USING ICT TO COMPETE IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

KUALA LUMPUR: Local businesses must make use of the latest information and communication technology (ICT) solutions to enhance their productivity and to compete in the global economy, said SME Corp Malaysia CEO Datuk Hafsah Hashim.

She said one of the criteria for developed countries was that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) should contribute to at least 40% of the gross domestic product (GDP), but local SMEs currently contributed 31% to GDP.

“This means that SMEs have to grow 1% or more per annum to reach the desired 40% by 2020 (the year Malaysia aims to achieve a developed-nation status). We need a leapfrog growth driven by innovation and productivity,” she said at the launch of Microsoft's Office 365 cloud computing service.

The launch marked the beginning of a private-public partnership between SME Corp and Microsoft Malaysia to enhance the take-up of cloud computing among Malaysian businesses.

Office 365 is Microsoft's newest ICT solution that utilises cloud computing to integrate business function over four primary products - office, sharepoint online, exchange online, and lync online.

“SME Corp and Microsoft will also promote the cloud service through joint roadshows as well as a Microsoft booth in SME Corp's new one-stop referral centre in KL Sentral,” Microsoft Malaysia managing director Ananth Lazarus told StarBiz.

Hafsah also said SME Corp would use the SME Competitiveness Rating for Enhancement (Score) programme to evaluate the ICT effectiveness of SMEs. SME Corp will take the lead in adopting cloud computing by using Office 365 in their KL Sentral office.

- The Star, by John Loh -
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GOVERNMENT TO FOCUS ON SUSTAINING SCHOOL ICT PROJECT

The Philippine Commission on ICT (CICT), which is set to complete its school ICT project by June will focus on ensuring the sustainability of the programme
iSchools project, a flagship project of CICT, has provided internet-abled computer laboratories to 1,000 public high schools and given roughly 19,200 school personnel with IT training for education initiatives.
“We are now trying to complete our deliverables and make sure that all schools get appropriate IT training,” Christian Placido Calma, CICT Project Development Officer and the Project Content Development Head told FutureGov Asia Pacific Magazine.
The project roll-out started on 2007.


One of the challenges faced by the iSchools program in its first three years of implementation is the lack of connectivity given the geographic location – the schools are situated in areas beyond or barely within the reach of mobile broadband providers.
Meanwhile, Calma said CICT together with its partner State Universities and Colleges ensure that every school beneficiary should have electricity to be able to use the computers and access the internet.
“Before we give out the computers, we have to make sure that the schools would be able to use the computers because if there is no electricity there is no point in giving the computers.” Calma added CICT do project briefings to the school personnel before the schools are officially given computers.
“Were not just giving computers, they have counterpart responsibility—taking care of the electricity, they have to make sure that they pay for the internet, ensure the security of the school so that the units will not be stolen,” he said.
Calma said the agency conducts a yearly programme assessment to gather ideas on how to sustain the project. He adds it coordinates with stakeholders on how to improve the hardware.
“Given that we have a tropical climate, sometimes there is a certain hardware that is better suited for the provinces so we try to adapt to those needs,” he cited.
Calma said the agency used to deploy Cathode Ray Tube monitors which consumes more electricity.
“When we learn that some schools have problem in terms of budget for the electricity we resort to LCD monitors which is cost efficient,” Calma said.
He added that air-conditioning unit are also provided in the school laboratories to maintain a certain temperature for the computers.
Community sustainability workshops are also conducted in line with iSchool programme. Calma said the Local Government Unit and Parents and Teachers association representatives are invited to brainstorm ideas on how to sustain the funds and to set the long term goals for the project.
“There’s always an aspect of dialogue before moving to the second phase,” he said.
The iSchools project is supported by the CICT eGovernment fund, a special annual allocation from the government for IT-related projects

- Future Gov Asia Pacific Magazines, by Pia Rufino -
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AUSTRALIA CREATES ADVISORY GROUP FOR EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

The Australian federal government has created an advisory group of education and IT experts to advise it on deployment of IT in education that can support the new Australian Curriculum.
This Digital Education Advisory Group will provide the Australian government with advice on the next steps towards transforming teaching and learning through technology, said Peter Garrett, Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth.
The group is tasked to build on the achievements thus far of the US$2.6 billion Digital Education Revolution where ICT is integrated in schools


Garrett announced that the group will be chaired by Shirley Alexander, Vice-Chancellor for Teaching, Learning and Equity, University of Technology Sydney.
“Professor Alexander is a senior academic widely respected for her expertise in ICT, e-learning and the use of multimedia in teaching and learning. I am pleased that Professor Alexander has agreed to take on this key advisory role, with a particular focus on how best to support the new Australian Curriculum online,” said Garrett in his announcement of the group.
“Other members of the group are education and industry experts with strong records in the innovative, world-class use of ICT in education and I am looking forward to the first meeting next month (August).”
Other members of the Digital Education Advisory Group include:

David Barnett, Chief Executive Officer, Pearson Australia;

Richard Eden, Associate Director-General, Department of Education and Training, Queensland;

Tony Mackay, Chair, Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, and Deputy Chair, Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority;

Susan Mann, Chief Executive Officer, Education Services Australia;

Michelle Selinger, Director, Education Practice, Cisco Systems;

Greg Whitby, Executive Director, Schools, Diocese of Parramatta; and

An Australian Government representative who has yet to be determined

- Future Gov Asia Pacific Magazines, by Xinghui Guo -
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200,000 STUDENTS TO BENEFIT FROM HK GOVERNMENT ICT PROJECT

Students will only be charged with HK$10.70 (US$1.37) monthly to use a new computer with broadband access, the Internet Professional Association (iProA) said. 

About 200,000 students from low- income families in Hong Kong are set to benefit from a government-funded internet subsidy scheme launched Thursday.
The scheme, called “Net-Com rock n’ roll”, is funded by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) under the “i Learn at home” programme, offers students a branded notebook computer and 6Mbps broadband service on a three-year contract.


This usually costs HK$1,400 (US$180) a year, but eligible families will pay HK$128 (US$16) with a government subsidy of HK$1,300 (US$167).
The online learning support programme is being run by eInclusion Foundation, a nonprofit-making organization with core partners of iProA and the Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong.
Applications are being accepted from families in eight districts in New Territories East, Kowloon East and Hong Kong Island East.
Primary and secondary school students on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance and those who pass the existing means test for financial assistance under the Student Financial Assistance Agency are eligible.
Winnie Tang Shuk-ming, chairwoman of the foundation and president of iProA, said the scheme aims to narrow the digital divide in online learning for the needy.
Parents and students will also receive a range of support services including customized training and hardware repair, said foundation chief executive Gary Cheng Chun-wah.
To Kwa Wan, Parents Concern Group representative said the programme will bring convenience with his son. With a new computer at home, her nine-year-old son will not have to stay in school until late afternoon to finish his homework.
GCIO Stephen Mak said the “Net-Com rock n’ roll” facilitates access to IT and the Internet, and the associated educational opportunity.
“Web-based learning has become an integral part of education and a way of life for students. The government recognises the importance of providing suitable Internet learning opportunities for students in need in order to mitigate the impact of the digital divide on the quality of learning,” he said.
The Office of the GCIO will monitor the implementation arrangements of “Net-Com rock n’ roll” through a programme steering committee led by the GCIO.

- Future Gov Asia Pacific Magazines, by Pia Rufino -
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JAPAN UNIVERSITY HELPS SPECIAL EDUCATION SCHOOL WITH ICT

With the help of University of Aizu, Japan, Aizu Yougo Gakko School for the Challenged now has technology that is easy for the students to operate.
"Nearly 30 per cent of Aizu Yougo Gakko students have severe motor and intellectual handicaps and cannot control their limbs,” said Michael Cohen, Professor of Spatial Media Group, University of Aizu.
Hence, both schools worked together to develop interfaces that “are not especially sophisticated” but could encourage and entertain students with special needs.
These interfaces include handicapped-accessible buttons in place of conventional computer mouse and keyboard, switches to control toys and appliances, a two-button system for operating music players and an Apple iPad equipped with accessibility software.
“The iPad’s multitouch interface and integrated multimedia capability is especially useful for young Gakko students,” said Cohen to FutureGov Asia Pacific.
Cohen demonstrated an application that with the touch of an illustration, lets the iPad announce things needs like a desire to visit the restroom or hunger—making the application an easy way for Gakko students to inform the faculty of their needs and wants.
“Even if a student is not expressive verbally, he or she can touch an accessible button to indicate his or her desires,” explained Cohen.

- Future Gov Asia Pacific Magazines, by Xinghui Guo -
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25000 SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES TO RECEIVE IT TRAINING

In a bid to boost ICT literacy and to make public service more people-friendly in Sri Lanka, 25,000 employees in different government sectors in the country will be provided with IT training.
Ranjith Siyambalapitiya (pictured), Minister of Telecommunication and IT said the training is part of the five-year national ICT plan which main thrust is to make Sri Lanka the knowledge hub and wonder of Asia.
Increasing ICT literacy in the country will help Sri Lankans have productive lifestyle, the minister said in a Consultative Workshop for Formulating the Five-Year National ICT Plan early this year.
The draft plan enriched by the inputs provided by top representatives of Public and Private sector ICT-related institutions including ICT Agency of Sri Lanka Chairman Prof. P.W. Epasinghe will be submitted to the cabinet for approval.
ICTA Chief Executive Officer Reshan Dewapura explained that the national ICT Development Plan is formulated as one of the main strategies for making Sri Lanka the ‘wonder of Asia’, as per the ultimate vision of “Mahinda Chintana – Vision for the future”.
The government of Sri Lanka is seeking to raise ICT literacy of its citizenry to 75 per cent by 2016, the Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga has said at the FutureGov Forum Sri Lanka held last year.
ICT literacy in the island republic has grown from five per cent in 2004 to 30 per cent in 2010, as a result of a series of initiatives spearheaded by a Presidential taskforce to bring ICT to ordinary Sri Lankans, particularly in rural areas, where 77 per cent of the population lives.

- Future Gov Asia Pacific Magazines, by Pia Rufino - 
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