MDDI Family Awards 84 Scholarships to Nurture Talents for Tech, Media, and Information Sectors

Singapore, 14 Aug 2024

84 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 (GovTech), Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), and National Library Board (NLB). The scholarship award ceremony was hosted by Mrs Josephine Teo, the Minister for Digital Development and Information and Minister-in-charge of Smart Nation and Cybersecurity. This is MDDI family’s first scholarship award ceremony following the merger of the Ministry of Communications and Information and the Smart Nation and Digital Government Group last October.

The scholarships are part of MDDI family’s collective effort to nurture talents in technology, media, library, and archives services and communications areas, allowing them to lead a range of digital development and government communications work across public and private sectors. A total of three types of scholarship were awarded to the recipients:

(A) Undergraduate Scholarships

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

i. MDDI Information Service Scholarship

3 recipients were awarded the MDDI Information Service Scholarship. This scholarship was first introduced in 2008 to attract young talents with an interest in government communications. They will play an important role in public communications to ensure that citizens are heard and connected to the Government, through engaging citizens on national and social issues in various channels, strengthening policy communications at whole-of-government level, communicating policies to the public, and managing government media relations.

ii. NLB Scholarship 

3 recipients were awarded the NLB Scholarship. Through the NLB Scholarship, NLB aims to build and nurture a multi-disciplinary talent pipeline in information literacy, knowledge creation and preservation to develop Singapore’s libraries and archives of the future. These scholarship holders will play a key role in realising NLB’s goal of transforming the reading and learning experience for all Singaporeans. They will also contribute to NLB’s roles in building a Learning Marketplace, nurturing an Informed Citizenry, inspiring Singapore Storytellers, and being an Equaliser as envisioned through LAB25 (Libraries and Archives Blueprint 2025).

iii. Smart Nation Scholarship

8 recipients were awarded the Smart Nation Scholarship (SNS). The SNS seeks to develop future technology leaders who are passionate in making a difference to our national digital transformation. Jointly offered by CSA, GovTech, and IMDA, scholars can look forward to a multifaceted career, specialising in a variety of tech domains and opportunities for job rotations across the different public agencies.

(B) MDDI Postgraduate Scholarship

Beyond attracting and growing young talents, MDDI family also strives to develop in-service officers’ professional and specialised capabilities through the MDDI Postgraduate Scholarship, which was awarded to 2 MDDI officers this year, to pursue postgraduate studies.

(C) IMDA SG Digital Scholarship

In addition to developing talents for the public sector, MDDI family also aims to develop future leaders for Singapore’s technology and media ecosystem. 68 recipients were awarded the IMDA SG Digital Scholarship, an industry scholarship that provides both undergraduate and postgraduate scholars the flexibility to chart their own career with the industry and take on key roles in a tech or media-related field in an organisation of their choice. Recipients will also be supported for certifications beyond school curriculum, overseas programmes, internship, mentorship, and networking opportunities with industry leaders, to equip them with necessary skills to ride on opportunities for a career in tech.

These scholars will join the growing community of Singaporean digital leaders under IMDA’s SG Digital Leadership Accelerator programme, which comprises over 1,000 tech and media talents, including past scholars who hold leadership positions, such as founders of high-growth tech startups, leaders in multi-national companies, and innovators building tech products for the world, in areas ranging from AI to quantum. The past scholars also pay it forward and mentor the younger SG Digital scholars.

The scholarship attracts high quality applicants with many focusing on in-demand skills such as Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, Data Science and Analytics. For instance, 33 scholars will pursue AI-related degrees to equip them with the relevant knowledge and skills to develop and scale the use of AI for organisations and across the economy. This is part of IMDA’s $20 million investment over three years to increase the number of AI-related scholarships and overseas internships to grow the talent pool. These efforts will contribute to Singapore’s goal of tripling the AI workforce to 15,000 practitioners, under Singapore’s National AI Strategy 2.0.

For media clarifications, please contact:

MDDI

• Xenon Chen (Mr)

• Assistant Manager, Communications & Engagement Division

• (65) 8533 4662

• xenon_chen@mddi.gov.sg

CSA

• Cassandra Yeo (Ms)

• Assistant Manager, Communications & Engagement Office

• (65) 8223 9034

• cassandra_yeo@csa.gov.sg

GovTech

• Sharleen TEO (Ms)

• Assistant Manager, Communications and Marketing Group

• (65) 9100 8335

• sharleen_teo@tech.gov.sg

IMDA

• Shamana Menon (Ms)

• Manager, Communications and Marketing

• (65) 9694 2579

• shamana_menon@imda.gov.sg

NLB

• Ong Hui Ying (Ms)

• Assistant Manager, Corporate Communications Division

• (65) 96924805

• ong_hui_ying@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 Nation 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 (GovTech)

The Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) is the lead agency driving Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative and public or digital transformation. As the Centre of Excellence for Infocomm Technology and Smart Systems (ICT & SS), GovTech develops the Singapore government’s capabilities in Data Science & Artificial Intelligence, Application Development, Smart City Technology, Digital Infrastructure, and Cybersecurity.

GovTech builds tech for public good to improve the lives of Singaporeans and the economy, and supports public agencies in managing enterprise IT operations. Its other responsibilities include overseeing and safeguarding key government ICT infrastructure, as well as regulating public sector ICT procurement, data protection and cybersecurity.

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) and Instagram (@imdasg).

About National Library Board (NLB)

The National Library Board (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 as 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.