Founded in 1981, the Institute of Systems Science (Abbreviation: ISS;Chinese: 新加坡国立大学系统科学院) at the National University of Singapore provides graduate education, executive education, consultancy and research services. Its objectives are to develop infocomm leaders, and to drive business and organisation innovation.
Contents
- Founding
- Foray into Research Development
- Post graduate Programmes
- Accreditations and Certifications
- Singapore e Government Leadership Centre
- Partnerships
- Graduate Programmes
- Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis GDipSA Programme
- Master of Technology MTech Programme
- Executive Education Programmes
- Consulting Services
- Career Services
- References
NUS ISS is appointed the National Continuing Education & Training (CET) Institute (NCI) for the National Infocomm Competency Framework (NICF) by Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA). It is also a Programme Partner for WDA's Service Excellence Competency & Creative Industries Frameworks.
The institute is accredited by international and local accreditation, and certification bodies to deliver programmes that lead to recognised certifications and qualifications. It also conducts research, organises management, technology and innovation update seminars, and provides consulting services to the industry. The Singapore e-Government Leadership Centre (eGL) in ISS helps government leaders to innovate and transform through e-Government education, and consulting and research.
To date, over 94,000 infocomm professionals, 5,200 corporate customers and 4,500 post-graduate alumni members have been through the doors of ISS. Its programmes are delivered by ISS staff with an average of more than 10 years of industry experience.
Founding
In the 1980s, when the world was on the verge of high-technology industrialisation, Singapore discovered that it had only 900 IT professionals in the whole country. The country needed at least 700 technology professionals a year, but the university was only graduating 40 per year.
Focusing on graduate IT education, as part of Singapore’s National IT Plan, ISS was tasked by the Committee for National Computerisation (CNC) to be the pinnacle of manpower training in information technology. This initiative was led by Dr Tony Tan, then Chairman of the CNC and Ministry for Trade and Industry (the current President of Singapore), and Mr Philip Yeo, the first Chairman of the National Computer Board, who established a group tasked to lead the technological development of Singapore.
With the support of IBM Singapore, a four-year partnership with NUS was secured to guide the development and growth of the Institute. The Institute of Systems Science was officially founded in 1981.
Foray into Research & Development
ISS ventured into large-scale Research & Development activities in 1985, securing yet another 4-year partnership with IBM Singapore for their support in developing ISS’ applied research capability. Later on, the ISS R&D Group gave birth to SingaLab in 1992, Imagine Lab (later renamed Pixaround.com) in 1996, and Star+Globe Technologies (later acquired by Languageware.net and renamed Wholetree.com) in 1997. In 1998, to consolidate R&D efforts in Singapore, the ISS R&D arm was merged with the NCB Information Technology Institute and renamed the Kent Ridge Digital Labs.
Post-graduate Programmes
It launched its very first programme – the Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis – in 1981. Later on, it launched the Graduate Diploma in Knowledge Engineering in 1989, and the Graduate Diploma in Software Engineering in 1993. The Master of Technology in Software Engineering and Knowledge Engineering programmes were launched in 1996, together with the NUS School of Computing and School of Engineering. In 2013, it launched the Master of Technology in Enterprise Business Analytics programme together with NUS.
Accreditations and Certifications
In 1995, ISS received the ISO 9001 certification for training and consultancy.
In 1999, ISS was appointed the course and examination authority of the Certified IT Project Management programme by Singapore Computer Society.
In 2000, ISS launched the Virtual Institute, an e-learning platform, which was funded by Ministry of Manpower. In 2003, it launched more certifications with industry partners such as Microsoft (Diploma in certifying web services professionals), Ernst & Young (Infocomm Security), Siemens & Sybase (Mobile & Wireless Solution Architect) and Sun Microsystems (Web Services in J2EE).
In 2008, ISS became the first Infocomm Continuing Education and Training Centre for the Singapore Workforce Development Agency.
In 2009, ISS was commissioned by the Association of Information Security Professionals as the course and examination authority of the AiSP Qualified Information Security Professional programme.
In 2011, ISS was awarded the WSQ Distinguished Partner award for outstanding contribution in the development and promotion of Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) programmes.
In 2014, it was awarded the National Continuing Education Training Institute status by WDA.
Singapore e-Government Leadership Centre
In 2006, the Singapore e-Government Leadership Centre (eGL) was set up in collaboration with Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore.
Partnerships
In 2010, ISS co-organised a regional Cyber Security conference with the National Defense University, USA.
In 2012, ISS collaborated with IBM, and with the support of IDA and WDA, to set up the Enterprise Social Business Centre of Excellence.
Other partners include:
Graduate Programmes
The Institute of Systems Science (ISS) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) offers a suite of practice-based programmes to help infocomm professionals innovate in their careers and develop competencies to implement methodologies, processes and best practices. All graduate programmes lead to the award of a qualification by NUS.
Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis (GDipSA) Programme
The Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis programme is designed for graduates who recognise the need to equip themselves with the latest IT knowledge and skills, and who wish to advance their careers in their current fields. It also provides an opportunity for non-IT graduates who are interested in crafting a new career path in the IT industry.
Since its inception in 1981, the 13-month full-time programme has produced over 2,000 IT professionals in positions such as Systems Analyst, Systems Programmer, IT Consultant, Application Engineer and Web Developer.
Master of Technology (MTech) Programme
The Master of Technology Programme offers master's degree in Software Engineering, Knowledge Engineering and Enterprise Business Analytics. These master's degrees emphasise on techniques and technology, as well as internationally recognised methodologies. The MTech programme is available full-time or part-time and allows IT professionals with the opportunity to develop their capabilities and advance their career.
The MTech (SE) programme highlights the understanding and exploitation of advanced technologies and management disciplines. It focuses on the practical application of innovative techniques and on developing the IT professional's capability for innovation, creating technologically aware software Project Managers and management-aware Software Architects.
The MTech (KE) programme focuses on the concepts, techniques and methods of Intelligent Systems, and their application to the development of data analytics applications. Graduates from this programme are able to solve business problems with Intelligent Systems concepts, techniques and methods, as well as lead the development of Intelligent Systems using existing tools and techniques.
The MTech (EBAC) programme develops new practitioners and upgrades entry level IT practitioners to specialist or expert level through providing practical Business Analytics skills and knowledge, so as to satisfy the demands of the industry. Graduates of the programme are capable of discovering insights from data, analysing sales channels and applying concepts and techniques to solve major business problems.
Executive Education Programmes
ISS conducts executive education programmes for infocomm professionals. Some of the programmes are accredited by the National Infocomm Competency Framework (NICF), the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) and Service Excellence Competency Framework (SVCF) and are co-funded by WDA.
Our executive education programmes are categorised into the following practices:
Consulting Services
The nature of ISS' consulting services has been strongly influenced by its tradition in education. It seeks to achieve specific results for client organisations, to ensure that they take ownership of the results, are able to fully utilise and integrate the results in subsequent phases of work, and preferably be able to carry out similar work in future independently. ISS is unique in its ability to offer a blend of customised education and facilitative consulting to achieve these ends.
Career Services
ISS provides a suite of career services, including Career Fairs, to better equip full-time graduate students and unemployed short course participants (NICF) on career development and planning skills. The intent is to enhance employability in the Infocomm industry.