As part of Alibaba’s efforts to nurture future research and development (R&D) talents from Singapore, PhD students in the country now can get a chance to study and spend part of their education at one of Alibaba’s research facilities.
Partnering with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), Alibaba Group has launched the Alibaba Talent Programme in Singapore on Monday (Sept 3). Under the four-year programme, the company expects to equip postgraduate students with critical R&D skills through practical work experience on projects with the online retail giant.
The participants will spend part of their PhD studies at one or more of Alibaba’s research facilities, including the Alibaba-NTU Singapore Joint Research Institute at NTU, Alibaba’s first facility of its kind outside of China. Other such facilities include various Alibaba campuses in Hangzhou and Beijing, China. Students will benefit from access to large data samples and business scenarios from Alibaba as they participate in research projects led by Alibaba and universities here, Straits Times reports.
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Apart from financing their PhD studies, each participant will receive a monthly stipend of $5,000, as well as getting mentorship by a main supervisor from the enrolled university and co-supervisor from Alibaba. If scholars show outstanding performance during their studies, they will have the opportunity to join Alibaba as permanent employees in the future.
Ms Xiangwen Liu, senior director of Alibaba Technology Strategy Department, said, “Singapore prides itself on world-leading educational and research institutions as well as its strong pool of talent. Through this programme…we want to identify and nurture the next generation of R&D talent from Singapore and further strengthen the research community here.”
Professor Lam Khin Yong, co-chair of the Alibaba-NTU Singapore Joint Research Institute and NTU’s vice-president of research, said NTU is committed to training artificial intelligence (AI) and data science talent to support Singapore’s Smart Nation vision.
He added that all students at the Alibaba-NTU Singapore Joint Research Institute would have hands-on experience in developing and deploying systems involving AI, data analytics, blockchain, and cybersecurity among other things.
Singapore citizens and permanent residents who graduated from any local university or selected top-ranked universities around the world are eligible to register the programme. The first intake will commence in January next year, and is set to consist of between 20 and 30 students. As the talent programme focusses on advancing R&D in computer science areas, candidates must have relevant bachelor’s or master’s degrees, among other things. The programme is accepting applications until Oct 31.
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