SINGAPORE, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's leading IT company Huawei announced on Friday it reached an agreement with Singapore's famous educational provider Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) to establish an information and communications technology (ICT) academy as part of Huawei's global initiative to support ICT skills development.

According to a press release from Huawei, the partnership places strong emphasis on addressing the shortage of ICT professionals in Singapore by joint research, education and training programmes. It will also see the two parties set up a platform for technical collaborations between industry and government partners.

Aaron Wang Shaotong, Managing Director of Huawei's Enterprise Business Group in Singapore, and Lee Youn Kay, Director of NYP's School of Engineering, signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Huawei's OpenLab Friday.

Under the MOU, the not-for-profit academy, titled Huawei Authorised Information Network Academy (HAINA), allows NYP to deliver Huawei Certification training to their students.

Zhou Danjin, President of Southern Pacific Enterprise Business Group, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd, said that Huawei has a strong focus on helping the next generation develop the skills needed to drive innovations in technology.

"We are confident that our partnership with Nanyang Polytechnic will give students the opportunity to learn new and relevant industry skills, enabling them to fulfil their ambitions in science and technology and contribute to Singapore's digital economy," he said.

Lee Youn Kay said: "We believe this collaboration will allow our students to be better equipped with industry relevant ICT skills to meet the industry's strong demand for trained expertise. With this edge, they are well-poised to help transform the industry and work towards our vision of a Smart Nation."