No need to open up UiTM to other races

PETALING JAYA: Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) is the last bastion for Malay and bumiputra students to further their studies and there is no need to open it up to other races, the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) said.
In a response to the proposal by Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim for UiTM to open up 10% of its intake to other races, PPIM said the move would be seen as challenging the special rights of the Malays.
PPIM project director Noor Nirwandy Mat Noordin said the government and its leaders had to be tougher in defending such issues because although the country was multiracial, there was "no need to sideline Malay special rights."
"If something like this is allowed to happen, then there will be a worrying situation where many Malay institutions will crumble and be 'Malaysia-nised'.
"It is hoped that the exclusiveness of UiTM is not undermined by anyone and it be allowed to continue as an institution that will strengthen the Malays," he said in a statement.
Noor Nirwandy said that UiTM has not only produced many excellent scholars but has also had many graduates who were able to compete with other races in the job market.
He added that the reason given by Khalid, which was to create more competition amongst students, was unnecessary because university students already competed amongst each other.

Autonomy for UTM

JOHOR BARU: The Higher Education Ministry has granted Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) autonomy in four areas, making it the first in the country to receive the status.

Its minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said UTM was capable of handling its affairs independently in these areas.

“The ministry has also identified several other universities but I will only announce their names on Jan 26 (when he delivers his new year address),” he said.

Mohamed Khaled explained that with the autonomy, the university would now take full responsibility for institutional governance, academic governance, financial management and human resource management.

He was speaking to reporters after presenting endowment scholarships to 100 UTM undergraduates at the campus in Skudai here yesterday.

“UTM will also handle its student intake and will no longer have to go through the ministry's Universities Admissions Unit (UPU),” he said.

He added that autonomy for UTM would take effect starting this year but the formal announcement would be made on Jan 26.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Khaled also urged university alumni to play a more active role in developing their respective universities.

“The alumni should not only limit their contributions to financial aid but other areas as well.

“For example, the alumni can help with establishing internship programmes or create business opportunities for students,” he said

INTI's Industry Collaborations Link Students to Latest Resources in ICT

IBM, Cisco and SAP are among INTI’s list of global IT partners providing students with cutting edge technological know-how and professional certification to ensure their high employability upon graduation.

In fulfilling its brand promise to bring industry into the classroom, INTI through synergistic alliances such as MyUniAlliance with SAP and Software Career Training (SCT) with IBM, have enabled its students to gain access to a wealth of resources, technologies, industry best practices and business solutions.

INTI was one of the first educational institutions in Malaysia to participate in MyUniAlliance, an initiative by Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) to upscale and hone the abilities of undergraduates in ICT. A special hosting service is available to INTI’s students to access SAP systems for hands-on learning under a free software license that will provide knowledge of integrated business processes and industry best practices.

“Graduates need to be knowledgeable about Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems which integrate internal and external management information across an entire organization. We are very pleased to be in partnership with SAP, the world’s largest ERP solutions provider, to create educational opportunities and promote innovation among our students,” said Professor Walter Wong, Vice-Chancellor of INTI International University.

Professional certification provides INTI students with additional practical skills and knowledge that will give them a competitive edge over their peers. IBM’s SCT programme offers students a combination of technical knowledge, IBM leading technology, industry best practices and personal professional development in one integrated, career-enhancing learning experience. Graduates will acquire a high quality and recognised Malaysian qualification from INTI as well as an international IBM professional certification which gives them an immediate edge in job interviews and employment.

INTI has also worked alongside Cisco Networking Academy for many years. By incorporating the CCNA and CCNA wireless syllabus into its Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Network & Mobile Computing programme, INTI ensures that students develop the skills to design and manage medium-sized networks. The partnership also presents a pathway to professional certification in CCNP and CCIE.

The INTI curriculum emphasises on all-rounded development of a student’s cognitive and practical skills. Close collaboration with the industry ensures that the curriculum developed is relevant to the market’s needs, and more importantly, focuses on soft skills such as project management, team work, and proposals among others, which are essential skills when entering the work force.

Students of INTI benefit not only from the institution’s over 25 years of experience and strong track-record, but also gain from the global synergy and resources that Laureate International Universities provides. Laureate – the world’s largest private education network – has a presence in 29 countries, with more than 60 accredited universities and 130 campuses, serving more than 675,000 students globally.

SEGi College offers Diploma in Islamic Banking and Finance

KUCHING: Islamic Banking and Finance is currently popular among banking and financial organisations around the world for practicing non-interest financing and adopting the principle of profit sharing.

As a Muslim country, Malaysia acknowledges this concept and encourages local banking organisations to implement this concept into their banking operations.

This industry is currently experiencing rapid growth, resulting in an increased demand for skilled professionals to contribute their knowledge and experience to support and facilitate this continued expansion.

Admiring the concept of Islamic Banking, SEGi College Sarawak took the challenge to produce young professionals by launching the new Diploma in Islamic Banking and Finance programme in April 2012.

According to the college’s principal Elina Tiu this course aimed to develop marketable graduates who can take on several roles such as management economics, accounting, and marketing, among others.

“Students will learn general Islamic Banking and Finance, Insurance and Takaful, Financial Management and Planning, Business and Company Law and many more, and will be taught by academic professionals, covering the theory and practical aspects to actual industry scenarios. In addition, this course enables student to gain real-life experience through industrial training,” added Tiu.

Gaining recognition from the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and the Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA), the Diploma in Islamic Banking and Finance programme received a 5-star rating in the recent MOHE MyQuest Evaluation as it enables students to enjoy wider career prospects after completion.

Students with minimum of three credits in Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), SPMV, O-Level or equivalent are eligible to register for the programme.

Students who are interested in this course and looking for financial assistance should consult any of the college’s course counsellors for more information.

The college also provides financial aid and study loans and, for high achievers with excellent results in SPM and STPM, scholarships are offered.

With the knowledge, theoretical experience and practical experience gained from the academic professionals as well as industrial training, graduates from the college will be ready for various positions within the Islamic Banking industry.

For more information on the Diploma in Islamic Banking and Finance programme, you can walk-in to the SEGi College Sarawak main campus at 211, Jalan Bukit Mata, Kuching, visit any of their branch offices in Sibu and Kota Kinabalu from 8.30am to 5.30pm, call 1-300-88-7344 or 082 – 252566, email infoswk@gmail.com or log on to www.segi.edu.my

UUM Hosts ITU’S ‘GIRLS IN ICT DAY’ Celebratory Programme

UUM ONLINE: The world celebrated the ITU international ‘Girls in ICT Day’ on 26 April 2012. In Malaysia, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), chosen as the host to celebrate the occasion, held ITU’s ‘Girls in ICT Day’ programme under the auspices of the International Telecommunication Union-Universiti Utara Malaysia Asia Pacific Centre of Excellence for Rural ICT Development (ITU-UUM ASP CoE).

The event, which is celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday in April, honours girls’ interests and strengths, and encourages them to choose a career in information and communication technologies.

The one-day programme was replete with various activities for the edification of the participants comprising over 300 students from UUM and several secondary schools from around the Kubang Pasu district in Kedah. Among the activities were a talk on ICT awareness by James L. Sinclair, Manager of the Broadcast Engineering Programme at the Asia Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD); a talk on Soft Skills Development by Huraizah Abdul Rahman, Manager of the Desa Balik Pulau Internet Centre, Penang; a talk on Careers in ICT by Dr. Azizah Ahmad, a lecturer at UUM; a quiz on ICT; and a creative video contest.

The Deputy Secretary-General (Communication), Ministry of Information, Communication, and Culture, Che Azemi Haron, when officiating the opening of the event at the Seminar Hall of the School of Computing, UUM, said that ICT was fast becoming integral to every aspect of the world of work, practically paralleling the pivotal importance of the economic factor in the advancement of a developing nation.

He said that many countries around the world were now facing a dearth of suitably qualified personnel in the fields of mathematics, science, engineering, and computing. In consequence, he said, to meet the increasing demand for such personnel in the workforce, big corporations were vying with each other in the recruitment of qualified women in this sector.

"This fortuitous phenomenon has presented highly qualified women in the technical field the golden opportunity to carve for themselves a place in the sun in terms of their career development and prospects. At present, at the global level, there is a need for an estimated two million ICT professionals. This huge imbalance in the supply-demand dynamic of this field is largely due to the glaring want of awareness among students, teachers, and parents concerning career prospects in this area,” he averred.

In light of this, he hoped that ITU’s ‘Girls in ICT Day’ programme would be duly appreciated as another invaluable contribution by ITU-UUM to the nation by way of raising consciousness among the people concerning the importance of ICT to national development, cautioning them against ICT abuses, and educating them about the rapid advancements and career prospects in this field.

MMU Eyes Future in Nanotechnology

Scouting for a degree Programme Leaving school after it may be a daunting experience for Most school leavers.
There are many considerations weighing That need, including the growth of the industry Selected Potential and cost of the Programme pursued as Decisions made cans make or break one's Career path of economic downturn in events or business uncertainties.
But there is one industry That is on the rise in Malaysia. It is none other than Nanotechnology. School leavers or Any Candidates Considering the engineering Programme Nanotechnology alternative cans.
Although the field is still in its infancy, there is Growing interest and expenditure in it.
Multimedia University (MMU) vice-president of Academic, Associate Professor Wong Eng Kiong says: "We are seeing a slow but steady Increase in Enrolment in our Nanotechnology Programme Because of the government's Emphasis under the 9th Malaysia Plan."
Under the 9MP, RM124.3 million has Been allocated for the Nanotechnology industry. The inauguration of the Malaysia Nanotechnology Association (MNA), governmental support for Nanotechnology is at an all-time high as the technology cans revolutionise the entire manufacturing industry.
One way this is achieved is by generating new TYPES of Nanomaterials, applicable in the metal, chemical and nanoelectronics industries. Other industries benefit That cans are automotive, pharmaceuticals and health sciences, as well as information technology.
Realising the Potential huge in store for the industry, recently launched its MMU Bachelor of Electronics Engineering (Hons) majoring in Nanotechnology. It is the first of Nanotechnology Azizuzanadi courses to be offered in the country.
"Nanotechnology Programme This is a true landmark offerings," says Wong.
Previously he said, Those who wished to Pursue a Career on Nanotechnology must go Overseas.
"Now, you're free to join as an Undergraduate and be part of a growth industry."
He adds That the Career prospect for a nanotechnologist is quite Healthy and Promising.
He adds That the past FEW years not have seen an Increase in Enrolment mechanical engineering, due to the manufacturing industry in the country. Telecommunications engineering Remains also rates a popular choice.
MMU is one of the very FEW Institutions in the country's offerings Undergraduate Programme in Nanotechnology
Intakes are open this month in the fields of engineering, IT, management and creative multimedia.

Pelancaran UM E-journal Management System

KUALA LUMPUR, 27 JULAI 2012 - SELARAS dengan aspirasi Universiti Malaya dalam penghasilan jurnal mengikut piawaian antarabangsa, pihak pengurusan UM dengan kerjasama Pusat Teknologi Maklumat melancarkan sistem pengurusan jurnal yang lebih sistematik dan mengikut piawai antarabangsa - E-journal Management System – dalam satu majlis ringkas di Bilik Court, UM semalam.

“E-journal sudah lama wujud di UM tetapi usaha untuk menggerakkannya tidak dilakukan secara bersepadu,”kata Timbalan Naib Canselor (Penyelidikan & Inovasi), Profesor Dr. Hamzah Abdul Rahman sejurus berakhirnya majlis pelancaran.

“Kelemahannya adalah e-journal tidak mengikut standard yang diamalkan seperti sistem pengurusan journal lain seperti SCORPUS dan ISI. Justeru sistem pengurusan E-journal Management System yang dilancarkan hari ini lebih sistematik dan mengikut piawai antarabangsa.

“Sebelum ini, pihak fakulti mempunyai pilihan sama ada untuk menyenaraikan jurnal mereka dalam E-journal tetapi dengan pengenalan E-journal Management System, kami mewajibkan kesemua fakuti untuk menggunakannya kerana ia adalah mirip sistem klasifikasi jurnal lain seperti ScholarOne milik Thomson Reuters.

“Sistem ini (ScholarOne) adalah bagus dan kami pernah terfikir untuk melanggan sistem ini tetapi tidak berbuat demikian kerana kekangan kewangan.

“Oleh itu, kami mengambil alternatif untuk mewujudkan sistem kami sendiri yang boleh diakses oleh warga kampus dan luar,” tambah Dr. Hamzah.

SOURCE / AUTHOR : UM Official Website