It’s hard to deny that areas like data analytics and cyber security are becoming increasingly important in any field of work.
Think: Data analytics will come in handy when figuring out if your latest campaign worked, or if productivity is an issue that needs to be addressed ASAP; and cyber security is useful in ensuring that all those confidential documents stored in the cloud remain confidential.
But getting started on these courses can be both expensive and time-consuming.
This sentiment is especially so for bosses, who inevitably wonder if the courses would lead to higher-skilled employees.
Applying for, and attending courses don’t need to be such a gamble, however. In fact, they are good bets for bosses to invest and develop their employees for a long-term win.
To get started on your journey in these areas, check out Critical Infocomm Technology Resource Programme Plus (CITREP+), a programme under IMDA’s TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) initiative.
CITREP+ supports local professionals in acquiring or enhancing technical skill sets through broad-based short duration courses and certification.
Working with training providers to curate and offer quality infocomm professional development courses and certifications, CITREP+ offers both classroom-based courses and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) to cater to various schedules and learning styles.
To help employers and employees out with the fees, the programme also offers financial support in the form of generous subsidies.
For example, companies can receive attractive subsidies for the courses, capped at a maximum of $3,000 per trainee.
Individuals who want to self-sponsor their learning journey would also be able to receive subsidies, capped at a maximum of $3,000 per trainee.
But where does one even begin? What are the keywords to look out for when choosing a course?
Let’s look at a few up-and-coming sectors, and go through some of the courses you can sign up for to get better acquainted with them!
Cyber Security
Technology is evolving constantly, and has become an integral part of our lives.
From transferring funds to friends using PayNow to checking on our financial health, we leap from device to device seamlessly, performing transactions without any hassle.
At home, we’ve also gone beyond simply connecting our phones and tablets to Wifi – we can also connect our air-conditioning units (and even our fridges) to control them remotely.
Given our increasing reliance on technology, imagine what would happen if our system’s security is compromised.
This is where a sound understanding of cyber security comes in handy.
To acquire fundamental knowledge and essential skills of cyber security ranging from installing security systems and troubleshooting issues, to performing preventive maintenance on PC, digital devices, and operating systems, you can check out Avantus Training’s CompTIA A+ course.
If you want to understand how malware and destructive viruses function, the Certified Professional Ethical Hacker course by BridgingMinds Network is for you.
During this course, you will also learn how to implement counter responses and preventive measures when a network hack occurs.
Internet of Things
One of the more popular Internet of Things (IoT) devices that has thrilled Singapore consumers recently is the Google Home.
Like a personal butler, the Home is able to turn off your lights, or even lower your TV volume with just a verbal command.
It’s not just smart home devices, though. IoT also constitutes of cars, factories and just anything that can be connected to the internet.
Beyond just using them, if you’re interested in designing and developing smart IoT applications, the Certified Internet of Things Professional course by RapidStart would show you how.
It would also cover machine learning for IOT, and teach you how to understand IoT middleware.
Similar yet slightly different from this course is the Certified Internet of Things Specialist course by the same provider.
This course would focus more on the core technologies behind IoT, exploring the infrastructure, communication, sensor technologies, networking technologies and security aspects of IoT.
Data Analytics
Especially useful if you hold a managerial position, data analytics isn’t just another buzzword – it’s an important skill to have when moving your business forward.
Even if you don’t have a consumer-facing operation, data analytics can help you manage employee productivity and even make better decisions which can lead to cost savings in the long run.
Taught by a 4-person team made up of Stanford-educated, ex-Googlers, and exFlipkart Lead Analysts, the SGLearn@From 0 to 1: Spark for Data Science with Python course will teach you how to use Spark and Python for data analytics, machine learning, and data science.
While the course is especially useful to analysts and data scientists, those simply interested in data science may also attend the course.
For those who want to have a sneak peak of how analytics is used in the real world, SGLearn@R Programming: Adv Analytics in R for Data Science is another option you can consider.
During the course, you will also get to interact with unique datasets and engaging exercises.
Do note, though, that you will need to have basic knowledge of R, the GGPlot2 package, dataframes, vectors, and vectorised operations – so sorry, newbies.
Courses That Your Boss Will Approve Of
There is a huge range of courses available under CITREP+ – there are more than 100 industry-recognised certs and courses, and more than 40 course providers, ranging from tech giants like Hewlett-Packard to universities like NUS.
There’s definitely something for everyone who’s interested in boosting their tech skills.
But perhaps the most compelling reason you can give to your boss is that these courses are subsidised under the CITREP+ programme.
We’ve only shown you a few of the available courses on the programme, so do check out the full listing of approved courses here, and show this article to your boss ASAP!
This article was written in collaboration with Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).
