections, as well as a continual development of innovative library spaces. Established on 1 September 1995, NLB is a statutory board under the Ministry of Digital Development and Information. For more information, please visit the NLB website, and NLB’s Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube channels.