SingTel launches scholarship for polytechnic students
Mr Heng (left) viewing a student project during the launch of the SingTel Cadet Scholarship Programme yesterday. Photo: Wee Teck Hian
SINGAPORE — SingTel has launched its first-ever scholarship for polytechnic students, at a time when the Government is pushing to de-emphasise the obsession with getting a university degree.
The 90 scholarships — worth more than S$2 million and handed out each year — will include internships, employment and development opportunities such as on-the-job-training.
Such industry-relevant training is similar to the recommendations made by the Applied Study in Polytechnics and ITE Review (ASPIRE) committee to improve the prospects of poly and Institute of Technical Education graduates.
The SingTel Cadet Scholarship Programme, which was officially open for applications yesterday, will be available to top students pursuing diplomas in computer engineering and infocomm security management at Singapore Polytechnic (SP), and the diploma in customer relationship and service management in Republic Polytechnic (RP).
Upon graduation, scholars will also secure jobs in cybersecurity, network engineering and customer experience management as they serve a one-year bond with SingTel. Depending on their work performance, they will be offered a part-time or full-time university scholarship after completing their bond.
Speaking at the launch yesterday, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat lauded the SingTel move for being closely aligned to SkillsFuture and recognising that its principles can be replicated in many industries. He urged more employers to step forward to develop programmes to best suit their needs.
The SkillsFuture Council, set up last year and headed by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, is meant to help Singaporeans advance in their careers and be recognised on the basis of their skills.
“SkillsFuture is a tripartite, national endeavour. Employers and union are key partners. There is more that we can do to expand opportunities for applied and lifelong learning to more students and workers, and to help individuals advance based on skill,” Mr Heng said.
SingTel’s country chief officer Bill Chang said the telco chose computer engineering, cybersecurity and customer experience for the scholarship programme as these are areas where it sees a need for external, younger talent.
“Areas such as cybersecurity, customer experience management are all very key areas that we see there’s going to be more capacity that’s required. That’s why we’re starting this programme to build this over time,” Mr Chang said.
Mr Justin Tan, a second-year customer relationship and service management student at RP who is applying for the scholarship, said: “(It) provides us with a very good platform and stepping stone to better prepare us for the industry.”
Ms Siak Hui Mun, a first-year infocomm security management student at SP, was also drawn to the programme because it gave her more flexibility — she could either gain work experience by continuing to work with SingTel after serving the bond, or pursue a sponsored university degree.
