Singapore, 14 July 2023 – The SMU Academy (SMUA) has launched a new SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme (SCTP), in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), to equip mid-career professionals looking to move into software development careers. SMUA is the training arm of the Singapore Management University (SMU).

This programme – '(SCTP) Software Development with Amazon Web Services (AWS)' – is facilitated by SMUA and taught by technical trainers authorised by AWS. The 120-hour programme, conducted over six months, will cover topics such as programming, cloud computing and containerisation (Please refer to Annex A for the topics covered under this programme).

The programme aims to train 100 mid-careerists over two years. Eligible individuals can receive SkillsFuture funding subsidy covering up to 90 per cent of the course fees. In addition, they can use their SkillsFuture Credit to offset the out-of-pocket course fees. The inaugural intake is scheduled to start in September 2023.

SMUA has worked with SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) to identify emerging technology job roles and curate the training content to impart skills demanded by these roles. SMUA will also provide career advisory and employment facilitation services to enhance trainees’ employment prospects, and aid in their job search.

Besides classroom learning, trainees will participate in other forms of learning to gain industry insights, understand best practices, and apply the knowledge they gained. They can participate in visits to AWS’s offices in Singapore, networking sessions with cloud engineers and practitioners, and in panel discussions. Trainees will also have the opportunity to connect with AWS’s global community of customers and partners for potential future career opportunities.

There continues to be strong and broad demand for digital skills in the economy. Gallup research, commissioned by AWS, revealed that (a) workers in Singapore who used advanced digital skills, including cloud architecture or software development, contribute an estimated US$61.8b to Singapore’s GDP; (b) workers who use digital skills at work earn 123% more than those who do not; (c) most tech (93%) and non-tech (67%) workers in Singapore are interested in getting training for at least one digital skill; (d) greater efficiency is the most beneficial result reported by more than half of tech (54%) and non-tech (56%) workers who received digital skills training.

Elsie Tan, Singapore Country Manager, Public Sector, Amazon Web Services said, “AWS is proud to expand our collaboration with SMU and SkillsFuture Singapore to deliver on our deep commitment to develop Singapore’s next generation of digital talent. Through the SCTP, AWS can deliver cloud skills and provide access to our extensive network of customers and partners, so that mid-career professionals can fast track into the exciting fields of software development and cloud engineering. We look forward to inspiring more individuals to embark on career opportunities in technology to support Singapore’s digitalisation goals.”

“We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with AWS. This collaboration underscores SMU Academy's commitment to empowering mid-career professionals in navigating the rapidly evolving technology industry. Singapore’s tech sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, creating a high demand for skilled professionals. We are enthusiastic about contributing to Singapore's digitalisation efforts towards becoming a Smart Nation, by strengthening employment opportunities and helping individuals achieve their professional goals by supporting them on their reskilling and upskilling journey,” said SMU Academy Executive Director, Mr Jack Lim.

“A competitive labour force is a versatile one, in which workers can adapt to new skill requirements, seize new opportunities, and transit well into new areas of economic need. Our SkillsFuture Career Transition Programmes or SCTPs aim to help our workers do just that. The SCTP’s programme content must be up-to-date and relevant; the training experience must expose the individual to the industry; and the support given must raise the individual’s confidence and employability in the job market. These are achievable only with strong collaboration between training institution and the industry. So we at SSG are very happy to witness a leading training academy, the SMUA, come together with a global industry captain, AWS, to deliver this new SCTP for our workers, in a space where there is a clear economic need and good job opportunities”, said SSG Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tan Kok Yam.

The new “(SCTP) Software Development with AWS” programme was launched at the opening of the SkillsFuture Festival x Amazon Web Services Roadshow on Friday, 14 July 2023. Themed “Powering the City Through Cloud”, the roadshow aims to attract over 6,000 visitors and offer training and job opportunities in Singapore’s technology industry, including cloud computing services.

The three-day roadshow will take place from 14 - 16 July 2023 at the VivoCity Central Atrium. It is one of the many events in SSG’s month-long SkillsFuture Festival, to help Singaporeans discover how they can upskill to enhance their employability. Visitors can get to learn about cloud computing concepts through experiential activities, hands-on workshops, and technology showcases. Jobseekers or individuals who are considering a career switch can approach the Skills Ambassadors on-site for personalised consultation to identify skill gaps and to gain advice on achieving their career goals. 11 Application to the SCTP is now open at https://academy.smu.edu.sg/sctp-software-development-amazon-web-services-aws-cloud-9551.

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