To cater to the rising demand of professionals in data analytics and rapid growth of digital economy, Singapore Management University (SMU) and Google Singapore have signed an agreement to offer the SMU-Google Squared Data & Analytics Programme to undergraduate students of the University.
“This partnership marks the first time that Google is extending its Google Squared Data & Analytics Programme to the undergraduates of a local university,” said a press release issued by SMU.
The partnership was celebrated by SMU president Professor Lily Kong and Ms Stephanie Davis, Country Director of Google Singapore, at a special event organised to commemorate this partnership today.
At the event, Tan Kiat How, Chief Executive Officer of Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), was the Guest-of-Honour. About 400 people, comprising management and representatives from SMU, Google and Google partner companies, SMU students, prospective students and their parents, as well as government officials were present at the event.
This programme is open to all SMU students at its six schools from their second year of study. The collaboration with Google will provide SMU students with the opportunity to undergo a six-month extended internship programme at a Google partner company in the media industry and earn credit in the process.
Students of this course will return to campus for up to one day a week during term time to read up to two additional courses while on the work-study elective.
The six-month internship with a Google partner company will offer students with opportunities to analyse and propose possible solution for an industry-specific problem, demonstrate synthesis of information, apply their domain knowledge, and understand the industry contexts and constraints.
The SMU-Google Squared Programme aims to equip SMU undergraduates with industry-ready data analytics skills to contribute to the knowledge economy, and increase the availability of data analytics talent for the ecosystem.
Professor Lily Kong, president of SMU and Lee Kong Chian Chair Professor of Social Sciences, said, “SMU is delighted to partner with Google to provide experiential learning to our students through the SMU-Google Squared Programme. Not only will our students be able to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world problems during their internships with Google’s partner companies which hail from different industries, they will also gain valuable experience and obtain a better understanding of the demands and opportunities in the media profession. We believe that the programme will prepare our students to go on and create impact for these industries and the economy.”
Stephanie Davis, Country Director of Google Singapore, said, “In today’s digital-first economy, data-driven insights are critical to helping businesses stay ahead of their competition. We’ve seen great success across the four years working with IMDA on the Squared Data and Analytics programme to give more than 90 graduates a headstart in this fast-growing field, and it is heartening to hear how they are now utilising the skills in their respective companies to drive data-driven innovation.”
“We are pleased to extend our collaboration with SMU and play a part in preparing Singaporean undergraduates as they enter the workforce and take on a key role in transforming industries,” she added.
Tan Kiat How, Chief Executive of IMDA, said, “The ability to understand, manage and use data is a fundamental skill for the digital workforce. Therefore, we are pleased to support this collaboration between Google and SMU which will equip our undergraduates with data analytics skills, and offer them exciting opportunities to apply these skills at tech and media companies. We are investing, and will continue to invest, in the future of our workforce. In support of the partnership, IMDA will sponsor TeSA Awards to recognise the top student of each class in the SMU-Google Squared programme.”