Training more ICT-skilled grads

SINCE its establishment in 2000, Open university Malaysia (OUM) has played an active role in producing information and communications technology (ICT)-skilled graduates through its Faculty of Information technology and Multimedia Communication (FITMC).
According to the university's FITMC's vice dean Nurhizam Safie Mohd satar, It and multimedia courses will continue to be favourite among students due to the high job prospects provided in the market.
"The demand for It and multimedia courses is increasing from time to time. statistically, back in 2001, Malaysian institutes of higher learning produced 2,165 graduates, and last year, all the universities produced 4,294 graduates combined," he says, to indicate the growing demand of ICT- skilled workers in the country.
DEMAND FOR SKILLED WORKERS. Nurhizam says there are a number of reasons for the demand for such skills and they include the increase in local and multinational MSC-status companies operating here.
"Having established themselves here, these companies naturally would need k-workers for their various It projects, either local or abroad," he says, adding that many of the skilled workers are needed in the shared services and outsourcing (SSO) industry where Malaysia is currently the world's third most attractive location for SSO hub.
"The emergence of new cybercities and centres throughout the country such as the Iskandar Development Region (IDR), Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) and probably the new cybercity in Eastern Corridor Development Region (ECDR) would open up more demand for skilled workers," he adds.
Nurhizam says job opportunities for local ICt-skilled workers are not only available in Malaysia but also overseas. "With more businesses becoming globalised, ICt graduates can work abroad to gain experiences particularly in the Middle East, us, Australia, New Zealand and Europe, or even become technoprenuers." OUM'S STRATEGY. As one of the newest universities in the country, OUM has taken quite a different approach in its teaching-learning methodology. the university adopts the blended pedagogy, which consists of self- learning modules, e-learning platform, and face-to-face tutorial sessions.
Nurhizam says the self-learning modules are written by academicians and industrial practitioners based on the current curriculum and technology.
"We've also adopted an e-learning system known as the Learning Management system (myLMs), which can be accessed at www.oum.edu.my. It is packed with e-learning tool enablers such as digital library, e-mail, chat, online forum, i-radio, i-tutorial and courses in information delivery," he says, adding that these tools are duly provided to facilitate interaction among learners, tutors and subject matter experts.
OUM's face-to-face tutorial sessions are held fortnightly in 61 respective learning centres nationwide.
This takes place during the weekend in its learning centres and students can choose the learning centre according to their convenience.
"The advantages of such methods are that students can learn at their own pace and convenience. Bear in mind, 90 per cent of our learners are working adults who need to take care of their families and manage their careers while pursuing higher education," explains Nurhizam.
OUM FItMC offers 11 courses, which include Diploma in Information technology, Bachelor of Information technology with software Engineering with Honours, Bachelor of Information technology with Honours, Bachelor of Information technology with E-Commerce with Honours, Master of Information technology, Master of Multimedia Communication, and Doctor of Philosophy (Information technology).
Although there are plenty of private training institutions offering similar courses, especially on multimedia, it is quite different from those offered by universities, says Nurhizam.
"The major difference is while private training institutions focus solely on multimedia practical/skill-based courses, the universities focus on both aspects - in-depth theory and practical. So, when our students graduate, they have the sense of multimedia theoretical appreciation while doing the practical."
Currently, FITMC has joint ventures with ICT vendors for certifications.
"So far, we have no collaboration with any ICT vendor for certification. However, we might consider to work on it in the future as majority of our students are working in the It environment," he says.