Temasek Polytechnic and Neo4j, a leading graph database provider, have partnered to help the industry and students in Singapore stay ahead in the fast-changing world of technology. The collaboration aims to provide industry professionals and students with the necessary skills and knowledge to meet the demands of the digital age and remain relevant in their respective fields.
The partnership was formalised on 1 February 2023 through signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), designed to provide students at Temasek Polytechnic with hands-on experience using cutting-edge technologies and help the local industry stay ahead of the curve in an increasingly digital world.
“The reason we started this programme is really to fulfil the smart nation objectives. Moreover, we are seeing a big demand for graph technology in the industry. To ensure that the best skill sets are available locally and coming from an open-source mindset, collaboration is key,” explains Eng Pin Kwang, Director School of Informatics & IT of Temasek Polytechnic.
The partnership was officially launched in the presence of Mohit Sagar, CEO of OpenGov Asia, who highlighted the importance of staying ahead in the technology space and keeping up with the latest advancements.
He said, “The world of technology is constantly evolving, and it’s essential for individuals and organisations to upgrade their skills to remain relevant continuously. The partnership between Temasek Polytechnic and Neo4j is a step in the right direction, providing students and industry professionals with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed in the digital age.”
“While graph database technology as part of a curriculum has been implemented in Malaysia and Indonesia, this will be a first in Singapore,” said Daniel Ng, VP of Marketing, Neo4j.
In a previous OpenGov exclusive interview with Mohit Sagar, CEO & Editor-in-Chief of OpenGov Asia, Kesavan Nair, Neo4j’s VP of Global Cloud and Strategic Sales, explained the idea and workings of graph database technology.
Graph Database Technology is specifically built and optimised for discovering patterns and hidden linkages in massively interconnected datasets. Because it mirrors how the human brain thinks and maps associations utilising neurons (nodes) and synapses, graph database technology is effective because it discovers and displays relationships in the data.
A graph database effectively stores and queries data sets in a node-and-relationships model. As a result, graph technology performs very well where there needs to be background information on path length or shape by discovering neighbouring data effectively using graph storage and infrastructure.
Ryan Lim Beng Kee, Assistant Director of Capability & Industry Development, School of Informatics & IT, explained that they had formulated a three-year diploma programme to serve students’ best interests. The programme is not a one-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter course but can be tweaked to suit individual learners’ pathways.
Cybersecurity, data analytics and graph technology are the most current high-demand talent in the market. More crucial, however, is to have cross-functional skills. Cross-cutting IT skills are more attractive to the market. “For example, a data scientist may not find a job specifically for the ‘data scientist’ role. But with a broader knowledge of data science in banking, pharmaceutical and/or gaming, the chances of them landing a role increases significantly,” said Nik Vora VP, APJ at Neo4j.
In addition to benefiting students, the partnership will also have a positive impact on the industry in Singapore. Neo4j’s technology will help companies and organisations to manage their data more efficiently, leading to better decision-making and increased productivity. The partnership will provide a platform for industry professionals to collaborate and share their knowledge, helping to create a more dynamic and innovative environment.
The partnership between Temasek Polytechnic and Neo4j is a testament to the importance of staying ahead in the technology space and the need to upgrade one’s skills continuously. It provides students and industry professionals with the tools and knowledge needed to succeed in a rapidly changing world and sets an example for other organisations.
“Today, there is an acute shortage (of certain technological skills), and I’m working on this collaboration to provide Singapore skills talent that knows how to apply the technology. So that’s why the building of skills in terms of having an objective of technology adoption is a key proponent critical,” Eng Pin Kwang concluded.
In conclusion, the partnership between Temasek Polytechnic and Neo4j is a positive step towards equipping individuals and organisations with the necessary skills and knowledge to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world of technology. With its cutting-edge technology and commitment to innovation, Neo4j is poised to play a vital role in shaping the future of data management and analysis in Singapore and beyond.
