MINDEF and NTU Singapore Launch New Work-Learn Scheme for Digital Specialists

Defence Cyber Chief Brigadier-General (BG) Mark Tan (left) and NTU's Vice-President (Innovation & Entrepreneurship) and NTU's Dean of College of Engineering Prof Louis Phee (right) signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the Digital Work-Learn Scheme at a ceremony at NTU today.

The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have launched a new Work-Learn Scheme (WLS) for Digital Specialists.

Under this Digital Work-Learn Scheme, selected Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) will serve as Digital Specialists under the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF)'s newly established Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) for a duration of four years. They will develop artificial intelligence (AI) applications and perform software engineering tasks in support of real-world military operations.

To complement their in-house vocational training and operational hands-on experiences, these NSFs can take up modules to earn academic credits at NTU that contribute to a degree in Data Science and AI, Computer Science or Computer Engineering.

The Digital Specialists will attend classes for one semester every year, to train and prepare them for their roles in operational units. They will receive a regular service salary upon the completion of the minimum period as NSFs. At the end of the four-year period, Digital Specialists will earn 50 per cent of academic credits and can complete their studies in another two years.

The Memorandum of Understanding for the new programme was signed earlier today by Defence Cyber Chief Brigadier-General (BG) Mark Tan and Professor Louis Phee, Vice President (Innovation & Entrepreneurship) and Dean of NTU's College of Engineering, in a ceremony at NTU.

Stressing the importance of adapting to evolving security challenges, BG Tan said, "We need to start to train a workforce that has the skills to understand data, AI and software engineering, so that the people of Army, Navy and Air Force will be able to sense, decide and act faster in both digital and conventional air, land and sea domains. We see this scheme as a key partnership to develop our people and harness the strengths of NTU as well as MINDEF/SAF."

Professor Phee said, "The collaboration between NTU and MINDEF/SAF to launch the new Work-Learn Scheme for Digital Specialists aims to build up Singapore's efforts in the digital domain, through tapping on the University's deep expertise in areas such as computer science, artificial intelligence and engineering research. The new programme also facilitates the transition of participants into further education in NTU and nurtures the next generation of digital experts, who can help shore up our nation's critical infrastructure."

The Digital Work-Learn Scheme is part of MINDEF/SAF's continual efforts to harness NS talents and strengthen digital defence capabilities to safeguard Singapore.

The first batch of Digital Specialists will enlist in April 2023 and begin their first semester at NTU in August 2023. Interested pre-enlistees can apply for the Digital Work-Learn Scheme one year before their enlistment.

To find out more, please go to www.mindef.gov.sg/digispec.

BG Tan delivering a speech during the ceremony at NTU.