IBM and UKM Establish Centre of Excellence to Deepen Skills in Cybersecurity

BANGI, MALAYSIA – 24 June 2013: IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) today signed an agreement to establish the UKM-IBM Academic Initiative Centre of Excellence (CoE).

The CoE will provide students at the university with courses in advanced technologies such as Cyber Security and Service Science, Management & Engineering (SSME).

Housed at the UKM Faculty of Information Science and Technology, the IBM-UKM CoE aims to produce graduates with a holistic set of cross discipline skills – for instance training engineers to learn about other parts of an operation such as marketing.

Such skills are in high demand for the workforce of the future, and the enhanced training aligns closely with the objectives of Malaysia’s national agenda to become a knowledge-based economy by 2020.

“The IBM-UKM CoE aims to produce graduates with the required knowledge, ability and analytical skills to plan and manage IT effectively through innovative learning process and practical teamwork," said Y Bhg Professor Tan Sri Dato’ Wira Dr. Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin, Vice-Chancellor, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Under the collaboration, UKM will provide teaching resources and facilities, while IBM will provide software, courseware, training and testing that are needed for the students to gain global certification.

UKM is the third university in Malaysia to offer post graduate course in SSME. Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Malaya introduced a post graduate in SSME in 2009 and 2010 respectively.

UKM is also the third institution of higher learning in Malaysia to establish a CoE with IBM. Two other universities, Tunku Abdul Rahman College and Universiti Pahang Malaysia, have also set up CoEs with IBM in 2011 and 2010 respectively.

At the UKM CoE, IBM’s IT security technology will be embedded into the unversity’s Cyber Security degree programme. The University will work with IBM to develop and train students with a deep understanding of how advanced technologies can be used to protect enterprise security, as well as concepts such as cloud computing and Big Data can be applied to tackle everyday challenges.

“It is imperative that the emerging workforce is equipped with cross disciplinary 'T-shaped' skills to enhance their professionalism, and enable them to lead their organisations toward success,” said Mr. Paul Moung, Managing Director, IBM Malaysia.

“Embedding Cyber Security into the IT curriculum is essential to meet the growing demand for such professionals to manage privacy issues, which is a growing concern for organisations and with the public at large."

As cyber attacks become more advanced via the pervasive use of social media, mobile and cloud computing, organisations need more professionals who can help them protect their people, data and applications. IBM operates one of the world's broadest security research and development, and delivery organisations.

This comprises nine security operations centres, nine IBM Research centres, 11 software security development labs, and an Institute for Advanced Security with chapters in the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific. IBM monitors 15 billion security events per day in more than 130 countries and holds more than 3,000 security patents.

The SSME is an academic discipline by IBM that is designed to nurture a special kind of professional who can stand out in today’s highly competitive world, where our skills and knowledge need to be continuously enhanced.

The programme aims to develop cross functional professionals who have a deep proficiency in more than one area such as engineering, and also the breadth of skills to interact productively with other departments such as marketing and finance. These leaders would then be equipped to lead growth and transformation in today’s service-oriented economies.

In conjunction with the announcement, IBM will also host a three-week Summer School of SSME at the varsity next month for 40 post-graduates students.

IBM has been working with hundreds universities worldwide to design courses that combine disciplines including computer science, operation research, engineering, management science, business strategy and social and cognitive sciences.

Local undergraduates unleash creativity at CREATE 2008

Project aims to increase marketability of young people through series of workshops and competition

Kuala Lumpur, 8 August 2008 – CREATE 2008, an initiative of AIESEC at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) was launched here today. Main supporters of the event are Genting Berhad, Microsoft and MDeC (Multimedia Development Corporation).

CREATE 2008 is an information technology-based series of workshops and competition based on creative content. It aims to provide a platform for youths to explore creativity through technology, thereby enhancing their capability and competitiveness in the field of advertising and information technology. The launch was officiated by Deputy Vice Chancellor of Industry and Community Partnership in UKM, Professor Dr. Saran Kaur Gill. She said:

“Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia is proud to have its students taking up the initiative to develop this project, which will benefit not only UKM students but also the development of creativity amongst Malaysian youth in general”.

Organising Committee President, Karyn Ong said that this project hopes to develop a generation of youths with an avid interest in creative content.

“We aim to empower at least 200 local and international undergraduates to explore creativity as well as to gain advertorial knowledge and exposure in career opportunities in the industry,” she said.

The launch, which was held at the Creative Innovation Centre, MSC Malaysia Cybercentre @ KL Sentral, was attended by more than 60 students and lecturers from UKM as well as sponsors and supporters.

MIMOS AND UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA (UKM) IN SENSOR TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COLLABORATION

Joint development of chemical sensors for environmental monitoring including detection of chemical and moisture in water and soil

Dato’ Abdul Wahab (second from left) exchanging the signed documents with with Professor Dato’ Dr Ibrahim flanked by Professor Dr. Masuri (left) and Professor Dr Burhanuddin.

KUALA LUMPUR, 8 July, 2008 – MIMOS & Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) today signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to formalise its sensor technology research collaboration aimed at enhancing Malaysia’s precision agriculture competitiveness and developing grassroot competency.

Towards this end, the collaboration will focus on the joint development of chemical sensors for environmental monitoring including the detection of chemical and moisture in water and soil.

Under the agreement, MIMOS will work with researchers from UKM’s Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN) and the School of Chemical Sciences & Food Technology to develop sensors aimed at upping the ante on sensor technology to include the development of future sensor technology such as nanosensors.

“The strategic collaboration between MIMOS and UKM will significantly enhance Malaysia’s precision agriculture. In addition, we are working towards developing future sensor technologies which will be available for technology transfer or licensing across all industries including environment, medical and building automation,” said Dato’ Abdul Wahab Abdullah, MIMOS President and CEO.

UKM can leverage on MIMOS’ commercialisation expertise and assist in securing the Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation’s funding namely TechnoFund (for pre-commercialisation of new and/or cutting edge technologies) and e-science.

At the signing ceremony MIMOS was represented by Dato’ Abdul Wahab, while Professor Dato’ Dr. Ibrahim Komoo represented UKM. Present as witness was MIMOS’ Head of Microsystems & MEMS Cluster, Professor Dr. Masuri Othman and UKM’s Director of Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN), Professor Dr. Burhanuddin Yeop Majlis.