School of Computing and Information Systems

SMU-KPMG Analytics and Cloud Technology Work-Study Programme in partnership with Google

This programme is a collaboration between SMU and KPMG in partnership with Google to develop qualified infocomm talents in various high-growth fields, specifically in data analytics and cloud technology. It embeds an industry or career certification in the undergraduate study to equip SMU students with professional and technical skills to increase employability. With the career certification, students are provided with an opportunity to undergo a six-month extended internship programme at KPMG. This is open to SCIS students and students with SCIS’ second major.

Students will be required to complete the following:

  1. IS464 Data Analytics and Technology Guided External Course

  2. IS491 Analytics and Cloud Technology Work-Study Elective (six-month internship)

Upon successful completion of the above requirements, students will receive a certificate of completion co-branded by Google, SMU and KPMG.

Programme Coordinator

LO Siaw Ling

Associate Professor of Information Systems (Education); Mentor, SCIS Pedagogy Course

Email: sllo@smu.edu.sg

What are the Programme Benefits?

This programme will provide the following benefits:

  • Ensure the continued competitiveness of Singapore’s infocomm manpower

  • Collaborate with KPMG to develop qualified infocomm talents in various high-growth fields, specifically in data analytics and cloud technology

  • Incorporate industry or career certification in the undergraduate study for SMU students to equip them with professional and technical skills to increase employability

  • Provide SMU students with the necessary knowledge and skills to deepen career-based knowledge and gain industry experience

Who are eligible?

  • SCIS students and students with SCIS’ second major

  • Must have completed at least 10 CUs at SMU

  • Must be able to complete degree and 2nd major (if any) requirements within the normal candidature period (4 years)

  • Must have good academic standing (not under Academic Probation or Academic Notice)

  • Must have no prior disciplinary records

Timeline

January - April

  • Shortlisted students will be enrolled in Data Analytics and Technology Guided External Course

  • All enrolled students will be awarded with Google Skills Ignition SG Scholarship to complete one of the Google Career Certificates

May - November

  • Six-month internship at KPMG from May to November

  • Enrolment in Analytics and Cloud Technology Work-Study Elective

  • Option to complete at most 2 CUs at SMU in Term 1, August to November (1 day a week)

FAQ on SMU-KPMG Analytics and Cloud Technology Work-Study Programme in partnership with Google

The GEC is structured as a guided-by-instructor course with content provided by Google through the Google Career Certificates (hosted on online learning platform, Coursera) together with guidance and assessments by SMU.

This GEC is a 1 CU pass/fail course with two components:

  1. Google Career Certificate from Coursera (25%)

  2. Instructor guidance and assessments (75%) from SMU

Students are required to successfully obtain the certificate before they can be awarded a ‘pass’ (at least 50% weightage of the course).

Students need to pass the GEC course to secure an internship position for IS491 Analytics and Cloud Technology Work-Study Elective. Students who do not complete GEC will be considered as failing the course (i.e., you will receive a F grade which will be counted towards your GPA) and will be disqualified from continuing the Program.

For this work-study internship course (2 CUs), students will alternate between working at least four days at KPMG, and studying on campus for up to one day each week, for a period of 6 months (e.g. May to November). This facilitates students in taking up to two additional courses while doing their internship. Note: Students will still be required to pay the regular term fees.

Students will be assigned to a SMU Faculty Advisor and an Internship Supervisor (from KPMG). Students will be required to submit a final work-study report that includes the following:

  • Background of the industry, and key business areas;

  • Description of work assignments and tasks using industry-appropriate language;

  • Analysis and proposed solution of an industry-specific problem, demonstrating synthesis of information, application of domain knowledge, and understanding of industry contexts and constraints;

  • Reflections of the work-study process, lessons learned and possible areas of improvement;

  • Report should be well-organised and concise

This course is graded on a pass-fail basis by SMU Faculty Advisor who will review the final work-study report and performance appraisal from the Internship Supervisor.

Students who have not completed any credit-bearing internships before embarking on the work-study scheme may also use this course to count towards the 1 CU for internship (with effect from AY2019 intake where the internship programme will be credit-bearing), provided that all the necessary internship requirements are met.

IMPORTANT: This course is non-droppable; students who enrol in this course MUST undertake the work-study to its completion. Failure to do so will warrant a F grade.

Yes you can, provided you are able to complete your degree and 2nd major (if any) requirements within the normal candidature period (4 years).

No, credit transfer for the 2 courses under the Work Study Program is not allowed.

For intakes AY2018-19 and earlier, you can count it towards SMU internship requirements; provided it satisfies the respective school's internship requirements, where applicable.

For intakes AY2019-20 and later, if you have not completed any credit-bearing internship before embarking on this programme, you may use this to count towards your SMU internship (ie. If you pass your WSE, you will be awarded 2 CU for "Course Areas (TBC)" + 1 CU for “Capabilities - Internship”).

In general, this course is NOT droppable. If you still wish to drop the course, please inform your SMU Faculty Advisor and Internship Supervisor immediately. If no valid reason is given and/or the reason is not accepted by both SMU Faculty Advisor and Internship Supervisor, you will be given a F grade for the course.

IS491 Analytics and Cloud Technology Work-study Elective is a pass/fail course and the evaluation is based on the following: a.  Satisfactory completion of the work stint, with input from the Internship Supervisor regarding student’s performance.  This will be based on the supervisor’s appraisal and verbal/written between the Faculty Advisor and the supervisor; and
b.  Satisfactory completion of the final work-study elective report.

You will be deemed to have not completed the Work Study Programme and will not be issued a certificate. If you’re using the work-study elective to simultaneously fulfil the mandatory internship requirement:

  • Fail grade is for disciplinary reasons > DKHMCC will not recognize the duration already performed towards any internship fulfilment.
  • Fail grade is for non-disciplinary reasons > DKHMCC will evaluate evaluate your internship performance to determine whether you meet the minimum requirements for successful completion of the internship requirement and you may still be granted 1 CU for internship requirement.

NOTE: You will also not be allowed to retake the course.

Yes, this is a work study programme. You are expected to enrol in IS491 Analytics and Cloud Technology Work-Study Elective, plus 1-2 CUs in the term that you are doing the Internship.

Subject to approval by the SMU Faculty Advisor and Internship Supervisor.

Yes, internship remuneration will be from KPMG and subject to their HR policies.

Yes, the programme is open to BSc (Software Engineering) students. However, both IS464 and IS491 are considered as free elective. More specifically, the work-study elective cannot be counted toward the 52-week apprenticeship.