• Latest BrightSparks Scholarship and Education Survey show sharp increase
  in popularity of Computer Science and Information Technology courses
• Despite strong interest to apply for scholarships to finance further
  education, youths are worried about their academic abilities

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SINGAPORE -�Media OutReach�-�3 December 2018�-�Amidst a
backdrop of global interest in digital talent, local tertiary students are
choosing Computer Science/ Information Technology and Information Systems as
one of their most preferred course of study. Yet while most are keen to finance
their further studies with scholarships, many graduates are hesitant to apply
due to concerns over their academic ability. These are among the key findings
of the 2018 BrightSparks Scholarship and Education Survey.

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Held for the 11^th
year, the BrightSparks Scholarship and Education Survey is an annual study of
scholarships, higher education and career preferences of potential scholarship
recipients in Singapore. A total of 3,345 respondents, including top GCE 'A'
Level and International Baccalaureate (IB) students and graduates, polytechnic students
and university undergraduates, participated in this year's survey.

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Computer Science/
Information Technology and Information Systems courses are the most desired courses among top GCE 'A'
Level and International Baccalaureate (IB) graduates[1] ,
and among the top two choices for all respondents. Other popular courses
include Business Administration and Health Sciences. "The popularity of
computer science courses could be attributed to the fact that with the upcoming
trend of technology, there are excellent prospects and demand for people
trained in this field," said Premlesh Machama, APAC Region President of CareerBuilder Singapore.

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While applying for scholarships continue to be
the preferred option to finance further studies, the fear of not being able to
keep up with the required grades or not being able to meet the academic
requirements is one of the biggest barriers
across the board. "There is a predominant understanding that scholarships are
awarded only to top students with good grades. Academic grades are not the only
criteria, and there is a need to highlight to students other key attributes,
such as leadership skills and co-curricular activities involvement, that can determine
the outcome of getting a desirable scholarship," added Premlesh. �

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Other findings include:

• The Healthcare
  sector is the most preferred industry of work, a departure from 2017's
  Banking and Financial Services sector. Respondents
  were also very keen on the Public Service, Banking and Financial Services, Engineering,
  and Computer Software sectors.��
• Prominent scholarship providers
  such as the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technology remains
  among the top 3 favourites among the students. The increasing interest in the
  healthcare sector saw MOH Holdings rise significantly in popularity as the most
  preferred scholarship provider among polytechnic graduates, and one of the top
  5 overall options for respondents.
• Respondents were unanimous
  in the top three factors that makes an
  ideal job -- Having good career growth and opportunities, work-life balance,
  and job security. Other factors cited include having an interesting job scope,
  and being in a position to make a positive impact to society.
• Similar to 2017, most
  respondents expect a starting salary of S$3,001
  to S$3,500.

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For more information about BrightSparks and
CareerBuilder Singapore, please visit www.brightsparks.com.sg or www.careerbuilder.com.sg.

About BrightSparks

BrightSparks, owned
by CareerBuilder Singapore, is Singapore's most preferred Scholarship and
Higher Education portal. It seeks to offer Junior College (JC), Polytechnic and
Undergraduate students a wealth of comprehensive information on the latest
scholarships and higher education choices.

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About CareerBuilder
Singapore

CareerBuilder Singapore is part of
the CareerBuilder family - a US recruitment giant and a global leader in the
human capital solutions. Today, CareerBuilder has a global presence in more
than 60 markets and over 2,800 employees worldwide.�

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CareerBuilder Singapore has a team
of more than 80 well-trained professionals. Our expertise is in working with
top employers across industries to help them with their recruitment process -
from acquiring to hiring. Coupled with our global resources and expertise in
the Southeast Asian talent recruitment arena, it helps us stay ahead of the
industry curve.�

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CareerBuilder Singapore seeks to
provide our clients with an end-to-end delivery. Our expertise and experiences
include (but are not limited to):

• Innovative
  ready-solutions that can be fully customised to your unique business needs
• Integrative
  marketing
• Creative
  services
• Client
  management and fulfilment
• Product
  specialisation