Introduction

Singapore's highly developed infocomm sector has been a key driver of Singapore's success as an economic hub. As technology is constantly evolving, maintaining a competitive edge for sustained growth remains a top priority for the country. With this objective in mind, the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) developed the Centre of Attachment (COA) program to nurture Singapore's next generation of infocomm experts. These programmes provide infocomm professionals with the opportunity to sharpen their skills in niche technology areas.

Programme Description of COA

COA programme aims to ensure that Singapore's infocomm manpower capabilities keep pace with technology changes and Singapore remains at the forefront of technology development. This will help grow and groom infocomm leaders and experts in the following high-end, niche areas:

• Application Development
• Cloud / Grid Computing
• Green ICT
• Infocomm Security
• Network Engineering (Fixed / Wireless)
• Infocomm in Business Domains

A potential model (Illustrative Example)

COA may work with each partner and scope a customized plan, according to their needs and requirements.

Become a COA

Eligible organisations can choose to become a COA. COAs are established leading Technology providers, Centres of innovations (COI), Institute of Higher Learning & Research Institutes who are willing to accept external trainees on attachment for project work, mentorship and training, up to 12 months, to equip them with high-end, "expert" level skills in the areas identified.

To view our existing COA partners, please click here .

Become a COA Partner

In line to develop infocomm professionals equipped with high-end, "expert" level skills in growth and emerging areas to meet industry needs, companies may also choose to become a COA Partner. Companies will be able to benefit in the following ways:

• Develop talented employees with deep infocomm skills including skills in emerging areas, to take on high value job roles;
• Retain talent through capability development to take on lead technical roles; and
• Equip ICT professionals with domain skills to instil ability to exploit infocomm for sectoral transformation.

They will partner with COA by providing on-the-job training to infocomm professionals or by enrolling their employees, including new hires in the COA programme to further develop their skills through local and overseas work attachments. To see the list of existing COAs you can partner, please click here .

Professionals who are interested to participate in the COA programme may wish to approach their organisation to apply as a COA Partner.

Benefits

COA

• Additional resource to pursue expert-level exploratory project in emerging areas supported by IDA;
• Increased pool of professionals trained in the technologies/platforms supported by the COA; and
• National recognition as an COA for the project period

COA Partners

• Boost your organisation's competitive advantage in the area of infocomm;
• Sharpen and deepen your employees' infocomm capabilities under a funded scheme;
• Help your organisation build a pipeline of infocomm experts in high-end, niche technology areas; and
• Enable your organisation to broaden learning horizons through funded overseas attachment/courses

Eligibility Criteria

COAs must possess:

• Training area
  • Training area at high-end, “expert” level as defined in National Infocomm Competency Framework;
  • To possess past manpower development track record of providing training/ project work in the relevant areas.
• Physical infrastructure and facilities
  • To possess the necessary hardware, software, specialized facilities and connectivity required for training/ project work.
• Training capacity
  • To possess the capacity to train minimum 4 trainees annually;
  • To identify minimum 2 mentors/ trainers/ supervisors; and
  • To provide supporting documents on identified mentors/ trainers/ supervisors for quality assessment.
• Training Plan
  • To develop training plan to include relevant project work opportunities for trainees to acquire skill sets/ technologies  aligned to NICF at expert level.

COA Partners must:

• Develop a expert-level training plan in areas supported under COA; and
• Ensure that the trainees under COA must be:
  • Existing employees identified as high potential staff with talent progression plan or individuals who are diploma or degree holders;
  • With 3 years of relevant working experience; and
  • Singaporean

Companies must source for their own trainees.

Application Procedure

For COAs

The COA engagement process flow is as demonstrated by the following flowchart:

For COA Partners

The application process is a straightforward one as demonstrated by the following flowchart:

Interested COAs and/or companies interested in working with COAs should email IDA at [email protected] for more information.