IMDA to double number of scholarships next year
The number of scholarships to be given out next year by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) will be doubled to 100, as part of Singapore's push towards a digital economy.
At the same time, three types of scholarships - the National Infocomm Scholarship, Media Education Scholarship and Infocomm Polytechnic Scholarship - will be merged under the new Singapore Digital (SG:D) Scholarship.
"This will ensure alignment in our efforts to nurture a pipeline of future infocomm media leaders, and build a strong foundation for our digital economy," said Communications and Information Minister S. Iswaran at the National Infocomm awards yesterday.
He said the SG:D Scholarship will also support post-graduate scholarships in areas such as artificial intelligence and immersive media.
Its scope, and that of the IMDA's Industry Preparation for Pre-graduate (iPrep) programme, will be expanded as well to include arts, design and media courses.
"In addition, iPrep will go beyond courses and certification to fund overseas exposure such as competitions and study trips," he said, adding the change will benefit about 2,500 students in the next two years.
Singapore needs to develop a "deep pool" of talent in the infocomm media sector, he added.
The economy employs about 200,000 infocomm and media professionals and demand for them will continue to grow as the global economy becomes increasingly digitalised, Mr Iswaran said.
He also set out why Singapore needs a globally competitive infocomm media sector, saying it is a way to foster greater inclusivity in our economy, enhance public services to deliver high quality service to the citizens and ensure a competitive economy.
STUDY
The event saw 54 people receiving scholarships to study at polytechnic, undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Among them was The Straits Times video editor Ng Kai Ling, who will pursue a master's in journalism at New York University's Graduate School of Arts and Science.
Previous recipients of the scholarship include Mr Alvin Lee, whose film Seed won him Best New Director at the China Short Film Golden Hummingbird Awards in 2016, and Mr Anthony Chow, chief executive of smart lock solutions firm Igloohome, which sells its products in more than 80 countries.
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