BT’s Purposeful Business Invests in a Better Tomorrow

By BT Singapore

From partnering local schools to boost students’ cyber security skills to collaborating with social enterprises for good, BT steps up leadership in digital impact and social welfare to empower Singapore’s communities.

As a leading provider of global communications and security solutions, BT prioritises support for impactful communities at a grassroots level, building strong foundations to deliver lasting positive impact for Singapore and the world.

Launching the Schools Cyber Security Challenges

In line with Singapore’s continued efforts to boost cyber skills and guide youths throughout their cybersecurity journey, BT and Standard Chartered, a leading international banking group, recently launched a new cyber security educational programme in Singapore in December 2020. The Schools Cyber Security Challenges (SCSC) is a pilot initiative organised by the Tanglin Trust School (TTS), aimed at students between ages ten to eighteen. The programme aims to shape the future generation of digitally savvy young people to develop and refine their cyber security skills and encourage them to explore a career in the rapidly growing industry. The SCSC programme, designed to support in-class teaching, provides teachers with resources and an online platform that can be used as part of the existing information and communications technology (ICT) curriculum.

Increased connectivity has raised awareness of the risks associated with online activity; it is now a critical time to teach our students more about safe online navigation and the benefits of cyber security knowledge. The programme allows us to better equip our students to face real world issues and solve relevant cyber challenges - David Fourie, Assistant Head of Maths & Computer Science Faculty, TTS

BT and Standard Chartered have been working with TTS since July 2020 to integrate the SCSC into its existing E-Safety curriculum. The programme has been met with positive and supportive responses from both parents and students, with over 150 students participating in the courses to date.

We are excited to bring our exciting, awardwinning programme to Singapore. With its strong education system and digital infrastructure, Singapore provides the perfect environment for the SCSC to thrive. Promoting careers in cyber security among youngsters should help us address the skills shortages and help keep companies, governments, and individuals safe and secure online. We are committed to continue expanding the programme with strong, localised modules and bringing more local and international partners and schools on board. - Kevin Brown, Managing Director, BT Security

The programme currently offers five challenges on the topics of information privacy and security, web application security, data encryption and transmission, and wired and wireless network security. Designed on an engaging online platform and in a format that mirrors real social media networks, the courses appeal to young students, incentivising them to try out the various exercises.

The Challenges were first launched by BT in February 2019 with the Australian Computing Academy and several other partners in Australia. Within nine months, the programme had exceeded its two-year enrolment target and was introduced in Singapore in 2020.

BT and Standard Chartered Bank are working together to scale this pilot initiative and expand the programme to more schools in Singapore. The programme is aligned to BT’s wider Skills for Tomorrow initiative, geared at helping people make the most of life in the digital world, and Standard Chartered’s global initiative, Futuremakers, to help young people in our communities to learn, earn and grow.

Helping communities grow

Beyond building better digital lives for the next generation, BT also lends a helping hand by collaborating with charities, social enterprises, and service organisations dedicated to doing good for those in need. In 2019, BT hosted an inaugural Asia Middle East & Africa (AMEA) bake sale and raised funds for the Tabitha Foundation Singapore, a volunteer-driven nonprofit organisation established to help the people of Cambodia restore and rebuild their lives after decades of war, displacement, and inhumanity, through raising awareness of its transformational programmes and selling handcrafted silk merchandise produced by Tabitha’s silk cottage industry. BT also partnered with massage therapists from the Singapore Association for the Visually Handicapped (SAVH) and invited physiotherapists from Core Concepts to host a wellness day dedicated to strengthening health and wellness for the mind and body.

Last year, BT also made a contribution to non-profit organisation, Children’s Wishing Well, which provides a broad range of services for children and youth in Singapore from disadvantaged backgrounds. In addition to donating stationery and foldable umbrellas to its new learning centre, BT also sponsored seventy children for the FRESH programme, teaching them about nutrition, budgeting, and decision-making skills.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

BT operates in 170 countries and is one of the world's leading providers of commucations solutions and services.It's principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale. BT acquired Frontline Technologies, a leading regional IT services company, in March 2008. Visit www.globalservices.bt.com for more information.