5,000 Scholarships to Close Tech Skills Gap in SG
- By CDOTrends editors
- January 25, 2023
Tech training has become essential to staying competitive in the modern workforce. From coding to data analysis, the ability to learn new skills quickly is becoming increasingly valuable and critical for those looking to advance their careers.
With the demand for these skills at an all-time high, Google is doubling down on its commitment to preparing workers for the future of work. Singapore's Google Career Certificates (GCC) program has doubled its commitment to providing tech-related training opportunities for Singaporeans by adding 5,000 more scholarships, bringing its total scholarship commitment to 10,000.
Ten new partners will extend the reach of GCC scholarships by providing them to a broader community of learners. They include universities such as Singapore Management University, the National University of Singapore, and Nanyang Technological University, and community organizations like Young Women's Leadership Connection and SG Enable.
With 23 distribution partners, Google hopes to ensure that all students have access to the same learning opportunities, regardless of their geographic location or financial standing.
Google Career Certificates (GCC), a flexible online training program, was launched in Singapore a year ago to help learners earn professional certifications for entry-level jobs in high-demand technical fields. These fields include data analytics, IT, UX design, project management, digital marketing and e-commerce.
Seven out of ten Google Career Certificate graduates reported experiencing the program's positive impact on their career, such as receiving a raise or being promoted within six months after completing the program.
Learners who earn their certification are connected with 39 companies under the employer consortium that form a talent pipeline for hiring skilled graduates.
GCC is one of the pathways offered through Google’s Skills Ignition SG (SISG) program to equip more Singaporeans with the digital skills they need to compete in today’s economy. More than 7,000 people have benefited from the SISG program, which is now in its fourth year.
Bridging the skills gap
Cloud technology has become increasingly important in Singapore's financial services, healthcare, retail and other sectors.
However, according to an industry report, the skills gap in cloud computing is one of the biggest challenges facing Singapore's technology sector, according to an industry report.
The Google Cloud Computing Foundation (GCCF) Value Added Programme aims to help bridge the gap in cloud computing knowledge and skills among Singaporeans. GCCF is a partnership between Google Singapore and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), which trains 1,000 ITE students with foundational concepts around data analytics, machine learning, and more through the Cloud Foundations online curriculum.
Through the course, learners can articulate these concepts and demonstrate their cloud computing skills through hands-on exercises. The year-long program is one of Google's many efforts under the TechSkills Accelerator for ITE and Polytechnics Alliance to train 1,000 graduates from ITEs and polytechnics over the next three years.
Image credit: iStockphoto/Christian Horz