Regular review for ICT programmes

["Ahmed Omair" <ao@akunet.org>]

Regular review for ICT programmes
By SHARIFAH KASIM2125

http://www.nst.com.my/TECH/Computimes/Highlight/20030224105631/wartrevamp

LOCAL universities and colleges will need to review their information and communications technology (ICT) programmes on a regular basis to ensure that their offerings are relevant and in tune with the demand of the ICT job market.

Apart from producing more quality graduates, the move will also address the critical issue of mismatch of ICT skills, which has often resulted in graduates not able to land a suitable job, and employers complaining of not getting the people with skills required. 

According to the Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry Malaysia (Pikom), institutions of higher learning should first conduct a detailed study on their capabilities and direction as well as identify current job specifications in the industry before they begin a quality improvement initiative on their ICT education. Pikom’s chairman of education and training Special Interest Group (SIG) Simon Seow said there must also be a common understanding between the industry and institutes on various technology and business areas to prevent further mismatch of ICT graduates and available jobs.
"For example, what does programming skills means? There is such a wide range of possibilities in terms of the depth and width of knowledge implied here," he said. Seow said Pikom, through its Education and Training SIG, is studying the feasibility of setting up a quality assurance scheme for ICT programmes. "This takes into account the existence of, and is not intended to duplicate the function of, LAN, the national accreditation board under the Education Ministry." One element that seems to be missing from local ICT graduates is relevant business acumen such as professionalism, said International Medical University’s Associate Professor Dr Zoraini Wati Abas.

She said this could be woven into ICT programmes through methods like exposing students to "success stories" in the ICT industry. “In addition, key personalities from the industry can speak and inspire students while they are still on campus, and they should be exposed to these personalities from semester one,” she said. She added that when equipped with not only technology but also business knowledge, ICT graduates will be more marketable in the job market.

Dean of Multimedia University’s Information Technology Faculty, Dr Ewe Hong Tat, said while local institutions of higher learning are producing enough ICT graduates, the feedback from the industry is that quality of the graduates is also important.
He said as more companies are hiring graduates who are able to compete internationally, local universities and colleges should look into providing relevant content in their ICT education. 

To address this, Ewe said they could undertake programmes such as promotion of research and publication of academic staff in international journals and conferences, and leveraging on effective use of ICT in curriculum teaching. In addition, local institutions of higher learning should also encourage student participation to compete in international ICT competition, intensive academic-industrial collaborations with local and foreign industry partners and introduction of emerging technologies in the curriculum, he added.