SUTD and AI Singapore Partner to Build AI Engineering Talent Pipeline for Industry Needs

The Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and AI Singapore (AISG) will work together to jointly support the education and development of AI talent in Singapore.

Through a Memorandum of Understanding signed today, SUTD and AISG will share information on key initiatives such as Ecole 42 Singapore (42 SG)—a tuition-free, teacher-free, self-paced coding school hosted by SUTD—and AISG’s AI Apprenticeship Programme (AIAP), a nine-month full-time programme designed to groom local AI practitioners and enhance their career prospects with AI-related skills. The collaboration will encourage cross-enrolment by introducing AIAP to 42 SG students with a strong interest in AI, while also positioning 42 SG as a preparatory pathway for future AIAP applicants.

The partnership also paves the way for future collaboration with AISG’s LearnAI team to increase student exposure to AI. This includes invitations for 42 SG to take part in the AI Student Developer Conference (AISDC), as well as potential participation in the National AI Student Challenge 2026—an annual platform that nurtures students’ interests in AI through real-world challenges and mentorship.

On the importance of growing the AI engineering talent pipeline, Mr Poon King Wang, Chief Strategy and Design AI Officer at SUTD and Director of the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities, said: “SUTD firmly believes that AI is here to stay and will fundamentally reshape the way we live, work, and create. To thrive in this new era, it is imperative that Singapore’s workforce is equipped with the necessary skills and mindset. At SUTD, we have discovered how to nurture innovators who design human-centred AI—AI that elevates trust, safety, and human potential. We call this approach Design AI. This conviction to advance human potential led SUTD to make a bold pivot earlier this year to become the world’s first Design AI university. Through our partnership with AISG, we aim to nurture AI creators who think critically and design responsibly.”

Mr Laurence Liew, Director of AI Innovation at AI Singapore, also agreed. He said: “Singapore’s future competitiveness hinges on having a workforce deeply proficient in AI—not just technically, but with the ability to apply AI thoughtfully across diverse real-world challenges. Through our collaboration with SUTD and Ecole 42 Singapore, we aim to build a stronger, more diverse talent pipeline that is agile, industry-ready, and aligned with the needs of Singapore’s growing AI ecosystem. This partnership is key to ensuring that our AI workforce can keep pace with technological advances and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s digital future.”

Mr Koh Chye Soon, Head of Ecole 42 Singapore, added: “At 42 SG, we believe in empowering learners through self-directed, peer-to-peer, project-based learning, equipping them with both technical and soft skills—the same qualities that make for great AI engineers. We’re excited to collaborate with AISG to create new pathways into AI, and to inspire our students to build solutions that matter.”