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ISCA Academy Launches Hands-On AI Programme Across ASEAN to Close Finance Skills Gap

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New initiative equips finance, audit and accounting professionals with immediately applicable AI skill from Excel automation to AI agents as demand for practical AI capability accelerates across the region

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 April 2026 – As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly shifts from experimentation to everyday business use, the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) Academy has launched a hands-on AI training programme across ASEAN to address the region’s growing skills gap in finance and accounting.

Designed for immediate workplace application, the new programme equips finance, audit, and accounting professionals with practical AI capabilities, from automating Excel workflows and extracting data from documents to building dashboards, generating presentations, and deploying AI agents to support complex processes.

Developed in partnership with Singapore-based AI training specialist Skybots, the programme focuses on real-world tasks using widely accessible tools such as Microsoft Copilot, enabling participants to deliver tangible productivity gains from day one.

Leveraging ISCA’s network of overseas offices, the initiative will be rolled out across key ASEAN markets including Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, with an initial target to train 2,500 finance professionals in the first phase, positioning Singapore as a regional hub for applied AI capability in finance.

Ms Cyndi Pei, Chairperson of ISCA Academy, said the programme represents a strategic response to a rapidly evolving profession: “The window for treating AI as a theoretical topic is closing. Finance professionals across ASEAN are now expected to apply AI in their daily work — safely, effectively, and immediately. ISCA Academy is stepping up to lead this transformation regionally, ensuring professionals across Southeast Asia have access to practical training that delivers real outcomes, not just awareness.”

Immediate Impact in the Workplace

Unlike traditional AI programmes that focus on concepts, ISCA Academy’s approach is fully task-based. Participants work on real scenarios such as financial analysis, document review, reporting, and workflow automation, producing outputs they can directly replicate in their roles. Across pilot sessions, participants have reported completing tasks in minutes that previously took hours, a shift that compounds quickly across teams and reporting cycles.

A key differentiator is its emphasis on responsible AI use, embedding considerations of confidentiality, ethics, compliance, and governance into every module, which are critical for regulated professions.

Early pilot sessions have demonstrated measurable impact. Dr Jenny Tan, Head of Group Internal Audit at CapitaLand, noted: “What stood out about the Practical AI programme was how hands-on and relevant it was. Rather than focusing on theory, our staff came away with techniques they could use from day one and we have observed a real shift in how our team approaches their daily work.”

Built for Mainstream Professionals

The programme is designed for broad accessibility, requiring no coding knowledge or significant technology investment. Participants learn to leverage free and low-cost AI tools to enhance productivity and output quality.

Mr Daryl Aw, Founder and Director of Skybots, who brings a unique background as both a Chartered Accountant and three-time UiPath Most Valuable Professional (MVP), said the programme demystifies AI for finance professionals: “There is a common misconception that AI requires technical expertise or large budgets. In reality, the tools are already available. What professionals need is the confidence and practical know-how to apply them effectively and responsibly. This programme is built to deliver exactly that.”

Regional Rollout and Expansion

The first phase of the programme launches in mid-April, focusing on audit, accounting and finance professionals across the private sector, public sector and charities. A second phase in the third quarter will expand coverage to additional sectors including tax, corporate secretarial, human resources, banking and finance, and legal.

Through its regional network, ISCA Academy aims to train finance professionals across ASEAN and support broader efforts to accelerate digital upskilling and strengthen workforce competitiveness.

A Broader Shift Across Industries

The initiative reflects a wider transformation across ASEAN, where AI adoption is expanding beyond technology teams into core business functions. Finance, public sector, and corporate professionals are increasingly using AI for practical applications such as extracting insights from unstructured data, streamlining compliance workflows including KYC and AML checks, and automating reporting processes.

The message from ISCA Academy and Skybots is consistent: meaningful AI adoption does not require large budgets or deep technical expertise. With the right training, professionals across ASEAN can begin generating real value from AI from day one.

Hashtag: #ISCA #DifferenceMakers #Accounting #Accountancy #CharteredAccountants #ChooseAccountancy #AI #ArtificialIntelligence

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) Academy

The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) is the national accountancy body of Singapore. Established in 1963, ISCA administers the Singapore Chartered Accountant Qualification programme and is the designated entity by the Singapore Ministry of Finance to confer the Chartered Accountant of Singapore [CA (Singapore)] designation.

ISCA supports over 43,000 members across industries in Singapore and globally, with members in more than 40 countries. With a growing international presence, ISCA has 12 overseas chapters, 7 offices across 10 countries and a network of over 150 strategic partners, strengthening professional connections and opportunities across borders. ISCA is also a member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide, a global network representing more than 1.8 million Chartered Accountants and students across over 190 countries.

ISCA advances professional development and lifelong learning through ISCA Academy, its training arm and drives community impact through ISCA Cares, its charity arm.

ISCA Academy, the leading business school of ISCA, delivers immersive, industry-informed learning across accountancy, finance, technology, governance, and leadership. We equip learners to reskill, reconnect, and reinvent – empowering them to stay relevant and ahead by choice.

For more information, visit .

Skybots Pte Ltd

Skybots is a Singapore-based specialist in practical AI training and automation solutions, serving organisations across the public and private sectors. The firm has a particularly strong presence in the finance and accounting community, working closely with finance, accounting, audit, tax and corporate secretarial professionals to apply AI to real workplace tasks. Founded by Daryl Aw, a Chartered Accountant (CA) under ISCA and three-time UiPath Most Valuable Professional (MVP), Skybots designs and delivers hands-on programmes that equip professionals with immediately applicable skills — without requiring technical backgrounds or large technology budgets.

Skybots serves clients across Singapore and internationally, with training delivered in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Bhutan. It is a recognised training partner of ISCA and sits on ISCA’s AI Solutions Sub-Committee.

For more information, visit .

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SIM Global Education Showcases Project 1095 Through Student Clubs

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SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 30 April 2026 – As higher education continues to evolve beyond academic achievement, Singapore Institute of Management Global Education (SIM GE) is reinforcing its commitment to holistic student development through Project 1095, a strategic initiative designed to maximise every day of a student’s three-year university journey.

Built on the belief that university life extends far beyond lectures and examinations, Project 1095 represents SIM GE’s vision of a fully integrated student experience where academic learning is complemented by co-curricular engagement leadership development and personal growth. At the heart of this initiative lies a vibrant ecosystem of student clubs which play a pivotal role in shaping a meaningful and transformative university experience.

With more than 80 student led clubs across sports arts culture special interest groups and student governance SIM GE provides students with diverse opportunities to explore their passions, build communities and develop essential life skills.

A Structured Approach to Holistic Education

Project 1095 named after the 1095 days that make up a typical three-year university programme offers a structured framework that encourages students to make the most of their time on campus. Rather than viewing student life as supplementary, SIM GE positions it as an integral part of the educational journey.

Through this framework student clubs serve as practical platforms for experiential learning, enabling students to apply classroom knowledge in real world settings. Whether organising large scale campus events, leading committees or collaborating with peers from diverse backgrounds, students gain hands on experience that fosters confidence, adaptability and resilience.

Fostering Belonging in a Diverse Campus Community

Beyond skills development, student clubs are instrumental in cultivating a strong sense of belonging among SIM GE’s diverse student population. With a wide range of international cultural and interest-based groups, students can connect with like-minded peers while also broadening their perspectives through cross cultural interaction.

Project 1095 emphasises this aspect of community building, recognising that a supportive and engaging campus environment contributes significantly to overall student wellbeing and success. By participating in club activities students are encouraged to form meaningful relationships and create lasting memories throughout their university journey in SIM.

Preparing Future Ready Graduates

As employers increasingly seek graduates with strong interpersonal and leadership skills, SIM GE’s focus on co-curricular engagement aligns closely with industry expectations. Through its student clubs and Project 1095 framework, students actively take on roles such as organising campus wide events, leading club committees, managing projects and collaborating with peers across diverse backgrounds. These hands-on experiences enable students to develop critical competencies including leadership, communication, teamwork and problem solving in real world settings. For instance, students gain practical exposure by planning large scale events, coordinating with stakeholders and taking ownership of initiatives, allowing them to translate classroom knowledge into actionable skills.

Through Project 1095, SIM GE aims to produce well rounded graduates who are not only academically prepared but also equipped with confidence and global outlook needed to thrive in an evolving workforce.

Making Everyday Count

Project 1095 underscores SIM GE’s belief that university is more than earning a degree, it is about making every one of the 1095 days meaningful. By embedding student clubs and co-curricular experiences into the student journey, SIM GE delivers a holistic education that goes beyond the classroom. Through these experiences, students are empowered to grow, build connections and develop the skills needed to thrive in a dynamic global environment.

References

  1. Life at SIM CCA – https://www.sim.edu.sg/degrees-diplomas/life-at-sim/co-curricular-activities
  2. SIM Global Education – https://www.sim.edu.sg
  3. Project 1095 – https://project1095.simge.edu.sg
  4. Building Leadership Through CCAs Enhancing the SIM Experience – https://regional.simge.edu.sg/en/building-leadership-through-ccas-enhancing-the-sim-experience/

Hashtag: #SIMGlobalEducation #SIMGE #GlobalEducation #InternationalDegree #CareerReady #FutureSkills

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About SIM Global Education

SIM Global Education (SIM GE) is a leading private education institution in Singapore and the region. We offer more than 140 academic programmes ranging from diplomas and graduate diploma programmes to bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes with some of the world’s most reputable universities from Australia, Canada, Europe, United Kingdom, and the United States. SIM GE’s cohort is made up of 17,000 full- and part-time students and adult learners, of which approximately 41% are international students hailing from over 50 countries.

SIM GE’s holistic learning approach and culturally diverse learning environment aim to equip students with knowledge, industry skills and employability competencies, as well as a global perspective to succeed as future leaders in a fast-changing, technologically driven world.

For more information on SIM Global Education, visit

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A Diamond Is Forever Partnered With Artifex Bride By Kindred Lubeck To Bring Desert Diamonds To The Tanner Fletcher Wedding Runway Show

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This marks the debut of Artifex Bride

NEW YORK, US – Media OutReach Newswire – 30 April 2026 – A Diamond Is Forever partnered with Artifex Bride by Kindred Lubeck to bring Desert diamonds to the Tanner Fletcher Wedding Runway Show during NYC Bridal Week, reinforcing its continued commitment to championing emerging design talent.

The theatrical wedding and formalwear runway show, designed by Tanner Richie and Fletcher Kasell, took place on April 8th at St. Bartholomew’s Church. As part of the show, A Diamond is Forever brought Desert diamonds to the runway from its creative community, featuring Artifex Bride – and the debut of Kindred Lubeck’s first-ever bridal collection.

The collaboration reflects A Diamond is Forever’s role as curator—bringing together diverse creative voices to reinforce the enduring relevance and appeal of natural diamonds in today’s evolving bridal landscape.

Kindred Lubeck launched Artifex Bride on April 10th, following the global launch of A Diamond is Forever bridal campaign. The collection introduces nine rings, including classic engagement rings and wedding bands, along with five pieces of classic bridal jewelry, including a stylized tennis bracelet, drop earrings and a pendant necklace, each centered around antique-inspired natural diamonds in warm tones and featuring her hallmark engraving technique. The night provided a directionally romantic look for brides today, embodying the enduring beauty and individuality championed by A Diamond is Forever.

From Taylor Swift’s Engagement Ring to Bridal Collection Debut

Historically, Kindred has focused solely on one-of-a-kind pieces, the most recent of which were auctioned at Sotheby’s. After widespread attention following Taylor Swift’s engagement, Lubeck faced pressure to release a bridal line immediately. But Kindred moves with intention. This capsule is the result of months of design development and careful stone selection. It marks her first step toward creating accessibility within her notoriously exclusive brand, which normally services only ten commissions per year.

Kindred’s approach to stone selection is deeply intuitive. The entire collection is built around antique cuts, the so-called candlelight diamonds with big, chunky facets that catch and hold the light in a way modern stones simply don’t. She sorted through hundreds of natural diamonds with warm, desert tones and chose seven that she felt were the most timeless and relevant. Her particular fondness for the elongated old mine cushion comes down to two things: the elegance of the shape, and the romantic intrigue of antique cutting.

As demand for Kindred’s work has grown, custom commissions have become increasingly hard to come by. It was important to her to create an avenue for people to find her work in the bridal category. Her limited drop model means an Artifex piece will always be rare, but no waitlist or custom order is required to get one. While the engagement rings are ready-to-ship, the five bridal pieces will be made-to-order in limited quantities.

Featuring an engraved tennis bracelet and hoop earrings, these bridal pieces mark new territory for the brand. Kindred intended to create jewellery that could be worn the day of, and every day after that, a reflection of the modern bride’s desire to invest in pieces that transcend the wedding day. The collection brings signature engraved elements to new categories; though varied in form, all the pieces have intricated, handcrafted techniques that are core to Kindred’s aesthetic and background as a goldsmith.

Kindred has retained full ownership of Artifex since its inception, because creative control is central to everything she does. That independence shapes how the brand grows, deliberately and on her own terms. Looking ahead, she plans to release a limited bridal collection on a quarterly basis, each one a continuation of the same obsessive attention to stone and craft that defines every Artifex piece.

A Contemporary Expression of “Forever”

The collaboration between A Diamond Is Forever and Artifex Bride goes beyond partnership—it offers a contemporary interpretation of what “forever” truly signifies. Not uniform perfection, but character shaped by time; not excessive brilliance, but a warmth that quietly endures. Like Desert diamonds, each piece embodies gentle strength and individuality, echoing the singular paths, promises, and stories of the couples who choose them.

Hashtag: #AdiamondisForever #Desertdiamonds #NaturalDiamonds #Bridal #KindredLubeck #ArtifexBride #TannerFletcher



The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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CyCraft XecART and XecGuard Recognized in OWASP AI Security Solutions Landscape

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TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 30 April 2026 – OWASP, the international non-profit cybersecurity organization, has released its latest AI Security Solutions Landscape. XecART and XecGuard of CyCraft (7823.TW) have both been selected. Their inclusion spans three critical domains: Agentic AI, LLM & GenAI Apps, and Agentic Red Teaming, showcasing CyCraft’s technical leadership in the global AI security market.

XecGuard provides real-time detection of potential risks in Agentic AI and LLMs, achieving management visibility through quantified metrics.

Navigate Top 10 Risks of Agentic AI as Security Demand Surges

OWASP has long been dedicated to promoting global software security standards, with its “OWASP Top 10” regarded as a vital industry benchmark. As AI adoption accelerates, the AI security frameworks proposed by OWASP have become essential for global enterprises evaluating AI risks. The recently published OWASP 2026 Top 10 Risks for Agentic Applications points out that since the second half of 2025, the rapid rise of Agentic AI has introduced new threats beyond traditional LLM risks, such as “Agent Goal Hijack,” “Tool Misuse and Exploitation,” and “Rogue Agents.”

As enterprises accelerate the deployment of Generative AI and AI Agents, risks such as model misuse, Prompt Injection, data leakage, and autonomous agent malfunctions are escalating rapidly. AI security has shifted from an optional add-on to a fundamental component of corporate infrastructure. Being included in the OWASP global landscape signifies that CyCraft’s product capabilities have garnered significant attention and validation from the international community.

From Testing to Operations: CyCraft Builds a Closed-Loop AI Security Ecosystem

CyCraft’s core philosophy is “AI Safety is a standard, not an option,” echoing OWASP’s direction of seamlessly integrating security defenses into AI development and operational lifecycles. XecART and XecGuard provide comprehensive protection across critical enterprise AI deployment scenarios:

  • Test & Evaluate: XecART conducts multi-turn dialogue testing and autonomous Red Teaming for risks such as target misalignment, Prompt Injection, and tool abuse. It helps enterprises verify that AI Agents remain secure, stable, and compliant within complex multi-agent environments.
  • Operation: XecGuard provides continuous monitoring and analysis of dialogue content to detect whether AI Agents are being induced to execute Tool Calls that deviate from their assigned tasks or generate unsafe workflows. Furthermore, XecGuard offers both API and Gateway modes to meet diverse industry requirements for regulation, data sovereignty, and deployment, allowing for rapid integration with existing AI applications, agent architectures, and internal workflows.

Empower Developers: XecGuard Community Support Program

To further empower the AI developer community, CyCraft is now launching the XecGuard Community Support Program (CSP). Eligible open-source project maintainers and contributors can receive a free three-month subscription to XecGuard Lite upon successful application, with no fees required during the program period.

【How to Apply】Please fill out the form at the application website: https://go.cycraft.ai/xecguard-csp

Benson Wu, CEO and Co-founder of CyCraft, stated: “Our inclusion in the OWASP landscape confirms that CyCraft’s innovative energy aligns with the global needs of AI development. We have fully integrated Red Team validation and Blue Team governance into enterprise DevOps and SecOps workflows, providing world-class solutions for emerging risks in LLMs and Agentic AI. Security should not be a barrier to AI innovation, but rather the engine that accelerates it. We sincerely invite global AI pioneers to join hands with CyCraft, ensuring every step of your AI roadmap can move forward with confidence and speed.”

Market expectations suggest that AI security will become one of the fastest-growing sectors in corporate cybersecurity spending. CyCraft’s continued recognition by major international organizations not only highlights Taiwan’s R&D prowess in AI security but also bolsters the company’s expansion into overseas markets to capture new opportunities in the AI era.

Reports

OWASP, AI Security Solutions Landscape For AI and Agentic Red Teaming Q2 2026, 4 April 2026.
OWASP, Al Security Solutions Landscape For LLM and Gen Al Apps Q2 2026, 17 March 2026.
OWASP, AI Security Solutions Landscape For Agentic AI Q2 2026, 17 March 2026.

Hashtag: #CyCraft #XecART #XecGuard

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About CyCraft

CyCraft is a leading AI cybersecurity company, dedicated to automating cybersecurity with AI technology. With a proven track record in government, finance, high-tech semiconductor, and other industries, and strong recognition from international institutions, CyCraft continues to build Asia’s most advanced AI Security Operations Center, fully committed to safeguarding enterprise digital resilience.

CyCraft’s product suite encompasses AI Red Teaming for automated validation of Large Language Model (LLM) security and strengthening cloud and on-premise AI models with AI Guardrail technology—aiming to build multi-layered cybersecurity resilience for the entire AI ecosystem. The XCockpit AI platform integrates three pillars of XASM (Extended Attack Surface Management): EASM, IASM, and automated endpoint protection, providing enterprises with proactive, preventative, and real-time deep defense.

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