Last month, it was announced that Singapore Polytechnic will collaborate with industry partners to expand data analytics capabilities and knowledge in Singapore among local engineering small-medium enterprises (SMEs) to prepare for Industry 4.0.
The Memorandum of Understand (MoU) was signed between Singapore Polytechnic, TIBCO Software Inc. and its partner iZeno. This latest initiative will help address the current data skills shortage faced by local engineering SMEs.
Singapore’s engineering industry will require cross-competence skills, big data specialists, data integration experts, and cloud capacity managers in order to reap the benefits of Industry 4.0.
“Through this collaboration, Singapore Polytechnic Engineering students and staff will be equipped with data analytics skills to meet the needs of Industry 4.0 and Advanced Manufacturing. This will enable them to excel in a rapidly changing economy and contribute to the local workforce,” according to Mr Toh Ser Khoon, Acting Director of School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering at Singapore Polytechnic.
The collaboration will focus on students from the Computer Engineering, Engineering with Business, and Engineering Systems diploma courses, acquiring relevant data analytics skillsets in the areas of Industry 4.0 and advanced manufacturing.
The three organisations will jointly engage students through industrial practice, internships, and other practice-based training. Full-time students will also have opportunities for collaboration in final year projects and local industrial training programmes conducted by TIBCO, preparing them to be work-ready. In addition to full-time students, adult learners from relevant Continuing Education (CET) courses will also be trained in data analytics.
To help students develop industry knowledge and skills for successful careers ahead, Nicolas Betbeder-Matibet, Regional Vice President (ASEAN and Greater China) of TIBCO said that students will be able to get hands-on learning in TIBCO’s dedicated Centre of Excellence, leveraging TIBCO® Connected Intelligence solutions.
Close collaboration between higher education institutions, industry partners, and the Government is crucial in ensuring that Singapore’s talent pool is well-equipped with the right technology and skills.
In last August, Nanyang Polytechnic also joined hands with software provider TIBCO in developing data analytics capabilities to empower SMEs on their digital transformation. The collaboration will be in the forms of guest lectures, competitions, workshops, master classes, and other training.
Other than academia-industry collaborations, the Singapore Government is also implementing proactive policies and measures to help prepare the country for the future economy of Industry 4.0.
As reported earlier, the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) has launched the Singapore Smart Industry Readiness Index as a diagnostic tool to help industrial companies harness the potential of Industry 4.0 in a systematic and comprehensive way.
The Singapore Smart Industry Readiness Index helps companies in Singapore in grappling with the concept of Industry 4.0 and the value it could bring. It helps companies evaluate the current state of their facilities, architect a comprehensive transformation roadmap and deliver concrete, sustained value for their businesses.
