foodpanda inks gift agreement with SUTD to nurture Singapore’s tech talent of the future

27 Mar 2023

(L-R) Sebastian Rodriguez, CTO, foodpanda; Professor Chong Tow Chong, President, SUTD; and Professor Phoon Kok Kwang, Provost, SUTD.

foodpanda announced a three-year partnership with the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) to support digital upskilling for students as part of SUTD’s 42 Singapore programme. 
 
foodpanda and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) have entered a three-year partnership to equip students with digital capabilities to be relevant in the future. This partnership, part of SUTD and Ecole 42’s collaboration programme, will provide SUTD’s 42 Singapore students access to foodpanda’s mentorship and internship opportunities with a focus on giving tech talent a launchpad to enter the tech industry once they graduate.

This partnership is part of foodpanda’s PowerUp! Tech academy that comprises programmes and partnerships to grow the tech talent pool and bolster the tech ecosystem. During the ceremony, foodpanda reiterated its commitment to the partnership with a $600,000 monetary donation towards SUTD’s 42 Singapore programme. This is Singapore’s first tuition-free, no instructor programme. The funds will be allocated over a period of three years, from 2022 to 2024, and will be channelled towards organising upskilling initiatives like workshops and events.

“It is exciting to see agile learning come to life through such unique programmes such as Ecole 42,” shared Sebastian Rodriguez, CTO of foodpanda. “At foodpanda we’re always challenging ourselves to do more and build tech for a purpose. By bringing together aspiring students and mentors with the same passion, we are committed to creating an inclusive tech ecosystem that we believe will help drive and progress digitalisation, not only in Singapore but the wider Asia region.”

“As Singapore aspires to unlock the full potential of its digital economy, we are excited to partner with foodpanda. Their timely support and collaboration with 42 Singapore enables us to offer a transformative digital skills development pathway for future tech talent. Our aspiration at SUTD is to equip and continually shape socially aware, adaptable and responsible talent who will have fulfilling careers and catalyse positive impact in a rapidly changing world,“ said SUTD provost, Professor Phoon Kok Kwang.

Building a strong and integrated digital core
According to a recent research by Google and Temasek, Singapore’s Internet economy has potential to grow further at 19 per cent to reach USD 22 billion by 2025, with the highest proportion of digital consumers compared to the region. As a result, merchants are more inclined to deepen usage of digital services. This partnership is therefore critical to develop a strong tech talent pipeline that supports the imminent growth of Singapore’s digital economy.

The scope of the three-year partnership entails the following:

1. Internship opportunities: Over the course of the three years, foodpanda will offer 42 Singapore’s students internship opportunities in its tech teams. This will provide aspiring talent with valuable exposure to gain professional working experience within a world-class tech team and learn how to apply their knowledge to real-life scenarios.

2. Mentorship programmes: Students will have the opportunity to enrol in foodpanda’s mentorship programme where they will have direct access to the tech team’s resources and executives. Through this one-on-one interaction with senior leaders, foodpanda aims to not only equip them with the right digital skill sets but also inspire talent.

3. Employment opportunities: Those who successfully complete the programme will be given hiring priority by foodpanda if there is an applicable job opening.  This paves the way for foodpanda to grow its community and equip future generations with the technical skill sets valued in an increasingly digitised world.

4. Industry guidance: foodpanda’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Sebastian Rodriguez, will join 42 Singapore’s Advisory Board, providing counsel on key industry trends and advocating for other businesses to support the programme. His guidance will also ensure SUTD’s programmes are relevant and value-adding to students and the wider tech community.