The bank is playing an active role in developing Singapore’s IT talent
Regional bank DBS is aiming to develop its next generation of IT talent with the launch of its own digital training academy. Nearly 5,000 employees are expected to benefit from the in-house training focused on honing the “most cutting-edge” skills of the future, the company announced.
The bank’s Future Tech Academy will use blended learning strategies, enabling participants to test concepts and apply their skills in real-world IT projects initiated by the bank.
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DBS plans to enlist tech experts from outside the company to lead the training while developing its own curriculum and certification programmes. The institute will specialise in three disciplines: site reliability engineering; data processing and analytics; and application security. More programmes are scheduled to be added in the next 12 months to cover other skills relevant to finance and tech.
Learners will also gain access to supplemental digital resources from O’Reilly and Pluralsight so they can develop competencies in a “just-in-time manner,” the company said.
“DBS is always looking for innovative ways to maximise the potential of existing and emerging technologies,” said Jimmy Ng, group chief information officer at DBS. “Having our own DBS Future Tech Academy gives us the agility to adapt our training curricula according to the bank’s needs and enables us to stay ahead of the massive changes around us.”
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DBS is also playing an active role in developing home-grown IT talent as a way to support Singapore’s Smart Nation initiatives.
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“With digital trends and adoption set to accelerate in the next normal, technology will continue to be a core driver of change in the way we live, work, and play. Growing the pool of technology talent in Singapore will place the country in good stead as we respond to the disruptions ahead,” Ng said.
Apart from establishing its own brand of training, DBS is also sponsoring the upskilling of about 200 trainees. Young talent will undergo skills certification through the Future Tech Academy while enjoying free access to the same digital libraries used by full-time employees.
By cultivating the trainees’ foundational skills in tech, DBS is hoping they “pursue a longer-term career in technology regardless of whether they stay on with the bank after their traineeships”.