3,000 year-long internships to be offered to tertiary students as AI reshapes entry-level jobs

It aims to equip students with government-specific domain knowledge and an understanding of public-service requirements, preparing them for technology careers in the public sector and companies providing digital solutions to government agencies.

The pathway is part of IMDA’s broader efforts to complement students’ technical capabilities with industry-specific knowledge.

The government is working with partners on a HealthTech pathway for 2027, Mr Tan said.

EMPLOYERS MUST RECOGNISE SKILLS AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE

As students are asked to go beyond qualifications and apply skills and demonstrate what they can do, employers must also be prepared to recognise and value these capabilities, Mr Tan said.

He noted that more than 200 employers had pledged support for skills-based hiring under TIP Alliance+.

“A diploma or degree remains valuable. But qualifications alone cannot tell an employer everything about a person’s potential,” Mr Tan said.

Employers should translate these commitments into actual hiring practices, from how jobs are advertised and candidates assessed to how skills and experience are recognised, he added.