USM – INDUSTRY COLLABORATION: GATHERING OF ICT EXPERTS FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES

from : http://www.usm.my/index.php/en/news-archive/7138-usm--industry-collaboration-gathering-of-ict-experts-from-various-countries.html

PENANG, 22 September: After successfully organizing the Tech Insights Penang Simposium last year, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has once again been conferred the honour of hosting the Tech Insights Penang Symposium 2010 this year.

Apart from the participation of industry partners, the Symposium will also witness a gathering of experts in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) from various countries.

Prof. Rosni Abdullah, the Dean of the School of Computer Sciences, USM said that the participation of foreign industry partners is proof that the symposium as well as the efforts of the government to develop the field of ICT has received recognition in the eyes of the world.

“This year, Tech Insight will not only witness the participation of ICT experts from Singapore and Sri Lanka but also industry representatives from world-renowned companies and ICT experts from Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Programme, which is being used in more than 90 countries world-wide.

“It is the hope of Tech Insight to create a platform where technology and new software can be shared and that this will become a culture in the country. At the same time, it will help the local community, especially the youth in learning about Information Technology, which as we know, is advancing daily,” he said.

Meanwhile, Raymond Chou, Operations Manager for MVP said that MPV is very pleased to be able to organize this programme with USM.

“We chose USM because USM has a proven track record in terms of facilities and sophisticated equipment and is also prepared to lead in the development of ICT in Malaysia,” said Raymond, who is also the Director of Technology, Redynamics Asia Sdn.Bhd, a well-known company providing ICT Training in the country.

The three-day Symposium, commencing on 22 September will be held at the Eureka Complex, USM and will focus on new software that will be introduced into the world market such as SharePoint 2010, Visual Audio 2010, SQL Server 2008 R2 and many others.

More than 200 participants from various well-known companies in the field of computers such as Dell, Intel, Agilent Technologies dan Fairchild will be at the Symposium.

USM PLANNING NEW ICT PEDAGOGY

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PENANG, 23 Feb – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) is planning on using a unique teaching and learning methodology in the field of information and communication technology. This new methodology will allow the students to understand the lessons in their own way and at their own pace.

USM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tan Sri Dato’ Dzulkifli Abdul Razak said that the idea of using this methodology came about after a study by an ICT expert from India had shown that self-study has a positive effect on students.

He added that this methodology can transform the current style of teaching and turn ICT into a field that will have a wider impact on the creativity and knowledge of students.

“In the study carried out by the ICT expert, a computer was placed in an open space, where students could use it without any fear or specific instruction. The students had to independently learn to use and understand the instructions from the computer according to their own creativity, including understanding learning materials saved in the computer,” he said.

Prof. Tan Sri Dzulkifli added that the previous generation learned a lot of things on their own using trial and error. So if this strategy could be applied to the present generation, it is believed that the results would be very encouraging.

At the press conference after launching the ”Facilitating Effective ICT – Pedagogy Integration Workshop”, he explained that specific groups, including the indigenous community would benefit from the use of this technique.

He added that this methodology would be tested in an indigenous community in Banding, Perak. This indigenous community was adopted by USM after the ICT expert from India agreed to collaborate on this effort.

He further explained that learning ICT using this method would enhance the quality of teaching and learning, in addition to fulfilling the needs of the ‘bottom billions’ to equip themselves with the requisite ICT skills.

“According to the ICT expert, with only need minimal resources, this methodology is guaranteed to meet the learning needs of students, whose numbers might cross the billion mark. We have invited the ICT expert to USM to share ideas and implement this concept among the indigenous community in Malaysia by May 2010. If this is carried out successfully, it will fulfill another of our social responsibilities as a institution of higher learning,” he explained.

Meanwhile the three-day workshop, organized by The School of Educational studies (PPIP) was held in conjunction with the launching of the ICT UNESCO Bangkok Resource Centre- a collaborative effort with Unesco Bangkok for more systematic and effective ICT-Pedagogy integration.

Also present at the function that was attended by more than 50 lecturers and educators, were UNESCO representative, Dr. Molly Lee; Head of the Academic Sector of the Penang Education Department, Che Fatimah Othman; and The Dean of PPIP, Prof. Dr. Abdul Rashid Mohamed.

UNESCO Bangkok will set up the ICT Resource Center with the i-SMARTLAB – Integration of Smart Media in USM with funding from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB).


Picture: Prof Tan Sri Dato' Dzulkifli (centre) listening to an explanation about one of the exhibits during the “Facilitating Effective ICT – Pedagogy Integration Workshop” from a staff of PPIP. With him is Prof. Dr. Abdul Rashid (right).

Photo: Mohd. Fairus Md. Isa

MDeC, University of Malaya, Cisco to create ICT specialists for Malaysian SMEs

Last updated 08th June 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, 24 AUGUST 2009 – Two young Malaysia-based entrepreneurs have won awards for the design and build of their multi-touch screen called Smart Surface. Smart Surface’s co-founders, Faysal Abdulaziz (managing director) and Homam Alghorani (executive director) said the product was envisioned during their student days at APIIT (Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology), where they became interested in multi-touch technology and related natural computer interfacing. The first prototype was designed and built at the beginning of 2009 when, in February, an entrepreneur offered the two aforementioned developers to co-form a company and fund their research, said Abdulaziz. “Smart Surface is completely designed and built in Malaysia,” said Abdulaziz, who added that the product was launched commercially in May 2009, during the 20th ITEX09 [International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition] exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur. During ITEX09, which was organised by MINDS (Malaysian, Invention & Design Society) and the ministry of science, technology and innovation, the product won two awards for Best Invention – Corporate Category, and the ITEX Gold Medal Award. Pioneering use of the LCD screen The company focuses on research and development of in-house multi-touch hardware and software solutions, said Abdulaziz.  “As far as we know, another Malaysian provider of a similar product, Kreateevee, uses rear projection technology for display with diffused infra-red (IR) illumination for movement detection.” “We do use this technology in some of our early models, but we also are the pioneers in exploring the use of the LCD screen for display technology, instead of rear-projection, as well as LASER [light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation] detection technology, instead of IR illumination,” he said. “Therefore, Smart Surface is the only company that has a full range of multi-touch and surface computer application technologies [rear-projection, LCD display, LASER recognition technology, tabletop and vertical walls].” “Smart Surface has already been in commercial use by many companies,” he added. “That means we are technologically ahead in term of solving the many problems associated with any commercial use of the product. For example, for rear-projection technology, we achieved a tabletop display size ratio to the external dimensions of the top of the table of almost 1:1.” Future plans “It is noteworthy that some of our clients, such as British American Tobacco and Cool Merchant Connections had already approached other local companies that offered multi-touch technology,” he added. “However, they opted to use Smart Surface products after they compared all technological aspects.” Regarding future developments, he said: “We have already spoken with APIIT for cooperation through internships for students who will learn firsthand about our multi-touch technology and its applications. This will enrich the academic field of multi-touch research in Malaysia.” “We also have ongoing discussions with the Centre for Research & Innovation Management at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, for possible cooperation on developing suitable applications for them,” said Abdulaziz. source : mis-asia.com

UM, Panasonic Joint Programme To Expose Students To Working Environment

Last updated 18th August 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 (Bernama) -- Universiti Malaya (UM) and Panasonic Malaysia Sdn Bhd will jointly implement a structured training programme for university students to enhance soft skills and expose them to the working environment. The programme, 'From Cradle to Career', which is the first of its kind between academia and industry, targets first-year students from various faculties to participate in Panasonic's sales ambassadorship. Set to begin next year, the three-year programme offers structured training and development for UM students. UM Vice-Chancellor Datuk Ghauth Jasmon said the programme would provide a path for students to become industry leaders and help the university to continue being top-ranked. He also welcomed other industries to provide work-based learning or other forms of collaboration, such as joint research and commercialisation of research output. "Many top universities in China, Korea and Japan have worked closely with the industries to produce a great graduates. Thus, I want to see more industries train our students and staff," he said at the signing ceremony of the programme's memorandum of understanding (MoU) between UM and Panasonic Malaysia here Tuesday. In the first year, students under the programme will become mobile promoters at Panasonic outlets. If they excel in their performance, they would be offered to undergo a three to six-month internship program, the following year. During the final year of training, students will participate in Panasonic's retail sales certification programme and be offered the posts of sales ambassador if their performance and work discipline were exemplary. Panasonic Malaysia managing director Jeff Lee Wee Leong said the programme was in line with the government's call to industry leaders to provide a platform for students to increase their employability skills, as well promote sales ambassadorship as a career of choice. source :  BERNAMA

UM LECTURER WON THE 2011 MTSF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AWARD

Last updated 09th January 2012
Professor Dr. Mary Anne Tan Jin Ai from the Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine has won the Science and Technology Award 2011 under the Malaysia Toray Science Foundation (MTSF). She is an expert in the field of medical genetics & molecular biology. Professor Mary received RM30,000. The award was given in recognition of outstanding achievements in the field of science and technology. MTSF is a charitable organization formed to promote and advance science and technology in Malaysia.