GTS - UTP Technology Collaboration Initiatives (11 Nov 2008)

Articles from Universiti Teknologi Petronas

Group Technology Solutions (GTS) of Research & Technology Division in collaboration with Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) has officially launched the GTS-UTP Technology Collaboration initiative on 11 November 2008. The event was officiated by Y.Bhg. Datuk Dr. Zainal Abidin b Hj. Kasim, Rector of UTP at the university. It was attended by GTS Management, UTP Management, Technology Provider’s representatives from Emerson, Honeywell, Foxboro, Yokogawa, Endress+Hauser, MTL, Pepperl+Fuchs, Fisher, Metso and Masoneilan.

The objectives of the collaboration are:

• To capitalise on PETRONAS’ experience in Oil & Gas industry for the development of technology
• To leverage on Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS experience in R&D & Technology Development
• To pave the way for the Industries and University to work together for future practical technology development
• To accelerate technology development as a catalyst for supporting PETRONAS Technology Agenda
• To instill innovation traits within PETRONAS and UTP, as a step toward inculcating a sustainable innovation culture

In his opening speech, Y.Bhg. Datuk Dr. Zainal stressed that UTP shall strive to work together closely with the industries in support of their activities, particularly in research & technology development. On the similar tone, besides the establishment of relationship as research partners, the industries are invited to contribute in the industrial internship and the adjunct lecture programmes that would support the university to develop the expertise required by the industry. Moreover, the collaboration can also act as a stepping stone for UTP to meet the aspirations to achieve “Research” University Status by 2010.

Ir. VR Harindran, Custodian Engineer, Instrument & Control, GTS in his reciprocating address thanked UTP for the assistance given so far and took the opportunity to highlight other activities that are in the pipeline, as part of the GTS – UTP collaboration.

Notable achievements of this unique collaboration is the completion of the FOUNDATION Fieldbus Testing Facilities and Partial Stroke Testing Facilities recently, with close cooperation and support from the technology providers. Both initiatives are driven by GTS, supported by the SKG14 Improvement Working Group (IWG) and the Electrical & Electronics Department of UTP. Testing activities are currently in progress, with the ultimate deliverables being a comprehensive guideline on the implementation of the respective technologies in PETRONAS OPUs.

The guests were then taken on a tour to both facilities, with explanations and demonstrations given to the guest of honour and others by the SKG14 IWG team members, namely Khairul Anwar Idris and Syaimaa A Rahim for the FOUNDATION Fieldbus Testing Facility and Mohd Rashdan Mahmood for the Partial Stroke Testing Facility.

Overall, the event was a huge success, thanks to the assistance and contributions from all collaborators concerned. It is hoped that this will mark the start of an enhanced collaboration between GTS and UTP, focusing on specific technology development. To ensure the sustainability and enhancement of the collaboration, the current GTS-GR-UTP Alliance Steering Committee will be a platform to monitor the progress of the R&D from the Strategic Alliance (SA) partners and Technology Development driven by GTS.

 

UNIRAZAK holds Basic Photography Skills Workshop in Sekolah Kebangsaan Brinchang, Cameron Highlands, Pahang

23 July 2011 - Photography is the art or process of producing images of objects on photosensitive surfaces. Life is full of memorable moments to capture, therefore as an initiative to develop and unearth fresh talents in photography, UNIRAZAK’s Shutter Club was formed on 28th September 2009 to support UNIRAZAK students in acquiring new knowledge in photography. The objective of the club is to create awareness in understanding photography as an important art in developing their creativity. In addition, the Shutter Club’s activities can encourage students to demonstrate their skills in capturing photos.

With this in mind, UNIRAZAK’s Shutter Club conducted a Basic Photography Skills Workshop in Sekolah Kebangsaan Brinchang, Cameron Highlands, Pahang on Saturday, 23rd July 2011. The purpose of this event was to expose basic photography skills to Year Four, Five and Six students. Forty Shutter Club members participated in this event. The event was effectively led by Thavamalar Shamosamugam Nathan, Programme Director and Umaparan Muthu, President of Shutter Club 2011. Mohd Azmi bin Yusof (Ex-President of Shutter Club 2010) was invited to act as the tutor for the students.

After a brief tutorial, the school students were divided into groups of three, with ten groups altogether. Each group was guided by a facilitator from the Shutter Club. The task was to capture photos around the school with the theme “Sekolah Ku”. Happiness, giggles and cheers filled the chilly air of the school. Children and facilitators had much joy in entertaining each other to complete the task. Moreover, this event witnessed leadership skills among them, where knowledge sharing was made effortless.

At the end of the task, their masterpieces were judged by Mohd Azmi bin Yusof, Nuzha Mohamed Taha (Second Advisor of the Club) and Roshima Ramli (staff of UNIRAZAK). Prizes were given away by Puan Rash Pal Kaur a/p Darshan Singh (Guru Penolong Kanan Hal Ehwal Murid) and Encik Rushidi Md Noor (Guru Penolong Kanan Kokurikulum).

To enhance and apply their knowledge in photography into practice, the Shutter Club members also took countless photos in Mardi Farm, Strawberry Farm, Tea Boh Plantation Sungai Palas, Rose Valley and Cactus Farm. These inspiring places of interest at Cameron Highland and the excitement they offer fascinated the Club members and motivated them further to not miss capturing priceless moments.

To conclude, the Shutter Club trip to Cameron Highlands was a productive one as it managed to bridge the ties between UNIRAZAK students and school students. Besides, this was a significant way to introduce the art of photography to young talents. More importantly, each student learnt at least one priceless photography skill during the three-day trip.
Due to the trip’s success, it was recommended that UNIRAZAK’s Shutter Club organise at least two long-distance trips per year, during the January and September semesters. This would attract more students to join the Club and enhance their interest in photography.

(Written by a trip member, Saziyan Ayeop) (ARTICLES FROM UNIRAZAK)

 
 

Despite Recession, IT Still in Demand

In the midst of soaring unemployment rates and staff cutbacks, IT departments seem to be holding their own. However, a sense of uncertainty continues to permeate the industry.
“A lot of companies are scaling back on IT budgets, but it’s not quite the gloom and doom that is pervasive in the media,” said John Estes, vice president of strategic alliances at Robert Half Technology. “We’re seeing that there’s still demand for the existing maintenance of IT departments and IT projects, and companies are still willing to spend money on new applications if there’s return on investment [or] if they feel like they can gain a competitive edge.”
Even the need for highly qualified IT professionals remains steady. In fact, according to the “IT Hiring Index and Skills Report” developed by Robert Half Technology, 12 percent of CIO respondents said they plan to expand their IT departments in the first quarter of 2009, while only 4 percent expect staff cutbacks.
“People don’t realize that the vast majority of the IT budget goes to maintain existing applications. So if you start cutting people, you’re at risk not only of not being able to grow, but also not being able to serve your customers, [including] your internal customers — people in the company who need access to the network or applications,” Estes said.
Still, the present economic situation necessitates that IT professionals take a proactive approach to safeguarding their jobs. And the key is to be a jack of all trades, Estes said. Just being a Java developer may have been the norm years ago, but competition is fierce today.
“The more you can multitask or know multiple things, [the better your] job security,” Estes said. “[For instance,] today, companies want a programmer analyst to have some database background [or] a desktop support professional [to be able to] work a help desk, as well.”
Experience in security, network administration and servers — among other areas — in addition to one’s existing skill set could prove to be advantageous.
Further, IT has become a crucial component to effectively run a business.
“In the old days, business used to look at IT as a necessary evil, [but] over the years that has morphed into: IT can actually be a key competitive edge for the company, whether it be through business intelligence or reaching more customers,” Estes explained.
Even as some sectors have been hit hard during this recession, there has been a steady demand for IT services, he said.
“We still have demand across the board for infrastructure support, application development, database development and project managers,” he said.
And some of the most in-demand IT skill sets include services related to security, network administration and programmer analyst roles.
“We still see a very strong demand in customer support, whether that be help desk, desktop support [or something similar],” Estes said.

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Robot Bertempur Di UNITEN Robogamez 2009 : Rising of the Silent Tower: Resist or Surrender

Putrajaya – Universiti Tenaga Nasional, (UNITEN) Kampus Putrajaya akan menganjurkan pertandingan robotik “RoboGamez 2009” bagi tahun yang ke-empat dengan julung kalinya mendapat kerjasama daripada Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi Malaysia (KPT), Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) dan Fighting Robot Association, United Kingdom (FRA) di Dewan Seri Sarjana UNITEN, kampus Putrajaya pada 1 - 4 Oktober 2009.

Matlamat utama pertandingan ini adalah untuk mewujudkan minat dan kesedaran dalam dunia robotik selain menjadi pentas bagi semua lapisan masyarakat terutamanya para pelajar untuk terlibat secara langsung dalam mempraktikkan aspek-aspek kejuruteraan dan teknologi menerusi arena robotik. Selain itu, pertandingan ini juga dapat menggalakkan para pelajar untuk menceburi bidang reka cipta dan inovasi yang masih belum diterokai bagi membolehkan negara menyumbang kepada pembentukan tamadun sains dan teknologi dunia di masa depan.
Prof. Dr. Mohd Zamri Yusoff, Dekan Kolej Kejuruteraan UNITEN mengatakan beliau amat berbangga akan usaha dan kerja keras para pelajar kejuruteraan UNITEN serta para pensyarah dalam merealisasikan pertandingan Robogamez ini.
Tambah beliau, “Robogamez 2009 merupakan sebuah pertandingan yang memerlukan para pelajar menjadi seorang yang lebih kreatif, inovatif serta mempunyai perancangan yang strategik untuk mencipta sebuah robot yang mampu menguasai pertandingan.”
Tema pertandingan tahun ini merupakan “Rising of the Silent Tower: Resist or Surrender” yang memerlukan para peserta mencipta sebuah robot yang berkeupayaan untuk bertempur di dalam gelanggang “war zone”. Antara kategori-kategori yang dipertandingkan termasuklah kategori terbuka, kategori sekolah menengah dan sekolah rendah. Pertandingan ini dijangka akan disertai hamper 160 buah pasukan terdiri daripada IPTA/IPTS dari dalam luar negara termasuk sekolah-sekolah menengah dan rendah dari seluruh Malaysia.
Hadiah utama pertandingan RoboGamez 2009 merupakan tiket penyertaan mewakili Malaysia untuk beraksi di pertandingan “U.K. Featherweight Championships” yang akan berlangsung di United Kingdom pada tahun 2010. Antara hadiah hadiah lain yang ditawarkan kepada pemenang-pemenang setiap kategori termasuklah piala, sijil dan wang tunai sebanyak RM 1000 (kategori Sekolah Rendah), RM 1500 (kategori Sekolah Menengah) dan USD 2000 (kategori terbuka).

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ITU-UUM MEMPERKASA ICT DI LUAR BANDAR - Utusan Malaysia

KUBANG PASU 9 Ogos - Hasil kajian mengenai pembangunan teknologi maklumat dan komunikasi (ICT) di kawasan luar bandar oleh sekumpulan 15 penyelidik dari Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), dipilih untuk dibentangkan pada satu bengkel antarabangsa, baru-baru ini.
Kumpulan itu diketuai, Prof. Dr. Zulkhairi Md. Dahalin yang mewakili Malaysia membentangkan kajian tersebut di Bengkel Antarabangsa Mengenai Pembangunan Luar Bandar di Krabi dan Bangkok, Thailand.
Bengkel tersebut adalah anjuran Asian Development Bank (ADB) dan International Telecommunication Union (ITU) dengan kerjasama Kementerian Teknologi Penerangan dan Komunikasi Thailand.
UUM dalam kenyataannya berkata, pembentangan tersebut adalah mengenai projek pembangunan ICT luar bandar yang mengambil masa dua tahun sejak 2009 yang dibiayai oleh ADB.
"Ia melibatkan sembilan buah negara di seluruh Asia Pasifik, seperti Kemboja, China, Indonesia, India, Korea, Mongolia, Malaysia, Filipina dan Thailand," katanya di sini hari ini.
Bagi projek di Malaysia, kajian kes mengenai perkara itu dijalankan dari Januari 2010 hingga Mei 2011 dan ADB melantik Zulkhairi sebagai perunding tempatan dan sekali gus mewakili Malaysia dalam sesi pembentangan tersebut.
"Pada sesi itu juga, salah seorang daripada 15 penyelidik yang terlibat dalam projek itu iaitu Dr. Mohd. Khairudin Kasiran turut membentangkan kajiannya," katanya.
Kenyataan UUM menambah, terdapat pelbagai isu dan cadangan berkaitan status ICT di luar bandar bagi setiap negara telah dibincangkan pada bengkel tersebut.
Katanya, antaranya ialah strategi, polisi dan peraturan, faktor ekonomi dan sosial, pembangunan modal insan, pasaran dan inisiatif akses ICT luar bandar serta rangkaian dan program kerajaan terhadap pembangunan ICT luar bandar.
"Beberapa contoh kajian kes beberapa negara terutamanya Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, Filipina dan India telah dijadikan model untuk diadaptasi oleh negara-negara yang masih dalam proses meningkatkan ICT mereka di luar bandar seperti Mongolia dan Kemboja," tambahnya.
Katanya, bengkel dan forum berkenaan adalah platform perkongsian ilmu dan percambahan idea berkaitan pembangunan ICT di luar bandar dari pelbagai perspektif yang secara tidak langsung mewujudkan jaringan sosial antara negara-negara ASEAN dan Asia Pasifik

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IT testers 30 years behind the times: Malaysian Software Testing Board

KUALA LUMPUR, 16 JULY 2008 - Malaysia’s national software testing board (MSTB) has said that software testing in the region is 30 years behind the times.

According to MSTB president Mastura Abu Samah: “most software testers practitioners tend to carry out testing as if it is 1978, not 2008. Common practices lag best practices by 30 years. Common practices need to be raised to the next level of best practices as set by the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB).”

She said to raise local standards for the software industry, MSTB is to hold the country’s first certification forum – called the Software Testing Conference 2008 (SOFTEC 2008) –27-28 August 2008 at Berjaya Times Square Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur.
The forum is will also promote regional international certification standards as well as to create a local pool of skilled talent in this area, she said.

“The conference will be a significant platform for the software testing arena whereby the industrial, professional and institutional sector will definitely benefit. The conference will offer participants rare insights into the software testing industry landscape, practices and opportunities brought by the many international and Malaysian speakers at this event. We shall also emphasise the relevance and importance of software testing towards Malaysian local capability building and national economic competitiveness,” she said.

Expensive software bugsShe referenced a study conducted by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), U.S. Department of Commerce in 2002 (the most recent comprehensive data available) reports that software bugs cost the U.S. economy $59.5 billion (RM194.34 billion) annually in terms of losses such as lost businesses opportunities, failed transactions and reinvestments needed to repair damage done by such failures.

More than a third of this cost could be avoided if better software testing was performed, she said.

Mastura explained that the main features of this International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) forum – whose theme is “testing to the next level” -- will include keynote addresses on Five Testing Best Practices, Toward A Science of Software Testing: Advance & Innovations from Research and Internet – Of – Things: Tester Beware.

Keynote speakers include University of Central England’s Professor Keith Osman, ISTQB president Rex Black and University of Memphis’s Professor Jasbir Dhaliwal, who is a Malaysian, said Mastura.

Other international and national speakers include Wonil Kwon, chief executive officer of STA Korea and President of the Korea Testing Board, Daisuke Azuma from Japan Novel Corporation; Bernard Homes, Founder of TESSCO Technologies Inc and lead of R&D of Eurocopter, France; and Aditya Garg, Vice President of Pure Testing Pte Ltd, one of the leading testing companies in India.

Malaysian speakers are Fadilah Baharin, Director General from Department of Standards of Ministry of Science, Technology & Environment (MOSTE); Mohd Redzuan Abdullah, Head of MIMOS Testing Centre of Excellence; Dr Suhaimi Ibrahim of Centre for Advanced Software Engineering (CASE-UTM); and Dr Nor Adnan Yahaya, Head of IT, Malaysia University of Science & Technology (MUST).

Malaysia training and opportunitiesThe association said that globally, more than 80,000 ISTQB certified testers practice a common software-testing framework and nomenclature. This framework – the ISTQB certification programme -- was developed by worldwide groups of practitioners and consultants from more than 50 countries.

MSTB runs the ISTQB accredited courses and examinations every quarter during 2008. Foundation Level courses will be conducted in May, August and November. Advanced Level courses will be conducted in August, with public exams held at the end of each courses.

MSTB said its long-term plan is to establish the Institute of Professional Software Engineers to bring value to the profession. This Institute shall support the fundamentals of the software profession and promote the sound professional software engineering practice.

“In 2007, Gartner Research (a world leader in information technology research and advisory) estimated the global software testing market at US$13 billion (RM42.46 billion), representing a huge opportunity for Malaysian companies to tap this market and offer their services locally and globally,” explained Mastura.

“However, the supply of the human resources is not at par with the demand, due to the small number of certified professional testers in Malaysia, and lack of awareness about software testing as a career. It is MSTB’s vision and mission to raise the awareness and promote software testing as a respectable profession throughout the ICT industry in Malaysia, and promote the growth of IT software industry by elevating Malaysia’s profile as a leading testing outsourcing hub,” she added.

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Pelajar Kejuruteraan & Teknologi Maklumat KLMU menang anugerah Animax

Kebanyakan pelajar institusi lain berpuas hati apabila menang anugerah atau berjaya
menghasilkan produk dalam projek akademik mereka untuk lulus peperiksaan. Tetapi pelajar
Kuala Metropolitan University College (KLMU) melangkah lebih jauh lagi.
Produk yang dihasilkan oleh pelajar Fakulti Kejuruteraan dan Teknologi Maklumat di KLMU
bukan sahaja memenangi anugerah malah bersedia untuk dipromosi di pasaran antarabangsa.
Salah satu produk demikian ialah E-Quran, perisian komputer yang boleh membantu
pengguna belajar membaca Quran. Perisian ini memilik ciri-ciri yang tidak terdapat dalam
perisian lain di pasaran sekarang. Ia dihasilkan oleh Khalil Rahman Ameer Khan, pelajar semester
ke-6, Diploma IT (Rangkaian & Penyelenggaran Komputer), Nur Faiza Mohamad Omar dan
Muhammad Alif Mohamed Radzi, kedua-duanya pelajar semester ke-5, Diploma IT (Kejuruteraan
Perisian). Perisian canggih itu dihasilkan dengan bimbingan Timbalan Dekan Sekolah
Kejuruteraan dan Teknologi Maklumat KLMU Nassif Ghassan Al Bouaini dan pensyarah Irwan
Nayan.
Produk tersebut baru-baru ini telah memenangi anugerah di Pertandingan Animax 2009
anjuran Kerajaan Negeri Selangor, Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya dan Universiti Industri Selangor.
Apabila ditanya oleh wartawan, ketiga-tiga pelajar itu berkata mereka berhasrat untuk
menyambung pelajaran di tahap ijazah sarjana muda juga di KLMU. Fakulti Kejuruteraan dan
Teknologi Maklumat di KLMU menawarkan tiga program ijazah, iaitu Ijazah Sarjana Muda
Kejuruteraan Teknologi Maklumat, Ijazah Sarjana Muda Kejuruteraan (Kepujian) Teknologi
Telekomunikasi dan Ijazah Sarjana Muda Kejuruteraan (Kepujian) Kejuruteraan Elektrikal dan
Elektronik.
Menurut Nassif pula, pelajar di Fakulti Kejuruteraan dan Teknologi Maklumat KLMU dididik
untuk menghasilkan produk yang berpermintaan tinggi serta berciri unik. Untuk mencapai
hasrat ini, pelajar dibimbing untuk melakukan penyelidikan pasaran dan dibekalkan dengan ilmu
teknikal terkini. Beliau berkata pelajar di fakulti ini sentiasa didedahkan kepada aspek praktikal
agar mereka bergraduan dengan berorientasikan kerjaya atau keusahawanan dan bukan
akademik semata-mata.
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