Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,
I am thrilled to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the 21 trainees who have successfully graduated from Temus’s esteemed training programme, ‘Step It Up’. This achievement marks the culmination of the third batch, following the footsteps of 38 individuals from the initial two cohorts, who are all actively deployed in digital transformation work for Temus’ clients. Graduates, your unwavering dedication and hard work have truly paid off, and I commend each and every one of you for this remarkable milestone.
The success of the ‘Step It Up’ programme, an initiative under IMDA’s TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA), is truly commendable. It has provided individuals with no prior tech background the opportunity to transition into tech roles. Notably, the programme has showcased its versatility by preparing individuals for diverse tech roles, evolving from associate software developers in the first two runs to digital business analysts in this latest batch, in partnership with GovTech and IMDA.
One example of SIU’s versatility is Christopher Tan, a former optometrist who transitioned into a software developer after graduating from Polytechnic. He was one of the outstanding performers from the pioneer batch of the SIU program and was recently promoted from Associate Software Developer I to Associate Software Developer 2 within a year at Temus. His remarkable journey exemplifies the potential that can be unlocked through SIU for a diverse range of talents.
IMDA remains committed to scaling similar efforts with the industry to expand and elevate Singapore’s pool of tech talent. Since 2016, the TeSA initiative has successfully placed over 17,000 locals into tech jobs and upskilled and reskilled more than 231,000 professionals. This underscores the potential for impactful public and private partnerships, driving our digital economy forward.
We are also heartened by Temus’s pledge to support skills-based hiring, aligning with their contribution to IMDA’s TeSA for ITE and Polytechnics Alliance (TIP Alliance) to enhance ITE and Polytechnic graduates’ employment outcomes in tech and provide continuous pathways for their careers.
IMDA is dedicated to fortifying industry readiness and enhancing job opportunities for ITE and Polytechnic students through the TIP Alliance. These initiatives are pivotal in ensuring that our tech industry remains at the forefront of innovation and competitiveness.
I urge Temus to deepen its collaboration with IMDA to provide more job and training opportunities through TeSA and the TIP Alliance. For an instance, Temus may consider developing a pipeline of Data and AI practitioners to complement the growth of its Data/AI practice. Your continued support and involvement are crucial in nurturing the next generation of tech talent and driving the growth of Singapore’s tech ecosystem.
To the graduating trainees, I encourage you to continue developing your careers and deepening your tech skills. Your journey has only just begun, and I have no doubt that each of you will make significant contributions to the tech industry.
Once again, congratulations to the graduates, and thank you to all who have contributed to the success of the ‘Step It Up’ programme. Thank you.
