Within the framework of the 'Digital Academy', Singapore's digital development experience has been explored.
As part of the initiative of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA), the next strategic session of the “Digital Academy for Executives” program was held in Singapore. The two-day session brought together senior officials from 10 Azerbaijani government institutions.
Throughout the program, discussions were held with leading experts from various Singaporean government agencies and research centers on topics such as the impact of digitalization on public administration, citizen-oriented digital services, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. The strategic approaches of both countries were also discussed.
On the first day, Deputy Chairman of IDDA, Shahin Aliyev, delivered the opening speech, emphasizing the importance of holding the "Digital Academy" in Singapore: “Singapore ranks 3rd in the UN's E-Government Development Index, and Azerbaijan has also been placed among the group of high-performing, developed countries in the latest report. Both countries have rich experience in digitalizing the public sector, and the Digital Academy plays a vital role in analyzing this experience.”
Following that, Professor Yaacob Ibrahim of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore gave a presentation on Singapore’s digital transformation history and its impact on governance, the economy, and society.
Dominic Chan, representative of Singapore's Government Technology Agency (GovTech), spoke about the key drivers of Singapore’s digital transformation, including the Smart Nation initiative, and the development of citizen-centered digital products such as LifeSG, GoBusiness, and Singpass.
In another session, Jacqueline Poh, Chief Executive Officer of JTC Corporation, presented Singapore’s experience in managing change and adapting government institutions in the context of digitalization. A panel discussion with experts from the Institute of Systems Science at the National University of Singapore focused on standardization in digital transformation and the importance of capacity building.
On the second day, topics such as urban digital transformation, AI applications in public services, and the role of cybersecurity in protecting digital infrastructure were explored.
At a meeting held at Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority, participants analyzed strategies for intelligent transport management and data-driven decision-making.
In a session with AI Singapore, participants explored the country’s national AI strategy and real-life use cases of AI in governance.
A discussion with Chua Kuan Seah, Deputy Director of Development at the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, highlighted the importance of coordinating cybersecurity efforts at the national level amidst growing digitalization. Topics such as the evolving cyber threat landscape, protecting critical information infrastructure, and developing cybersecurity human capital were also addressed.
To date, 57 senior officials from 43 government agencies—including deputy ministers, deputy heads, and advisers—have participated in the strategic sessions of the “Digital Academy.” As part of the ongoing initiative, several international visits have been organized. A visit to Berlin, Germany was held on January 27–28, 2025, and another one is planned for April 23–24, 2025, to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
