Knowledge and skills development in software technology will meet market needs and produce high quality IBM-certified IT professionals
IBM (NYSE: IBM) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TARC) to signify the launch of the IBM Academic Initiative On-Campus “Center of Excellence" at TARC.
The MoU was witnessed by the Deputy Minister of Education, Datuk Ir. Dr Wee Ka Siong, who also officiated the launch of the Center of Excellence.
The Center is aimed at enhancing the information technology (IT) curriculum at TARC to graduates and postgraduates with high quality skills and professional IBM certification. The alliance signifies strong commitment by TARC and IBM in supporting the Government’s aspiration toward human capital development, specifically in bridging the shortage in software technical skills in Malaysia. It also aims to position Malaysia as a hub of skilled IT experts and software specialists in South East Asia.
Under the collaboration, TARC will provide teaching resources and facilities, whilst IBM will provide leading software, courseware, training and testing necessary to gain IBM certification. Students will be trained in IBM software technology, particularly DB2, Lotus, Rational and WebSphere capabilities. TARC is the first institution of higher learning in Malaysia to set up a center of excellence for training in software technology.
From 2012, students will be taught IBM Power Systems, including IBM i and Cloud Computing capabilities.
IBM will also help to identify its clients and business partners to collaborate with TARC for internships and employment of TARC graduates. So far, IBM has identified Scope International – Standard Chartered Bank’s Group Global Technology and Operations Hub, Silverlake Group, a leading banking and finance solution provider, Dynafront, a leading life assurance solution provider, and Computer Business Solutions, IBM premier business partner specializing in IBM systems, for potential internships and employment of TARC graduates who have been certified.
TARC Principal, Dr Tan Chik Heok, said, "The opening of the Center of Excellence on our campus brings us one step closer to realizing our vision of becoming a globally recognized institution of higher learning. We are pleased to broaden our partnership with IBM to add value and increase the number of local skilled computer science and software engineering graduates to contribute to the local and global ICT workforce.”
He added, “We recognize the need for more IT specialists as they are essential to any enterprise, but are hampered by the current lack of such skilled resources. Responding to the demands of the market, and the increased requirement for research and development knowledge, the Center of Excellence is being established with the aim of producing such graduates with the required knowledge, ability and analytical skills to plan and manage IT effectively through innovative learning process and practical teamwork." Since early 2010, TARC and IBM have been working together to develop and spur greater growth of IT skilled resources in the college.
Managing Director of IBM Malaysia, Ramanathan Sathiamutty, said, “IBM is proud to strengthen our cooperation with institutions of higher learning like TARC, that are committed to the development of information technology. The establishment of the Center of Excellence will enable TARC to produce graduates with relevant IT knowledge and skills, to contribute to the creation of valuable work, locally and globally.”
“IBM continues to seek out opportunities to collaborate with leading academic institutions to help build the skill set of students to enhance their employability and to meet the demands of the ICT industry. This is an ongoing effort by IBM in bringing innovation and progress to the nation, and in supporting the nation’s quest to be a high-income, knowledge economy,” Ramanathan said. IBM celebrates its 50th anniversary in Malaysia this year, having been set up here since 1961.
TARC is the second institution of higher learning in Malaysia to offer an IBM Academic Initiative On Campus Center of Excellence. In March 2011, Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) became the first institution in Malaysia to launch an IBM Academic Initiative On Campus Center of Excellence, teaching its students capabilities of the IBM System z mainframe that comes with features that are fully in line with IBM’s vision of a “Smarter Planet”.
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