Limkokwing creativity grooms ICT-savvy talents

An advocate of creativity and innovation since the 1970s, the Limkokwing University of Creativity Technology (LUCT) is taking the lead by producing graduates equipped with the right skills and capabilities to drive the ICT industry and their careers.

ICE- a way of life

Information technology is very much a part of everyday life: the computer occupies a central position not only in business organisations but increasingly in fields as diverse as manufacturing to space exploration and banking.

This has created a wealth of opportunities for Malaysia, which is moving into a high-income and innovation-driven economy, one area that well-qualified ICT graduates are able to provide the momentum to propel it.

Geared for success

The LICT Faculty of Information and Communication Technology offers internationally-recognised BSc degrees including Mobile Computing, Games Technology and Business Information Technology, as well as postgraduates studies in Computer Networking and Communication. Delve into the exciting world of ICT where you will get to learn all you’ve ever wanted to know about:

• Games Programming
• Digital Modelling and Animation
• Artificial Intelligence
• Interactive Multimedia
• Real-Time Systems
• Internet Security Knowledge
• Grid Computing

High-flying ICT careers

The programmes are tailored to ensure graduates are industry-ready and able to blend in with different cultures and nationalities, making them attractive to potential employers.

Some of the career options one would consider as an ICT graduate would be:

Chief Information Officer (CIO)
A CIO heads the IT group within an organisation, and usually reports to the chief executive officer (CEO). You will be the visionary ICT leader, spearheading ambitious projects that will enhance the growth and business strategy of the organisation and will be responsible for the overall strategic direction and management of the organisation’s IT infrastructure.

Security Analyst
As the person ensuring the security of the organisation, you will have to be privy to security breaches and network intrusions. The guardian of the ICT hardware and software, you handle all security documentation and assess the suitability of new technologies on existing or planned systems.

Analyst Programmer
This role requires knowledge of a variety of programming languages. If you’re good at programming, you will enjoy installing, designing, modifying, testing and writing programmes, and supporting work teams and solving problems with software.

Blending the world’s diverse cultures

The Limkokwing campus in Cyberjaya is an experience unlike any other. Students from all over the world converge, making it a dynamic multicultural environment with 70% of the 9,000 students coming from over 160 countries worldwide.

The university has some 30,000 students studying in its 12 campuses in Botswana, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lesotho, Malaysia and the United Kingdom. A big part of its appeal is the university’s innovative brand of creative education that merges the best of East and West education.

WOU and Jobstreet hold public lecture on IT

Wawasan Open University (WOU) and JobStreet are jointly organising a free public lecture on current job opportunities for IT professionals at the WOU main campus at 7.30pm on September 23rd. This is the first in a series of joint public lectures held by the two organisations.

The talk titled “What can I do with my IT qualification in the current market” will be presented by WOU’s School of Science and Technology senior lecturer Ishan Abeywardena.

The talk will identify job opportunities by looking into current technology trends as well as new technologies which could provide fresh IT professionals with an added advantage in the industry. The software development industry is a continuously changing and evolving sector which creates new opportunities with each new technology and trend.

The past few years have reshaped the software development industry by emphasising more on the quality of a solution and user satisfaction rather than on cost savings achieved by outsourcing. The rise of mobile technologies and the accessibility of information through mobile broadband and Web2.0 have also opened up new avenues to explore, while the trends towards working from home, freelancing and starting up an online business have become highly sought after options for IT professionals.

The speaker, Ishan, has experience in UK and Sri Lanka in software development, web development, e-commerce, project management and R&D. He received both his Master’s degrees, in Wireless Enterprise Business Systems and Engineering Management, from Brunel University, Middlesex, UK. Prior to joining WOU, Ishan was posted in the UK as the Operations Director for a new generation web solutions company and was in charge of all local and

on-line education and training programmes through Unitar.

KUB Malaysia Berhad today announced a major strategy change in the company's operations--a shift of focus into the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) as core business.Listed on the Main Board of the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, KUB is already well known for its diverse operations in the property and construction sector, plantation as well as its consumer products.

As for its shift of focus into the ICT industry, company chairman and chief executive officer Hassan Harun said the sector's contribution to company revenue last year "has amply justified it.""We have found our calling, that is, we are now in ICT. Last year's revenue of 69 percent was derived from ICT and ICT-related businesses," he said.

Hassan was speaking to newsmen after chairing the company's 35th annual general meeting here.

He, however, stressed that KUB would not abandon or reduce its position as a major player in the properties and plantation sectors.Instead, these sectors have been streamlined using ICT to make them more productive and cost-efficient, he said.Among KUB's flagship business in its ICT division is its on-line education and training programmes through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Universiti Tun Abdul Razak (Unitar).Unitar also has the distinction of being Malaysia's maiden virtual university and KUB's first ICT application.

Hassan was also asked whether KUB would consider being a venture-capitalist to fund potential cyberpreneurs in setting up dot com entities.

"At the moment we do not have such plans. But KUB has the capability to turn existing business into e-commerce. KUB can assist existing world class companies in Malaysia who are in traditional business to go e-commerce," said Hassan.

For the year ended December 31, 1999, KUB posted a net profit of RM123.9 million, from a net loss of RM64.9 million in 1998.Hassan also disclosed that KUB's capital expenditure for its ICT division this year would be RM90 million.From that amount, its e-media subsidiary, VisionScape Sdn Bhd and Unitar would get the lion's share, each getting RM38 and RM15 million respectively, he said.

Nottingham academics study the impact of social media in Malaysia

In a country which has an Internet penetration of more than 66%, and with the popularity of Facebook, Twitter,MySpace and social/community blogs growing exponentially, cyberspace control and monitoring may be seen as a counter-productive step to exclude rather than include the population.

The Department of Higher Education (Malaysia) has awarded a RM50,000 research grant under the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) for a study on ‘Social Media and the Agency of Youth in Malaysia’ led by Joanne Lim from the School of Modern Languages and Cultures (SMLC). Through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with urban youth communities in both Peninsular and East Malaysia, the study will examine the use of social media as a space for independence from traditional structures and policies even while potentially preserving and supporting those same structures.

The study will also attempt to shed light on the politics of social media in Malaysia and the issues of youth as consumers, youth as representations and youth as creators, to offer an understanding of changing lives and frustrated desires, contradictions and dispersed sites of youth agency that are refracted into various degrees and forms. By comparing how young adults engage with social media based on their geographical location and social/political determinisms, it may be possible to observe different forces contend to fix their own meanings and (alternative) definitions in the construction of national-and-self identity.

In working closely with key experts in the field including co-researchers Zaharom Nain (SMLC) and Wang Lay Kim (School of Communication, Universiti Sains Malaysia), the findings of this study will be useful to consider social media as an essential tool in the project of social, cultural and political restructuring. The research project is scheduled to commence in August 2011.

IUS selected to provide ICT systems and solutions for UNISEL.

Intelligent Urban Systems Sdn. Bhd. (IUS), a member of the Aldrich group of companies, was recently selected to provide ICT systems and software applications, structured cabling systems, and library security systems to support Universiti Industri Selangor (UNISEL)'s operations and goals.

IUS has a strong track record in providing ICT systems to various projects including the Putrajaya's City Control Center (Phase 1), UNIMAS's Virtual Reality Competency Centre, amongst others. With IUS's capabilities in harnessing technology to improve the way UNISEL's campus is run, UNISEL would be capable to bring itself to cost effectively, provide better services to its students, as well as to Selangor Darul Ehsan. UNISEL is the first and only state-owned private university having recently established in 1999.

The project valued at approximately RM2.9 million includes the following modules:

1) Information Technology Equipment and software applications, including Network Architecture, Hardware Platform, and Communication Gateway. Design, Supply, Deliver, Installation, Testing, Commissioning and Post-Acceptance Support and Maintenance Services of Information Technology Equipment and Software Applications, which includes but not limited to Network Management Server, Firewall Server, Workstation, Network Equipment, Uninterrupted Power Supply, Color Laser Printer, Laser Printer, Photocopier, Voice over IP(VoIP), Photocopier + Printer + Fax + Scanner and their software applications

2) Advanced Structured Cabling System Design, Supply, Deliver, Installation, Testing, Commissioning and Post-Acceptance Support and Maintenance Services of the Structured Cabling System which include both Cat6 UTP Cable and Air Brown Fiber Optic.

3) Library Security System Infrastructure Design, Supply, Deliver, Installation, Testing, Commissioning and Post-Acceptance Support and Maintenance Services of the Library Security System.

UTP RECEIVED ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE SPONSORED BY WEATHERFORD

Weatherford Country Manager in Malaysia, Mr. Martin McMyler visited Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) campus on 28 April 2009 and officially handed over a software contribution agreement on Petroleum Engineering (PE) Software called WellFlo to UTP Rector, YBhg Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Haji Kasim. This ceremony marks the handing over of an additional 25 WellFlo licenses for 25-users, in addition to the current 5-users.

The initiative between EPS-Weatherford and UTP started in October 2004 .The primary objective of the collaboration was to gain EPS-Weatherford interest to support the delivery of the MSc. PE modules: Production Technology II and Reservoir Engineering II by providing its widely-used and up-to-date software applications called WellFlo and PanSystem. Subsequently, Software License Academic Agreements were signed in 2005, followed by the UTP-Weatherford Collaboration Agreement Signing Ceremony on 15 November 2006.

Broadband coverage for Kolej Universiti Insaniah

KOLEJ Universiti Insaniah (KUIN) students will receive full 24-hour broadband service at a speed of 128kbps by end of May.

According to KUIN Insan System Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Mansor Mahmud, the system was now undergoing tests to ensure the service would run smoothly by next month.He said the 128kbps speed was sufficient for students to surf the Internet and to download emails and documents at the campus and hostel.“Those who wish to enjoy a higher speed of up to 512kbps speed will have to purchase an additional booster from the company,” he said.

Mansor also said the students did not get free broadband service provided by Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (P1) as reported in MetroNorth on March 17 under the heading ‘Varsity gets free 24-hour broadband service’.

He said the fee for the broadband had already been included in the students’ study fees and they only need to register online to enjoy the broadband service.He added that for the 512kbps speed booster, students could purchase the booster online or at Insan ICT shop located within the campus for a minimum price that would be announced later.

He said with the 512kbps speed, students could download videos and conduct video calls.