Twenty "'O" Level students have been selected for the Integrated Infocomm Scholarship (IIS) , a new programme offered by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA). The IIS is a systematic way of talent development which supports its scholars in their infocomm studies at local polytechnics right up to university level, and to subsequently pursue an infocomm career. It is part of IDA's plan to ensure that the infocomm industry in Singapore has access to a ready and continuous pipeline of talent.

Mr Chan: Infocomm is the driver of innovation and discovery in many sectors, ranging from medicine, science and engineering to business, defence and communications.

"Infocomm is at the heart of most things that we do," said Mr Chan Yeng Kit, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA), who gave out the scholarships at the IIS award ceremony. "It is the driver of innovation and discovery in many sectors, ranging from medicine, science and engineering, to business, defence and communications. Advances in these areas would be limited without the power of computing."

Scholarship recipient Mohamed Safiullah, 20, is someone who understands the potential of infocomm technology. Mohamed, who will be going to Nanyang Polytechnic to do a Diploma in Information Technology, was first given a computer when he was 10 years old.

Mohamed Safiullah: Working on projects made me realise the significance of infocomm.

"The first development I did was a website for myself. Then I did websites for my friends and my old school Victoria School. Since then I have worked on various projects such as building e-learning portals and information systems for businesses - which has made me realise the significance of infocomm," he said. "That is why I aspire to be a Chief Information Officer. I want to be the one who provides companies with the proper resources to counter new challenges through infocomm technology."

The IIS covers tuition fees, living allowances and a computer allowance. Scholars will also be able to gain up to six months of meaningful and relevant industry exposure and experience through local and/or overseas work attachment opportunities.

Industry attachment is something that another scholarship recipient, Chew Guang Hui, 17, is looking forward to. Guang Hui has chosen to do games design and development at Singapore Polytechnic (SP). "There is a wealth of opportunities available in the infocomm industry. I am almost guaranteed a job, or at least an attachment for six months," he said.

Guang Hui started learning how to use the computer when he was nine, and loves playing games. In particular he enjoys editing maps for multiplayer games.

Guang Hui: There is a wealth of opportunities available in the infocomm industry.

Said his mother Mrs Chew Mun Yoke, who was also at the award ceremony: "He plays games all the time. I have to stop him every 3-4 hours to eat, and to take a break." According to Mrs Chew, Guang Hui studied very hard for all his 'O' Level subjects, even Literature, so that he could do well overall and be considered for the scholarship.

It is such talent and passion that Singapore hopes to groom with the IIS. Said Ms Georgina Phua, deputy director of the School of Digital Media and Infocomm Technology at SP, "We want the best students to join IT, so we create awareness by sharing with potential students that there are scholarships available, that the Government is committed to this sector, and that there will be good jobs after they graduate. We want to develop students' confidence in this industry."

Said Mr Chan, "I encourage you (students) to challenge (yourselves) and push the boundaries of innovation. Set your sights high and who knows, we may well have another Jerry Yang or Mark Zuckerberg equivalent amongst us."