Talent shortage in ICT industry

             The country is facing a shortage of talents versed in Information and Communications technology industries, Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said.

             He said a healthy pool of human capital in all industries is needed to ensure the country develops holistically. 

The main problem is mismatch between what is being taught in colleges/universities and what the industry requires.        

“There are many job opportunities in every sector but if everyone wanted to be a doctor then we would have a shortage of skilled workers in other areas.”

        Also, most students have the wrong understanding on ICT industry. ICT is an area that requires extensive and continuous upgrading of knowledge. Technology evolves so fast until that this you learn can easily be outdated by the time you graduate. Finally, the results a student gets may not accurately represent his/her interest or understanding of the course. Some courses have simplified their syllabus, thus students don't learn as much as their predecessors.

“It is important for students to be realistic and aim for a career path which is suited to their capabilities,” he said at a press conference after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TARC) and IBM (International Business Machines) Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

The MOU is for IBM to set up a centre of excellence (COE) at the college’s main campus here, aimed at enhancing the information technology (IT) curriculum at TARC to graduates and postgraduates.

Under the collaboration, TARC will provide teaching facilities while IBM will lend their leading software, courseware, training and testing tools for varsities, and the participants will be given a professional IBM certification.

TARC principal Dr Tan Chik Heok said the academia-industry collaboration was in sync with the college’s strategy to innovate and be responsive to market needs.

“Our collaboration with IBM will enable TARC to produce quality ICT graduates, who will contribute to the nation’s development in this sector,” he said.

He said there had been a significant dip in students enrolling into ICT courses over the past several years.

IBM Malaysia managing director Ramanathan Sathiamutty said the collaboration was an example of the company’s ongoing effort to bring innovation and progress to the nation.

“The country’s shortage of ICT talents becomes apparent when IBM struggles at times to recruit new staff.”

“ICT is an important sector as most businesses nowadays use technologies which require ICT experts to manage and service,” he added.

`Lifelong learning essential'

PETALING JAYA: Lifelong learning is recognised as a key component in addressing and solving major global issues.

These matters include illiteracy, ill health, poverty alleviation, social cohesion and inclusion, sustainable development and empowerment of women, said Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

She was delivering a luncheon address at the 15th Malaysian Education Summit 2011, organised by the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute, here yesterday.

Speaking on Nurturing The Young Minds -- Building a Foundation for Lifelong Learning, she said the growing interconnections of individuals, communities and societies across the globe, "require us to reinterpret old ways of thinking and doing".

"In these new socio-political-economic contexts, voluntary and self-motivated lifelong learning in pursuit of knowledge have come to be more appreciated than ever before.

"In addition to the various opportunities available for updating one's cognitive, social and creative skills, fundamental to lifelong learning is the capacity to learn, unlearn and relearn as well as the motivation to acquire new knowledge and competencies."

Thus, basic literacy and numeracy skills were prerequisites, she said.

They must also be complemented with skills in information technology, capabilities in information-seeking, reasoning and problem solving, foreign language mastery and a sense of entrepreneurship and passion for learning, Rosmah added.

"All these competencies must be acquired from early childhood.

"Each step in the learning process builds on previous success - from birth right up to adult learning.

"Children are born ready to learn and the family and home environment are central to their socialisation process and the perpetuation of family and spiritual values."

To develop their thinking skills, she said they must be given opportunities to personally interact with the environment and be allowed to construct new knowledge and values based on concrete experiences.

Laying a solid foundation to nurture the children would yield immense future benefits, Rosmah said.

She also said the challenge in inculcating lifelong learning included understanding its significance in formulating education policies, programmes and projects for social and economic development for the 21st century.

She felt the responsibility should not only be borne by the government but should be a collective effort by schools, families, communities, non-governmental organisations and the private sector.

USIM joins INCEIF's long list of MoU partners

 

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between INCEIF and Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) today which will see INCEIF's flagship programme, the Chartered Islamic Finance Professional (CIFP), be introduced to USIM students.
At the signing ceremony held at USIM, President & CEO Dato' Agil Natt signed for INCEIF and witnessed by Head of Economics and Governance Department and Professor of Applied Finance, Prof. Dr. Syed Abdul Hamid Aljunid while USIM Vice Chancellor Professor Dato' Dr Muhamad Muda signed for USIM.

Dato' Agil Natt (second from left) exchanging the MoU document with Prof. Dato' Dr Muhammad Muda.

It is hoped that the MoU would provide a framework for cooperation for mutual and joint collaboration, promoting and undertaking research and development as well as training and education in Islamic finance.
USIM is the 12th public university established by the Government and was known as Kolej Universiti Islam Malaysia (KUIM). Among its objectives are to enhance the Islamic education system to enable it to be part of the mainstream education system while putting emphasis on the use of information technology.

E-University project at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris

 

Tanjung Malim, 27th February 2001- Magnifix Sdn Bhd, Malaysian leader in open source solutions, today announced that the company had secured the E-University project from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI). The 1.15 Million project includes supplies, integration, installation, development and implementation of solutions, software, hardware and network equipment for the University "Electronic University" plan.

Solution included in the project are Linux as overall platform, Red Hat High Avaliblility for server clustering, WebCT for the E-Learning, Decosoft and SiteScape for workflow and intranet application and Netscape Delegated Server. The project is plan to be completed by April 2001. UPSI will be arguably the first higher learning institution in the country to adapt linux for their E-Learning initiative.

" The university is a huge Linux user and has always a firm believer of a solution , Now they are expanding and thus putting more trust on the platform." Commenting on the appointment of Magnifix by COO, Meor Fauzi.

For additional information, visit www.magnifix.com. Media should contact Syed Azlele at Magnifix (603 4142 1775, syed@magnifix.com).

About Magnifix Sdn Bhd (Magnifix)

Magnifix Sdn Bhd is a leading Total Linux Solutions Provide with vast experience in offering solutions and services in Internet, Intranet and Extranet areas. The company formed in 1997, also distributes and supports the full range of cost-effective software for Linux.

Todate, the company has provided solutions and consultancy services to large, mid-sized and small organisations. Magnifix is also the authorized distributor and support for SuSE and Red Hat Linux in Malaysia. For more information on Magnifix, please visit Magnifix.com.my or its' development portal at workconnect.com.my.

About Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI)

Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), situated in Tanjong Malim, Perak was established in 1997. UPSI's vision is to become an unique higher learning institute with high quality teaching methods to produce an intellectual breed of graduates.

Beginning next year, the universiti intends to offer degree programs and in conjunction with this, a few new faculties have been set-up, the IT Communications Faculty, Sports and Recreational Faculty and Management Faculty, as additional to the existing faculties.

The universiti has over 3,258 students in year one, out of which 2,463 of them are based at the Tanjong Malim campus and 795 students at ten other teacher's training institutes. In the new millennium, UPSI is expected to have about 15,000 students and hopes to be able to help local education market achieve its Vision 2020 targets. UPSI's website is at www.upsi.edu.my