Another Program Tries to Close Singapore's Gaping Cloud Skills Gap

Cloud computing is quickly becoming the backbone of modern businesses, yet there's a huge skills gap in Singapore regarding cloud technology. Research by Equinix reveals that 39% of knowledgeable professionals in Singapore lack cloud computing skills.

This is why tech giant Google has partnered with the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) to bridge this gap and help meet local demand for cloud computing expertise. Ben King, Google Singapore’s managing director, recognized this skills gap and noted that it “could really slow down the digital transformation, so many companies need.”

This February, the Google Cloud Computing Foundation Value-added Program is set to launch for 1,000 students. This one-year training program will be the first of its kind for an educational institution in the country. It will serve as an enhancement to their preexisting ITE cloud technology teachings.

Students will learn fundamentals and be hands-on with data analytics, machine learning, and more. Once they complete the program, they'll be able to accurately explain cloud computing concepts and demonstrate their proficiency in the subject.

"Our close partnerships with local governments and community partners have helped us make digital skills accessible for all learners, regardless of their background. We look forward to working with even more organizations to continue this momentum and unlock even more economic opportunities for Singaporeans," Google said in their statement.

This program is part of Google Career Certificates (GCC), a flexible online training program that helps people gain professional and up-to-date skills in cloud technology. It not only helps those without formal education backgrounds to earn a certification in the field but also provides existing ITE and polytechnic students with quality cloud technology and data analytics education.

Google shares the story of Ng Jia Xuan, a 19-year-old final-year ITE student who discovered GCC. Jia Xuan completed the Data Analytics program and secured a 10-week internship with Altanium, a technology consultancy firm as a Data Analytics intern. She was able to apply the knowledge she gained through the program, from Structured Query Language (SQL) to data application — and received recognition from her supervisors.

The value-added program is also part of the TechSkills Accelerator for ITE and Polytechnics Alliance, a collaborative initiative to fill 1,000 job roles with graduates from ITEs and polytechnics in the next three years.

Image credit: iStockphoto/marchmeena29