Ask Ong Yi Xin about the ins and outs of developing an app, and industry terms such as “agile methodology” and “journey mapping” slide off her tongue easily. Indeed, she speaks with such confidence that most people would probably assume that she’s been in the industry for some time.
The fact of the matter is that Yi Xin, who graduated from Raffles Institution and is waiting to begin her studies in computer science at National University Singapore (NUS), is currently an intern at the HTX’s Civil Defence Programme Management Centre (CDPMC).
In her role as a product assistant at CDPMC, she was part of the team responsible for developing the Global Engagement Management System (GEMS) for SCDF, which uses GEMS to gain a comprehensive understanding of past interactions, ongoing activities, and future engagements for all local and overseas events involving key stakeholders.
Finding a good fit
Yi Xin shares that she found her internship opportunity through the PSC iExperience Internship Programme, which gives pre-university and university students opportunities to work at public sector agencies.
When she saw the GEMS project, which was housed under the SCDF-HTX Digital Factory’s product team, she immediately felt it was the perfect fit.
“In the past, I had only worked on the hardware components of robotics, so I saw this as an opportunity to explore the software side of things,” she says, adding that she also liked how the project would directly benefit SCDF officers.
Another reason why she picked HTX was that it allowed her to make a positive difference in society, something she has been doing for the past few years as a volunteer who helps the migrant worker community in Singapore.
Candidly, Yi Xin admits that she “didn’t know what to expect” when she joined HTX. She confessed that she initially thought the process of app development to be a straightforward one in which users put forward a need and developers create features to solve that need.
Instead, she has discovered that the process of conceptualising, researching, testing and refining the solution is an iterative and collaborative process that involves numerous discussions between app users and developers.
“Many processes were completely new to me, but my mentor, Natalie, patiently helped me to learn the ropes. Thanks to her guidance and support, I am now responsible for user test case sessions, where we carry out various processes to ensure that our solutions meet the needs of the SCDF users. I’m also working on a user manual to guide user in using the GEMS system!” she quipped.
HTX intern Ong Yi Xin (left). (Photo: HTX)
Eager to learn
Apart from learning about User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) design during this internship, Yi Xin has also gotten a glimpse into how the SCDF operates through a series of ideation workshops.
In addition, she has attended HTX events such as TechX Summit 2024, a biennial international conference that brings together government representatives, industry leaders, operational experts and many more to share and discuss the latest trends and innovations in homeland security.
During this major event, an exhibition by university students just a few years older than her turned out to be a source of inspiration.
“This exhibition gave me hope that I could also be involved in developing impactful solutions when I’m in university,” she explained.
“I believe that the skills I’ve picked up at HTX will allow me to do just that!”
Ready to do meaningful work like Yi Xin? Applications are open now! Find out more about internships at HTX here.