Dell & ITE partner to launch VDI centre in Singapore

Dell Technologies and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) in Singapore have entered into a collaboration to establish a hybrid cloud Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Centre focused on digital skills development and AI adoption.

The VDI Centre, which can support up to 80 virtual machines, is designed to enable students to learn remotely using any web browser. This flexibility reduces the need for specific hardware, allowing for adaptable teaching methods. According to the announcement, the infrastructure is powered by Dell VxRail, ensuring performance and efficiency for student learning and resource access.

"Accelerating AI adoption for all is a purpose Dell and Singapore's National AI Strategy share as enabled by the Singapore FY2025 budget's Enterprise Compute Initiative dependent on reliable, local access to high-performance computing for AI development," commented Andy Sim, Vice President and Managing Director, Singapore, Dell Technologies.

Low Khah Gek, Chief Executive Officer, ITE, expressed the partnership's value stating, "By leveraging our partnership with Dell Technologies, we are not only enabling our learners to acquire new skills related to AI and virtualisation technologies but also preparing them for the future of work. The hybrid cloud VDI Centre empowers learners to access advanced tools and resources from anywhere, ensuring that our training remains flexible and impactful. Together, we are shaping an AI-ready workforce that will drive innovation and digital transformation in Singapore."

The establishment of the VDI Centre will include a Universal Omniverse Experience (UOX) which focuses on equipping both staff and students with essential digital skills. This will be achieved through initiatives in cloud computing, virtualisation, and AI, coupled with training, upskilling, and certification efforts.

The collaboration aims to bridge the AI skills gap by integrating academic and industry expertise. This initiative is intended to foster innovation and accelerate digital transformation, particularly relevant to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that seek to innovate within the AI domain.

In addition to equipping students with tech skills, the partnership will also host industry collaborations and workshops at the VDI Centre. These will support SMEs engaging in industry projects that leverage VDI technology, promoting cross-industry innovation and growth. Certification courses will be offered, providing participants with official recognition in AI and Data Centre virtualisation competencies.

Three key pillars underpin the collaboration: training, skilling, and certifying ITE staff and students to prepare an AI-ready workforce. Dell's role will include providing expertise in IT infrastructure virtualisation and hybrid cloud technologies crucial for AI deployment.