Singapore just got a new accelerator for its AI talent pipeline. Workato, the automation giant known for its “agentic orchestration” platform, has launched the AI Institute Alliance, a collaboration with seven of Singapore’s leading universities and polytechnics aimed at equipping the next generation with the AI and automation skills enterprises are already demanding.
Higher Ed Meets Industry Reality
Partners include Nanyang Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore University of Social Sciences, and the National University of Singapore. Together, they’ll embed enterprise-level AI and automation training into curricula, blending academic theory with practical workflows.
Simon Chesterman, Senior Director of AI Governance at AI Singapore and Vice Provost at NUS, framed the challenge in his keynote, The University Disrupted: Higher Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: “Graduates need adaptability and resilience to survive and thrive… you’ll never truly finish your education—we all need to be lifelong learners.”
From Classroom to Enterprise
Workato isn’t new to Singapore’s education push. Over the past three years, it has trained 3,000+ tertiary students in automation and integration, with alumni landing directly into projects at companies like PSA Singapore and NTUC FairPrice Group.
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At PSA, Workato-certified students and a lecturer helped automate onboarding and offboarding processes.
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At FairPrice, student talent supported a Digital HR project that uses the in-house app MyApp to manage flexible work arrangements, with Workato running the integrations and compliance in the background.
Now, the Alliance formalizes and scales this kind of collaboration. It includes mentorship, internships, and direct industry exposure, positioning graduates for jobs that matter immediately.
Bridging the AI Skills Gap
The launch featured a panel—Bridging Education and Enterprise: Preparing the Next Generation of AI Leaders—moderated by Workato CIO Carter Busse, with leaders from PSA and FairPrice sharing perspectives on AI skills gaps.
June Lee, Workato’s SVP and GM for APAC, said the alliance is about more than skills: “We’re not just teaching technology, we’re shaping the future of work by creating good jobs and better lives for all Singaporeans.”
Aligned with Singapore’s AI Strategy
The Alliance dovetails with Singapore’s National AI Strategy 2.0, emphasizing reskilling and AI readiness across sectors. Students will work hands-on with Workato’s platform to build AI agents, apply generative AI to business processes, and even participate in competitions like the National AI Student Challenge 2026, where Workato will sponsor a track.
Why It Matters
With global enterprises already struggling to hire AI talent, this initiative could give Singapore an edge. While US and European programs focus heavily on research, Workato’s approach leans into workplace readiness—training students to build usable AI solutions, not just study them.
If successful, the AI Institute Alliance could become a model for other nations looking to close the AI talent gap while strengthening ties between academia and industry.
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