Malaysia’s first ‘boutique ICT university’ launched

• To set up Innovation and Commercialization Center modeled after Xerox PARC and MIT Media Lab
• Aims to be nanocomputing technology hub, will work with IBM to define training program, post-doc at IBM research facilities

MALAYSIA’S Minister of Higher Education Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin has launched Universiti Malaysia of Computer Science and Engineering (UniMy), touted as the country’s first boutique university devoted to specialized computer science and engineering education.
 
The university is owned by Prestariang Education Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of public-listed Prestariang Berhad.
 
Currently, UniMy operates from a temporary campus in Cyberjaya within the Multimedia Super Corridor, while plans are underway for its permanent campus to be built within Cyberjaya City Center and to be completed by 2016.
 
UniMy was established in line with the roadmap of the Higher Education Transformation Program under the New Economic Model, to produce market-ready computing professionals and talent as demanded by industry players, UniMy said in a statement.
 
According to a study by national ICT custodian Multimedia Development Corporation, Malaysia’s demand for IT graduates will experience an annual growth rate of 18.6% between 2010 and 2013 against a supply growth of only 2.7%.
 
Data and projections show that computing technology will account for two-thirds of all job growth in all fields of science and technology in the future, UniMy said.

“Tasked to bridge the gap between demand and supply for highly skilled IT personnel and professionally trained graduates in the next 10 years, UniMy takes a new approach in higher education by creating a ‘best of breed’ ecosystem working in partnership with global technology companies including Microsoft, IBM, EC Council, Dell, Huawei and Autodesk,” said Professor Datuk Dr. Halimaton Hamdan, Vice Chancellor of UniMy.
 
UniMy has signed a collaboration agreement with the University of Melbourne, through the latter’s Melbourne School of Engineering.
 
The potential area of collaboration includes the adoption of quality control, academic board processes and external examination. The intended collaboration will also be extended to the development of the faculty members, learning space and the UniMy’s Innovation and Commercialization Center.
 
This center will be modeled after renowned research labs such as Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) and MIT Media Lab. It will serve as a communication platform to culminate ideas, people and funding, all under one roof, UniMy claimed.
 
The university said it will have unique faculty to student ratio of 1:10 with a maximum capacity to take in 3,000 students.
 
It offers an integrated 1+3+1 Computer Science and Engineering program starting from Foundation, Bachelor of Science and Master of Science. The first enrolment for Foundation Studies is expected to begin in May while enrolment for Undergraduate Programs is scheduled for September.
 
Two undergraduate programmes, namely Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering, are available.
 
Admissions to the degree programs are also open for registration to candidates with A-level, STPM, and diploma or equivalent qualifications.
 
The university also offers Professional Certificates for Microsoft, IBM, Autodesk, EC Council and Huawei programs.

Nanocomputing technology
 
UniMy said it aims to be a nanocomputing technology hub, and will form a user-centered environment to assist computational scientist in their research, whereby the challenge is to combine theory, algorithms, simulations, high-performance computing infrastructures, molecular modeling and user interaction into one system that enables exploratory science at the nanoscale.
 
IBM will work with UniMy in this project to define a training program in computer modeling of nanomaterials and provide training for UniMy post-doctoral researchers at IBM research facilities.
 
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Dr Halimaton to helm Prestariang’s boutique ICT university

 
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