New training academy to equip more than 150,000 public officers with digital, data and AI skills

All public officers will need to complete mandatory foundational modules covering cybersecurity, data protection and AI literacy.

“These modules ensure that every officer has the essential knowledge needed to operate effectively in the digital government environment,” said MDDI.

Ms Lau said: “Many of our loyal and hardworking public officers have spent years building skills for their work. With the tools around them changing fast, this can feel exciting for some. 

“For others, it feels unsettling, as if the expertise they have worked hard to develop might be overtaken before they can fully use it.

“Our job is not just to offer comfort, but to build capability. To give them the confidence to use a new tool and think – I can work with this, I can ask the right questions and I can tell whether the output is good or not.”

The institute will provide targeted courses in areas such as product thinking, data governance and AI applications. These are open to all public officers. 

“These programmes are designed to build deeper expertise in critical areas that support digital transformation initiatives across agencies,” said the ministry.

“Working together with Civil Service College, the IDG aims to cultivate the right mindset and skillsets in every officer to design citizen-centric digital solutions and safely implement new technologies while protecting personal data and maintaining cybersecurity,” said MDDI.

Digital training for Cabinet ministers and senior public service leaders has started, added Ms Lau.

“Leaders set the conditions. When they understand the digital landscape, they can guide change confidently and ask their teams the right questions.”