A headstart in the infocomm industry and the invaluable experience of a local or overseas industry attachment with a major corporation – these were some of the factors that have attracted top “O” level students to the Infocomm Development Authority’s (IDA) Integrated Infocomm Scholarships (IIS) .

The second batch of the Integrated Infocomm Scholarships were presented to 32 outstanding “O” level students by Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, on 16 April 2010.

The second batch of the Integrated Infocomm Scholarships were presented to 32 outstanding “O” level students by Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, on 16 April 2010.

Launched in February 2009, the Integrated Infocomm Scholarship provides support to outstanding ‘O’ level students to pursue infocomm studies from polytechnic through to the university level. There has been a jump of 30 per cent in the number of applications received for the scholarship this year and an increase in the overall quality of the applications, said IDA.

Among the successful applicants, one common factor that stood out was passion. “When I was young, I was extremely curious about games. Curiosity became interest and gradually, interest turned into passion,” said Mr Ken Lim Tien Tze, who is studying Game and Entertainment Technology at the Temasek Polytechnic and has ambitions to become a game designer and programmer.

His sentiments were shared by Mr Robin Wong Tzu Hung, 21, who is studying at the Singapore Polytechnic’s Diploma in Music and Audio Technology. “Technology has inspired me since young to appreciate the wonders that it has brought to humans. The amazing and intense speed at which technology has progressed in the last century has transformed human lifestyles, and given us many incredible conveniences that we now take for granted,” he said. “Through the Integrated Infocomm Scholarship I hope to gain a solid foundation to help develop digital content and infrastructure in the future, especially through the use of aural and visual media to inspire the next generation.”

The Integrated Infocomm Scholarship is one of IDA’s initiatives to ensure that the infocomm industry will have access to a ready and continuous pipeline of infocomm talent. The infocomm industry is an important sector of Singapore’s economy, contributing about 7.1 per cent to national GDP. According to IDA’s 2009 Infocomm Manpower Survey, there are 140,800 infocomm professionals employed in the economy. Areas of strongest employment growth include software development, digital media and animation and software design.

Ms Tan Shi Hui: The Integrated Infocomm Scholarship provides me with the opportunity to be part of the infocomm industry in the future.

“The Integrated Infocomm Scholarship provides an excellent opportunity for bright students to directly pursue both polytechnic and university qualifications. It also allows scholars to learn about the latest technology developments and acquire valuable industry experience through attachments with major corporations under IDA’s Talent Management Programme,” said RADM(NS) Ronnie Tay, Chief Executive Officer of IDA.

To provide the Integrated Infocomm Scholars with the opportunity to gain relevant industry exposure and experience, scholars will be able to take up industry attachments, both locally and overseas of up to six months, with major corporations at both the polytechnic and university level.

Top performing scholars at the polytechnic level will be given the opportunity to apply for the National Infocomm Scholarship (NIS) programme for sponsorship of their university studies. Scholars who continue with the Integrated Infocomm Scholarship for their university studies will go on to serve a three-year bond in the infocomm industry and undertake an infocomm-related job approved by IDA upon graduation.

Students like Mr Joshua Tan Jun Ming, 17, who is studying at the Nanyang Polytechnic’s School of Information Technology, feel that this provides them with “a good transition from the polytechnic to university”.

Ms Tan Shi Hui, 16, who is pursing a Diploma in Business Information Technology at the Singapore Polytechnic, agreed. “The Integrated Infocomm Scholarship not only allows me to pursue my passion in the area of infocomm from polytechnic through to university, it also provides me with the opportunity to be part of the infocomm industry in the future.”