The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has partnered with Microsoft to advance the implementation of principles and tools for the development of green technologies locally and globally.
They will be developing a joint framework that outlines guidance for the development of sustainable software.
The framework will be applied through the Singapore GreenTech Challenge, where local developers will be invited to build sustainable and carbon-aware applications that will contribute to the energy reset pillar of the Singapore Green Plan 2030. The framework will also be shared globally when ready.
Besides that, the partnership will curate and encourage the adoption of sustainable technology solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Those solutions will empower businesses to measure, track and report their carbon emissions as they manage and optimise their resources more easily.
This will include the curation of sustainable solutions such as the Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability, together with advice on governance frameworks such as sustainable operating models or compliance structures that can help SMEs kickstart their sustainability journey by measuring, tracking and reporting their carbon emissions.
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“Investing in the creation of sustainable, meaningful innovation today will be critical to creating broad economic growth for our future, and it’s a journey that we, as Microsoft, cannot embark on alone. By igniting deep ecosystem partnerships across the public and private sectors, I’m confident that our focus on sustainability will contribute to widespread human progress and improve the lives of all those around us, as we build a resilient, digitally inclusive Singapore,” says Lee Hui Li, Singapore managing director of Microsoft.
Kiren Kumar, deputy chief executive of IMDA, adds: “Singapore is well-placed to lead in the digital sustainability space in Southeast Asia. This partnership will result in innovative digital sustainability solutions that can be applied to global businesses, which will provide positive change to our global environment and create a sustainable future for all.”
Closing the gap between skilling and employability in Singapore
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Microsoft is also collaborating with the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) to launch its first Datacenter Academy (DCA) in Asia.
The Singapore-based DCA is a five-year commitment to empowering 300 ITE students with applied data centre skills.
Starting January 2023, ITE will offer the DCA curriculum to students across all three ITE Colleges from the Work-Study Diploma programmes in Data Centre Infrastructure & Operation, Mechanical & Electrical Services Supervision, and Logistics & Supply Chain Management.
The curriculum aligns closely with the core competencies required for data centre roles across the tech sector focused on data centre infrastructure management, IT support, troubleshooting and mechanical services. It also includes experiential training across areas including artificial intelligence, data analytics, automation and cybersecurity.
Through this data centre-focused curriculum, students can acquire knowledge and earn a Certificate of Completion or a Diploma. This gives students industry-relevant accreditations for a career in technology.
As students hone their data centre skills in ITE, they will also be one of the first in Singapore to use servers at their Datacenter lab on campus, which were donated by the Microsoft Circular Center in Singapore.
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Microsoft’s first Circular Center in Asia aims to bring us closer to eliminating electronic waste and responding to the needs of our planet. Photo: Microsoft
The Microsoft Circular Center enables the reuse and repurpose of decommissioned cloud computing hardware from Microsoft’s data centres. The global programme aims to reuse 90% of cloud computing hardware assets by 2025.
At the Datacenter Lab situated in ITE College East, students will be able to practice and apply their technical knowledge through hands-on learning experiences in a real-world setting.
They will be able to practice skills such as cable installations, data centre physical infrastructure management, parts replacement, physical hardware troubleshooting, and hardware and network diagnostics.
To further prepare ITE students for a career in the data centre industry, Microsoft employees will provide support and mentorship guidance through regular engagement with DCA participants and graduates. This will give students workplace and career coaching from industry experts and provide them with an opportunity to strengthen interview and resume-building skills.
“As we embrace digital perseverance across business, government and our local communities, we remain focused on making intentional investments in Singapore as we deepen our ecosystem of partnerships. This will strengthen our capabilities at all levels of society and deliver broad, inclusive economic growth for our shared future,” says Lee Hui Li, Singapore managing director of Microsoft.
