MITRAIS LEADS DRIVE TO IMPROVE IT GRADUATE QUALITY
31 May 2006
Mitrais, a leading Indonesian-based software development company, is to spearhead a concerted effort to bridge the gap between the real world needs of Indonesia's IT industry and many of the academic IT courses currently being taught in some Indonesian universities. Mitrais Vice President of Software Development, Dr Maria Lantu, says in this rapidly changing world, it is imperative that information technology students and lecturers in Indonesia's universities keep up to date with the latest scientific advances in the global village of IT.
Dr Lantu made the comment recently while addressing academics, government and IT industry leaders meeting in Surabaya for a one-day think tank called "ICT Human Resources Development", hosted by Politeknik Elektronika Negeri Surabaya (PENS ITS). The purpose of the forum was to plan a new curriculum for the Diploma 4 degree for Polytechnic IT departments throughout Indonesia. The major debate centered on how best to bring Indonesia's ITC and academic worlds into closer alignment to produce the highest possible standard of quality IT graduates.
Dr. Hary Budiarto from the Ministry of Information and Communications and Dr. Bambang Budiono from the Follow up Cooperation Program at the Directorate General of Higher Education attended along with Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nuh (Rector of the ITS), Dr. Titon Dutono (Director of PENS ITS) and directors of at least half of state polytechnic institutions throughout Indonesia.
ICT industry leaders included: Ir. Mohammad Noor Al-Azam (of APJII or the Association of Internet Service Providers of East Java); Mardjuki (Education Director of PT Oracle Indonesia), Ir. Dwi Kurniawan, MBA, Senior IT Researcher, Bank Indonesia as well as Dr Lantu.
Dr Lantu told the gathering that it was essential for Indonesian software developers to have ready access to world class IT graduates to cater for expanding domestic demand as well as to take advantage of increasing opportunities in the lucrative global marketplace if the local IT industry was to grow and prosper.
Dr Lantu described to delegates what the Indonesian software industry looks for in its young IT job candidates. She identified a solid grounding in the English language, Project Management capacity and IIEE Software Engineering knowledge as three highly desirable "whole people skills" that had not been up to the required standard in IT graduates leaving Indonesia's universities in recent years.
She said the latest AT Kearney's ITC Research Index acknowledges that while many of the frontrunners in global IT services are now found in Southeast Asia, low cost is no longer the sole deciding factor for international clients choosing the region as the preferred location to obtain their offshore services. In fact cost now accounts for only 40% of the decision making factor with "whole people skills" and "people availability" making up a further 30% and business environment also at 30% being the remaining decision factors.
This Index currently ranks Indonesia back at 13th place in IT industry competitiveness (the first time it has been listed) while Malaysia maintains its 3rd position, Singapore stays at 5th, the Philippines rises from 6th to 4th, Thailand jumps from 13th to 6th, and Vietnam comes in at 26th.
Dr Lantu said these rankings clearly showed Indonesia has a lot of work to do to catch up with its ASEAN neighbours and competitors. She indicated Mitrais was keen to take a leading role in improving Indonesia's competitive position by training and mentoring IT graduates while working with Indonesia's universities to ensure academic IT curricula become more in tune with the realities of current global industry standards.
She said, "At Mitrais we believe Indonesian IT graduates have the talent and potential to compete with any in the world provided they receive world class education, training and mentoring. And my advice to any young person wanting a career in IT is simply this 'Invest in your English language skills and take them to the highest level you possibly can. And the sooner you start that process, the better it will be for you".
ENDS
About Mitrais. Established in 1991, Mitrais is a medium sized, ITC services group positioned at the quality end of the market spectrum, with most of its resources based in Indonesia. Its software development division based in Bali focuses on both the international and Indonesian markets. The company employs around 200 staff at offices in Bali, Jakarta and Singapore.
For further information contact: Mike Page, Phone:361 755 025
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