Our Story

Established in 1981, NUS-ISS nurtures digital talent for the industry through graduate education, executive education programmes, consultancy, applied research, and career services. NUS-ISS guides individuals and organisations to bridge future opportunities through a unique portfolio of multiple learning pathways such as blended learning and stackable programmes, leading the way in shaping the next curve of digital excellence.

NUS-ISS offers a wide spectrum of programmes in critical industry disciplines, such as digital leadership, software development, data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, product management, smart health and digital innovation.

To date, over 173,750 digital leaders and professionals, 8,110 corporate client organisations, and 7,660 graduate programmes alumni have benefitted from NUS-ISS’s suite of services. Its programmes are delivered by NUS-ISS staff with an average of more than 20 years of industry experience and supported by a strong network of partners.

NUS-ISS also works with industry partners and associations locally and globally to co-create a digital learning ecosystem that inspires and shapes solutions for the digital economy.

Our Vision

Accelerating Digital Excellence

Our Mission

Developing digital talent through education, applied research, consulting and career services

Our Core Values

INTEGRITY
We are honest, sincere and responsible in all our decisions and actions. We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards and respect diversity among staff, students, customers and partners.

INNOVATION
We continuously seek to inquire, learn, explore, experiment and implement challenging new ideas and solutions to deliver positive impact to industry and the nation.

INTERACTION
We love to communicate openly and share our knowledge with one another. We actively engage all our stakeholders to stay relevant to the needs of our market.

INFLUENCE
We strive to develop and inspire the next generation of leaders. We aim to do our very best to excel and be a role model to others, with speed, grace and humility always.

INTEGRATION
We work as one team in everything we do. We collaborate seamlessly and synergize to achieve common goals. We value the contribution of others and are eager to help others succeed.

Our Milestones

'Our Milestones' timeline brings you through our journey - from our founding in 1981 to what we have accomplished today. It records the launch of all our graduate programmes, our industry collaborations and recognitions, and significant events at NUS-ISS.

2020s

2022

Growth of our partnership with GovTech’s Digital Academy to include operations management for over 120 courses; and appointed as a training partner for Leading Digital Transformation for Directors, CIO Milestone Programme, Graduate Certificate on Designing and Managing Products and Platforms, and many other programmes.
Strengthened partnership with NCS as NUS-ISS embarks on a renewed phase of our partnership through the successful Nucleus Programme, with close to 330 NCS staff having completed graduate certificates since 2019.
Partnership with The Institute of Banking and Finance Singapore on the Technology in Finance Immersion Programme which aims to build up an industry pipeline of capabilities in key technology areas to meet the talent needs of the Financial Services sector.
Partnership with VISA on the Visa Technology Traineeship Programme, supported by IMDA, which accelerates professional development for fresh and mid-career professionals through on-the-job training.
Embarked on going global with its programmes e.g. conducted a Digital Leadership Programme for the Bank of the Philippine Islands leadership team, who flew into Singapore for a two-day course to gain insights about leaders’ role in shaping digital transformation, develop business agility, leverage design thinking for innovation, and more.
Launched Blended Learning Programmes to help participants build essential key digital skills beyond the traditional classroom model; and leverage a dynamic online platform with facilitated sessions that provide opportunities to collaborate, practice, and apply their learnings in real-life.
Launched the NUS-ISS Digital Futurist Challenge that rallied youths from local institutes of higher learning to envision a future desired scenario of Singapore in 2060, and design creative, digital-focused solutions to propel Singapore towards this envisioned state. In total, 242 students formed 59 teams which came up with solutions across three imperatives: Green & Sustainability, Health & Well-being, and Work & Learning.
To mark NUS-ISS' 40th Anniversary, the institute commissioned a series of paintings, titled "The NUS-ISS Heritage Project Singapore x NUS-ISS: Past, Present, Future", that showcases the transition and growth of the nation, as well as NUS-ISS, over the last 40 years.
NUS-ISS commemorated its 40th Anniversary with a gala dinner held on 30 November 2022 graced by Guest-of-Honour, President Halimah Yacob, Chancellor of NUS. Themed “Accelerating Digital Excellence”, the event was attended by 250 industry partners, stakeholders, alumni and distinguished guests including Mr Tan Kiat How, Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information, and National Development, and Ms Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Education and Manpower.

2021

NUS-ISS unveils new building and fresh initiatives to enhance digital talent pipeline in Singapore and beyond (Read more).
Launched the Digital Academy (DA) by GovTech over a symposium and week-long learning festival as DA’s operations partner. (Read more)
Partnered the Ministry of Health’s Office for Healthcare Transformation in organising a high impact designathon, Design4Impact (second edition) − a platform for participants to innovate solutions to strengthen mental well-being in the new normal.
Partnered Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital, a SkillsFuture Queen Bee organisation to provide mentorship support for community care organisations and social service agencies.
Partnered The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport to offer the Certified Digital Logistician course.
Strengthened partnerships with Certis Group, NTT Data, ST Engineering, Institute of Banking and Finance Singapore, Bank of Singapore, AMTD Digital and VISA.

2020

Appointed as The Digital Academy (TDA) operations partner, established by The Government Technology Agency (GovTech Singapore) for Whole Of Government (WOG).
NUS-ISS partners Infineon Technologies AG to make Singapore its first hub to embed AI in all job roles (Read more).
NUS-ISS introduces four digital initiatives as tributaries to Yishun Health's river of life blueprint (Read more).
NUS-ISS partners the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) to launch the Professional Diploma in Digitalisation for non-profits (Read More).
NUS-ISS collaborates with the Institute for Human Resource Professionals (IHRP) to transform human capital management with digital competency initiatives (Read more).
AXSI Digital Finance Leadership Programme launched in tandem with AMTD, Xiaomi Finance & SMU to develop the leadership capabilities of digital finance leaders in Singapore, South East Asia and Greater Bay Area in China (Read More).
Pivoted all programmes into synchronous online learning during COVID-19 and held first ever virtual Learning Festival to empower skills and career transformation (Read more).

Launched the SGUnited Skills Programme with 6 certifiable pathways for in-demand skillsets in Digitalisation; Data Science, Digital Solutions, Intelligent Systems, Smart Health and FullStack Software Development to address national challenges.
Became the first organisation in Singapore to be certified the ISO 29993:2017 (quality mark for CET) for NUS-ISS full suite of programmes.

2010s

2019

NUS-ISS and Singapore Business Federation (SBF) offer 3 new programmes to help firms boost digitalisation efforts ( Read more )
NCS partners NUS-ISS to train over 1000 Digital ICT talent over 2 years ( Read more )
Launch of NUS-ISS Jobs and Skills Portal ( Read more )

2018

All NUS-ISS courses mapped under the Skills Framework for Infocomm Technology
First batch of graduates from Master of Technology in IT Leadership (now known as MTech Digital Leadership)

2017

Achieved ISO 29990:2010 Certification
Launched the NUS-ISS Stackable Programmes

2016 - Celebrated NUS-iSS' 35th Anniversary

2016 - Launched the StackUp - Startup Tech Talent Development discipline

2016 - Launched the NUS-ISS Professional Conversion Programmes

2015 - Launched the Smart Health Leadership Centre

2015 - Launched the Master of Technology in IT Leadership programme together with NUS

2014 - Started co-organising hackathons with industry players with our graduate students participating & winning in some of them

2014 - Awarded the National Continuing Education Training Institute status by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency

2013 - Launched the Master of Technology in Enterprise Business Analytics programme together with NUS

2012 - Set up the Enterprise Social Business Centre of Excellence with IBM

2011 - Awarded WSQ Distinguished Partner award for outstanding contribution in the development and promotion of Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) programmes

2000s

2009 - Commissioned as the course and examination authority of the AiSP Qualified Information Security Professional programme by the Association of Information Security Professionals

2008 - Became the first Infocomm Continuing Education and Training Centre for the Singapore Workforce Development Agency

2006 - Formed the e-Government Leadership Centre, in partnership with Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy

2003 - Launched more certifications with partners: Infocomm Security (Ernst & Young), Mobile & Wireless Solution Architect (Siemens & Sybase) and Web Services in J2EE (Sun Microsystems)

2001 - Moved to new building at 25 Heng Mui Keng Terrace

2000 - Launched the Virtual Institute, a product of staff research into e-learning and instructional design, funded by Ministry of Manpower

1990s

1999 - Appointed the course and examination authority of the Certified IT Project Management programme (CITPM) by Singapore Computer Society (SCS)

1998 - ISS Research & Development became an independent organisation and was renamed Kent Ridge Digital Labs (evolved into today’s Institute for Infocomm Research)

1998 - NUS-ISS relocated to Science Park II

1996 - Rolled out Master of Technology course together with NUS

1995 - Received ISO 9001 certification for training and consultancy

1993 - Launched Graduate Diploma in Software Engineering

1980s

1989 - Launched Graduate Diploma in Knowledge Engineering

1987 - Partnered with National Computer Board (now known as Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore) and Singapore Economic Development Board to introduce the Small Enterprise Computerisation Programme for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

1985 - Ventured into large-scale Research & Development (R&D) activities

1984 - Moved into own building at 21 Heng Mui Keng Terrace

1981 - Launched Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis

1981 - Founded as an education institute offering senior executive seminars and the first IT project management training with a four-year partnership with IBM

Our Leadership

We wouldn't be what we are today if not for the vision provided by our leaders over the years. 'Our Leadership' timeline highlights the current and past chairpersons, as well as our management board. They all play an important role in providing strategic inputs to charting the direction of ISS.

Ms Janet Ang

Years Active: 2016 - Present

My aspiration is for NUS-ISS to build on its strengths as it continues to focus on nurturing leaders, transforming businesses, and developing practical ICT skills to enable the future economy, expand and deepen industry engagements, and to be the centre of excellence for all things digital and tech for continuing education in Singapore.

Prof Christopher Chia

Years Active: 2004 - 2016

From its beginnings in 1981, NUS-ISS has helped to educate and train people for the Information Age, creating a bridge to where we want to be in the future. It is a journey, and ISS will continue to prepare the ICT leaders of tomorrow, today.

Mr Michael Yap

Years Active: 1998 - 2004

NUS-ISS was there when the country took its first concerted step to push for an IT agenda. NUS-ISS was the institution that trained the first batches of IT professionals that led the nation in implementing our IT master plan. NUS-ISS was a pioneering effort. The spirit of being in the forefront, playing a critical role in the nation’s IT development has never left NUS-ISS. It has had many firsts, and will continue to innovate.

Mr Stephen Yeo

Years Active: 1997 - 1998

I presided over the period when old NUS-ISS was merged with ITI and new NUS-ISS was spun out. It was a period of change; it was a difficult period for people because it had operated in this way for 10 over years. The report card, as it turned out, was quite good. I think NUS-ISS has found its own niche since separation.

Minister Lim Swee Say

Years Active: 1994 - 1996

I hope NUS-ISS will always be a key pillar, a leading IT architect in updating, spearheading and reinventing our IT and ICT manpower strategies in Singapore and the region. After all, whether Singapore will be able to transform itself into a knowledge-based economy and information society depends a lot on our ability to nurture innovators and early adopters. This is a very important challenge for NUS-ISS and Singapore.

Dr Tan Chin Nam

Years Active: 1992 - 1993

NUS-ISS is inseparable with the national computerisation effort of Singapore since its inception. With various versions of the national IT plan, NUS-ISS is able to make itself relevant and this includes IT education, consulting and R&D. Our vibrant startup culture can be traced back to that phase of NUS-ISS development when IT R&D was part of its mission integrating Information Technology Institute of the National Computer Board. As we evolve our Intelligent Island to become a smart nation, NUS-ISS still has much to contribute.

Mr Robert Iau (late)

Years Active: 1981 - 1991

It was a collective effort, driven consistently by enthusiasm and excitement. It was a time of striking out into untested areas with only common sense and inspiration as guide. That it had succeeded was purely fortuitous and certainly not confidently anticipated.

Our Management Board >