MMU NEWS

MMU launches Graduate School of Management

 

PUTRAJAYA: Multimedia University (MMU) became the first private university to offer graduate studies in management with the launch of its Graduate School of Management (GSM) yesterday.

GSM was launched by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin, who said the move was in line with the government's aim of making Malaysia a regional and international hub for postgraduate education.

"Currently, Malaysia only has two government-recognised business schools -- the UKM Graduate School of Business and UPM Graduate School of Management.

"MMU's GSM is moving in the right direction towards becoming a top business school in Malaysia," he said.

The limited number of institutions accorded the status was due to stringent requirements placed by the ministry, Khaled said.

"The institution should be able to operate autonomously, receive accreditation by relevant bodies and be able to provide a holistic experience for students."

Khaled said the course was expected to impact Malaysia's long-term business management and entrepreneurial landscape.

Dubbed MMU 2.0, the programme aims to make MMU a recognised top 100 university in Asia by 2022.

UNITEN NEWS

UNITEN Collaborates with IBM in Academic Initiative Program

IBM and Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop new IT and business skill courses that allow students to become more marketable with skills from business and IT in its IBM-UNITEN Academic Initiative program.

Ramanathan Sathiamutty, Managing Director, IBM Malaysia (left) exchanging the MoU document on the IBM-UNITEN Academic Initiative program with Dato’ Seri Prof. Mashkuri bin Yaacob, Vice Chancellor, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, witnessed by Dr. Na’imah Md Khalil, Director of Enforcement and Inspectorate, Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia.

 

The IBM Academic Initiative provides UNITEN with benefits such as training programs for the academic faculty, free IBM software for the university's educational requirements, assistance in deployment of IBM software and internships for students. The initiative aims to enhance the IT curriculum at UNITEN by arming students with high quality software skills and a professional IBM certification.

“IBM has been working with universities and organizations to identify the skills needed in this ever-changing world economy. We have found that there is a great demand for skilled IT employees to manage complex processes and functions as well as efficient data management, due to the flood of data collected by companies over time. This Academic Initiative collaboration will enable UNITEN to produce graduates with relevant IT knowledge and skills, who will contribute to the industry both, locally and globally,” said Ramanathan Sathiamutty, Managing Director of IBM Malaysia.

UNITEN has now became part of a large network of top universities in Malaysia and around the world who make up the IBM Academic Initiative network. This allows the use of IBM's technology as a platform of training, teachings and even research purposes in order to help more than 4600 universities and community colleges around the world to provide students with competitive business and IT skills.

 

World Bank Proposes ICT Infrastructure Development Programme for CARIFORUM

 GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- The World Bank on Wednesday presented a programme to the Caribbean that would support initiatives for improved information communication technologies (ICTs) within the Caribbean Forum of African Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM).

The project concept for the Caribbean Regional Communications Infrastructure Programme (CARCIP) was officially presented to the region at a workshop in Barbados. The workshop, which opened on 17 November, was held at the conclusion of the fifth meeting of the Regional Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Steering Committee.

The World Bank was engaged in bi-lateral discussions with various countries, but only on Wednesday officially disclosed the project to a wider regional grouping.

CARCIP is designed as a broad umbrella programme to include all CARIFORUM member states. It will be anchored within the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) ICT agenda and will be closely coordinated with the Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network (CKLN), the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organizations (CANTO), the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and other initiatives in the region.

Among the proposed objectives are to increase access and affordability of broadband communications networks within the region and countries; contribute to the development of the regional information technology (IT) industry; and contribute to improved government efficiency and transparency through the delivery of e-services, including e-government and e-society applications.

Lead ITC Specialist, Global Information and Communication Technologies Department, World Bank, Juan Navas-Sabater, said that the programme was an integrated one that was centred on three pillars: infrastructure, building national IT industries, and the delivery of electronic services.

While it was proposed as a broad umbrella initiative to include all CARIFORUM countries, the programme would be tailored to the needs and interests of each country, he said.

“Once the countries express, formally, interest in being part of the CARCIP, we would finance the specific activities with different financing mechanisms,” he said.

Those financing mechanisms, he said, included loans through the World Bank, grants that it could mobilise through other international development partners, and public/private partnership investments.

The World Bank’s Lead IT Specialist said that following a formal expression of interest by a CARIFORUM member state, the bank would field a team of experts to design the country programme.

He said that he anticipated that the workshop in Barbados would provide a glimpse of those areas in which member states were interested, so that the experts could begin to tailor the specific components.

He said that the feedback the bank had received in its initial consultations were generally positive.

“Most of the countries were very interested; they understand the need. There was a sense that the financial crisis was still looming, so some member states felt that they needed to think carefully about debt. But at this stage, I think they see it more as an instrument of being ready for future shocks and having this kind of infrastructure in place would help them weather the storms much better,” Navas-Sabater said.

SOURCES : CARIBBEAN NEWS NOW, 19 N0V 2010

Internet Shopping for The Blind

  EBay has become the latest multinational online retailer to offer improved services to its visually impaired customers.

The American branch of the online auction site eBay announced on September 15 a partnership with the National Federation for the Blind. The partnership is designed to provide visually impaired Americans with the opportunity to buy and sell items on eBay and to build entrepreneurial businesses using the auction site.
In order to make the site more 'user friendly' for the visually impaired, eBay has developed enhanced search, browse, buy, bid and sell features which can be operated with the keyboard alone as well as assisting technologies like screen access software -- which can detect what is displayed on the screen and convert it into speech. One type of screen access software is the Thunder screen reader which can be downloaded at http://www.screenreader.net.

Online electronics and consumer goods retailer Amazon.com also provides access options for the visually impaired through Amazon access which was launched in 2001. Apple's music, video and apps store iTunes is also designed to be compatible for screen reader technology enabling it to be used by those with visual impairments. Other online retailers including a large number of supermarkets also offer services for the visually impaired.

 SOURCES : YOUR ICT MAGAZINE

The Fundamental Contribution of  ICT to Comprehensive Social Security

 

 Social security institutions have always been at the forefront of information and communication technology (ICT) application. In addition, they are increasingly asked to extend large-scale programmes and provide comprehensive coverage to vulnerable population groups, including migrant workers, which require complex administrative tools, according to the Secretary General in his opening remarks at the 13th International Conference on Information and Communication Technology in Social Security, which took place in Brasilia, Brazil from 17 to 20 April. Hosted by the Social Security Information and Technology Enterprise of Brazil, Dataprev, over 300 professionals from more than 70 countries convened to discuss the strategic impact of ICT in the implementation of social security systems.

Mr Carlos Eduardo Gabas of Brazil’s Ministry of Social Insurance chaired the first session, in which he addressed the social impact of large-scale and integrated systems and how ICT constitutes a key enabler for implementing these programmes. Keynote speeches in which specific cases of coverage extension in Brazil through ICT use were presented. A panel made up of international organizations (ILO, World Bank, ISSA) presented their visions. That afternoon, Mr Fernando Pazos, Administrative Manager of Derrama Magisterial in Peru, moderated a panel in which case studies from Cape Verde, Australia, the European Commission and the Ibero-American Social Security Organization further demonstrated this point.

Mr Rodrigo Assumpção, President of Dataprev, moderated the session on key technologies, addressing the issues of balancing interoperability and data security and Privacy. A lively debate on these topics followed the keynote speeches, including the views of panellists from Norway, South Africa and the World Bank. This was followed by an ICT industry perspective, chaired by Mr Guillermo Sáez-Llorens from Panama’s Social Insurance Fund, in which representatives from IBM, Accenture, Oracle and SAP participated. Mr Mauro Hauschild, President of the National Social Security Institute in Brazil, moderated the session on the key factors in ICT with a panel comprising representatives from Ghana, Germany and Uruguay.

On the final day of the conference, Mr Oktay Ibrahimov, of the State Social Protection Fund in Azerbaijan and Vice-Chairperson of the ISSA Technical Commission on Information and Communication Technology (TC-ICT), moderated the session on ISSA ICT products and services. Mr Francisco Delgado Azuara of Spain’s National Social Security Institute and Vice-Chairperson of the TC-ICT presented the ISSA Guidelines on ICT and summarized the ISSA’s work in this area. Concerning new products and services, Mr. Rodrigo Assumpção referred to the Brazilian Public Software Portal. The Portal was created in April 2007 as a means to share software and provide solutions that may be useful to different agencies.Mr Assumpção encouraged participants to consult the site.

In his concluding remarks, Mr Konkolewsky highlighted ICT’s fundamental role in social security, stressing that the implementation of innovative and extensive social programmes would not be feasible without ICT. In closing he reminded participants of the ISSA’s role in supporting member organizations through knowledge transfer and by practical tools. 

SOURCES : ISSA, 21 APRIL 2012

 

Microsoft Signs Two New Patent Licensing Deals Covering Android, Chrome

 

Microsoft said Monday that two more companies had signed patent agreements covering their Android and Chrome devices, under the company's IP (intellectual property) licensing program that already has over 1,100 licensing agreements.

The software giant said it would earn royalty from the two deals but did not provide details.

The agreement with Coby Electronics, a maker of Internet TVs, tablets, and other consumer electronics, provides broad coverage under Microsoft's patent portfolio for Coby's products running the Android or Chrome platform, while the patent agreement with Aluratek provides coverage under Microsoft's patent portfolio for Aluratek's e-readers and tablets running the Android or Chrome platform.

Microsoft said the program launched in December 2003 was developed to open access to Microsoft's research and development investments and its patent and IP portfolio, though some critics claim Microsoft views it as a revenue stream. A number of companies including Samsung have signed up for Microsoft's Android licensing program, but Motorola Mobility, now owned by Google, has not signed.

Microsoft claims Android infringes some of its patents, hence the requirement for these licensing agreements.

One holdout, Barnes & Noble, settled patent litigation with Microsoft over its Android-based Nook e-reader in April as part of a broader alliance with Microsoft. Barnes & Noble and a new subsidiary set up with Microsoft under the terms of the alliance will pay Microsoft royalties for its Nook and tablet products.

Motorola and Microsoft have legal disputes in a number of countries, including one over patent infringement by the Xbox before the U.S. International Trade Commission. A Munich court ruled in May that Motorola infringes on a Microsoft patent relating to SMS messaging.

SOURCES : JOHN RIBEIRO, IDG NEWS SERVICE,  10 JULY 2012

Apple’s iPad Launches in China on July 20th

 

CUPERTINO, California―July 10, 2012―Apple® today announced the new iPad®, the third generation of its category defining mobile device, will arrive in China on Friday, July 20. The new iPad features a stunning new Retina™ display, Apple’s new A5X chip with quad-core graphics and a 5 megapixel iSight® camera with advanced optics for capturing amazing photos and 1080p HD video. The new iPad still delivers the same all-day 10 hour battery life* while remaining amazingly thin and light.

The new iPad Wi-Fi models will be available in black or white for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model and $699 (US) for the 64GB model. The iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular models will be available for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model. In China the new iPad will be available through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), select Apple Authorized Resellers and by reservation from Apple retail stores. Reservation requests will be accepted daily from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. beginning Thursday, July 19 for pick up the following day. Additionally, iPad 2 is available at a more affordable price starting at just $399 (US).

*Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.

SOURCES : ZACH EPSTEIN, BGR NEWS, 20 JULY 2012

 

Malaysia Proposes Uniform ICT Security System

 

Malaysia has proposed that the security systems and ICT offences prevention methods be made uniform to ensure effective implementation of laws related to ICT.

The proposal was made by Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim at a Ministerial Forum on ICT at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre in Singapore today.

The minister said Malaysia had taken part in the international-level forum related to the ICT industry and the issues involved, which is held seasonally, with other countries a number of times.

 

 

 What Rais sees as an important issue for Malaysia this time is ICT security, including the offences prevention methods, which he believes should be made uniform in all countries to ensure authenticity and the countries' sovereignty.

"I mention authenticity because many quarters are unsure of this. They assume that the Internet, computers and online telecommunications technology are not governed by law or linked to the security of the respective countries.

"So, our delegation has come here to debate on this together, how we should start and pay serious attention to security issues, including the rule of law of the respective countries."

Rais said the latest development in the outside world was that the developed countries already had some prime measures to deal with the issue so that the future of the industry could be ensured.

"We are also here to see the new developments in the telecommunications industry, as well as the Malaysia pavilion set up with the cooperation of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and telecommunications companies.

"Here too, we see we can generate thinking and new ideas on how we can cooperate regionally, as well as benefit from the new ideas and developments to improve Malaysia's performance in this sector.

"We are proud that the telecommunications sector in Malaysia has generated more than RM40 billion in revenue yearly and the figure is increasing.

"Therefore, we will give special attention to new windows to ideas and products so that in the two days in Singapore, we can enhance regional and global cooperation and place Malaysia in a position to be proud of," Rais added.

SOURCES : BERNAMA, 18 JUNE 2012

 

Huawei Set to Help Enhance Malaysia’s ICT Training

 

 

CYBERJAYA: Huawei, a global leading ICT solution provider, expects to invest another RM90mil in the next few years to consolidate Malaysia's position as a world-class ICT training hub.

The investment would be mainly for equipment and facilities of new technologies at its Malaysia Global Training Centre (MGTC) located here.

Huawei Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd deputy managing director Foo Fang Yong said ICT sector needed a continuous investment as the sector developed rapidly.

“It is a non-stop developing sector where we see new inventions or improved-version technologies almost on a daily basis.

“We invested RM90mil in 2010 when we started the MGTC and we could expect a similar amount to be invested as we must keep abreast with current technologies,” he said after the launching of the centre by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday.

The MGTC is Huawei's third in the world and first outside its homebased China.

In conjunction with the launch, Huawei also signed an agreement with 10 local universities that would initiate the setting up of 10 Huawei University Training Labs under MSC Malaysia MyUniAlliance (Huawei) programme in each of the universities.

The initiative is to further cultivate the interest of students in the field of next generation ICT technologies such as cloud Computing and Fixed Broadband.

Huawei senior vice-president Victor Wang said the key objective of the initiatives was to train and develop 10,000 ICT local professionals by 2016.

He sai d the initiatives would be further supported by the introduction of MSC Malaysia-Huawei Scholastic Awards, aimed to help cultivate interest among graduates to acquire the necessary skills to enter the ICT sector.

Last year, Huawei which has a work force of 150,000 people worldwide earned US$35bil. Its clientele includes 45 of the world's top 50 telecommunication operators.

SOURCES :  ZUHRIN AZAM AHMAD

                      THE STAR ONLINE, 15 JUNE 2012

Malaysian Companies Score a Hattrick at Regional Awards

 

MALAYSIA had three companies walking away triumphant at the 9th annual Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific ICT Awards 2012 in Singapore last night (June 7): Axiata, Telekom Malaysia and YTL.

The Awards seek to pay tribute to the outstanding performance by companies in the Enterprise, Telecom, and Service Provider segments of the Information, Communication and Technology industry, Frost & Sullivan said in a statement.

Axiata Group Berhad was declared Telecom Group of the Year; Telekom Malaysia Berhad walked away with the Fixed Broadband Service Provider of the Year award; and YTL Communications was recognized as Most Innovative Service Provider of the Year.

Amazon Web Services received the Infrastructure as a Service Vendor of the Year, Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories was recognized as the Contact Center Applications Vendor of the Year, Carrier Data Infrastructure Vendor of the Year went to Huawei and Salesforce.com bagged the Software as a Service Vendor of the Year.

Other notable recipients include Telstra, Wireless Service Provider of the Year; and SingTel, Telecom Cloud Service Provider of the Year.
 

“2012 is another challenging and exciting year for ICT industry,” said Manoj Menon (pic), partner and managing director at Frost & Sullivan.

“The impact of cloud computing is apparent. One of the first obvious effects of this type of technology is the cloud-driven transformation of whole industries.

“Amid this backdrop, the market for public cloud computing is set to reach US$5.8 billion by 2015, growing at a CAGR of 39% between 2010 and 2015. The IT industry landscape is being transformed by cloud computing as consumers and businesses depend, to a greater extent, on smart devices,” he said.

Frost & Sullivan identifies the outstanding industry achievements in the past year by companies in the regional and global markets, through in-depth interviews, market analysis, performance measurements, and benchmarking of market participants to bring unique best practices to fore-front.

Award recipients were evaluated based on their revenue growth, market share gains, leadership in new product introduction and innovation, breadth of products and solutions, major customer acquisition, and business and market strategy.

The results are then presented to an independent panel of judges, comprising of influential personalities, decision-makers and thought leaders from the ICT sector across Asia pacific.

Multimedia Development Corporation MDEC is the Strategic Partner, InvestKL and Jabra are Regional Partners, Peoplexs and Robert Walters are Partner Sponsors while CIO Asia, MIS Asia, Computerworld Malaysia and Computerworld Singapore, part of the Fairfax Business Media Group is the Media Partner.

SOURCES : DIGITAL NEWS ASIA, 8 JUNE 2012

Malaysia's ICT programme to create 160,000 jobs

A programme to entice individuals and local enterprises to use ICT in Malaysia is expected to generate 160,000 jobs by 2020.

The programme, Digital Malaysia, is expected to generate 31.1 billion ringgit (US$9.82 billion) in investment value based on a public-private partnership model, said Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) chief executive officer Badlisham Ghazali.

“The investments will be used to create 160,000 jobs, besides providing an additional 7,000 ringgit ($2,209) in annual income for 350,000 citizens via digital income by 2020,” he said yesterday.

Digital Malaysia is a collaboration between the science, technology and innovation ministry and MDeC that was started last year.

Deputy Minister Fadillah Yusof added that individuals and local enterprises would be lured to use ICT to improve their lives through the programme.

Its main intention is to advance Malaysia into a developed digital economy by 2020.

Digital Malaysia would allow for ICT penetration in all economic pursuits to enhance productivity and improve the standard of living for Malaysians.

“Previously, our focus was just to drive the industry. Today, our role has evolved to empowering citizens and businesses to use digital technology to enhance their lives and businesses,” he said.

“It will leverage on new and existing initiatives to make the local economy demand-focused, production-centric and high knowledge-added.”

He added that eight initiatives would be rolled out from this year under the programme.

They are Asian e-fulfilment hub, e-payment services for microenterprises and small and medium businesses, shared cloud enterprise services, microsourcing for income generation, accelerated international trade through e-commerce, on-demand customised online education, growing the embedded systems industry and a Mobile Digital Wallet.

SOURCES : THE STAR, 6 JUNE 2012

'S. Korea can tap Malaysia's ICT'

CONDUCIVEENVIRONMENT: We have the infrastructure, says Muhyiddin

 SEOUL: SOUTH Korean companies should explore business opportunities in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector in Malaysia, which is promoting the sector.

 Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said among the  ICT areas that the companies could focus on were the wireless and convergence technology.

 Another significant  growth area, he said, was in the renewable energy sector, where many  global manufacturers had  established production facilities in Malaysia to produce components, such as solar cells and modules.
 "These are new and emerging industries that require modern infrastructure and support facilities, which are available in Malaysia.

 "We  invite Korean companies to explore the potential in these areas," he said during a meeting with South Korean   captains of industry here  yesterday.

 Muhyiddin said the government's focus on high value-added and capital-intensive industries would also allow more companies from the republic to invest in Malaysia.

 "Given South Korea's strength in these areas, especially in  research and development, there is good potential for collaboration in electronics, ICT, biotechnology, agro-based products, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy as well as the development of machinery and engineering equipment."

 Since South Korea was   the global hub for the electrical and electronics sector,   their companies should continue to invest and expand their operations in Malaysia, which was recognised as a leading manufacturing centre for many high value-added, electronic components and equipment, he said.

 There are more than 300 South Korean companies in the manufacturing sector in Malaysia with a total investment of more than RM15.5 billion.

Among them are Samsung, Kiswire, Donghwa, SK Telecom and Honam Petrochemicals.

 "South Korean companies have not only made substantial investments in Malaysia but have also brought with them suppliers and subcontractors that helped build the local supply chain."

 Muhyiddin said  the government's decision to liberalise 44 services sub-sectors would  allow  greater participation of foreign investors in  sectors such as health and tourism services.

 South Korea was the main investor in the manufacturing sector last year with investments totalling RM5 billion.

 He said Malaysia had made significant strides in  key global rankings, rising from 26th to 21st among 142 countries  in the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report 2011. The World Bank's Doing Business Report 2012 had also ranked the country  at 18th place.

 Muhyiddin earlier  made a courtesy call on  Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik at his office at the Central Government Complex in Jongrohu.

Sources : NEWS STRAITS TIME, 13 JUNE 2012

PERSONAL TASTE ( DETAILS) =)

Assalamualaikum to all my dearest friends...

Lets me tell u a little bit about MYSELF :) Actually my full name is NOOR AZIAH BINTI ABD WAHID.

My hometown is KLUANG, JOHOR. I'm number 3 from 4 siblings and the only girl in my family ;) I'm just a simple girl in my personality. 

ACADEMICS

Primary School : SEKOLAH KEB. TUNKU MAHMOOD (1)

Secondary School : SEKOLAH MEN. KEB. TINGGI KLUANG JOHOR

Now, I continue study in UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGY MARA JOHOR in Larkin and in semester 5.

I hope will graduate with a good pointer and  if there is no obstacle, I will continue to study at degree level. 

Insya'Allah ('',)

MGT 300

  This is my first task for my MGT300 and also my first blog. =)

Please give me you opinions and idea for me to improve this blog. Enjoy reading =)