Microsoft bridges gap between study, industry<\/p>\n
Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
\"How many of you are students of IT?\" A great show of hands
\nfollowed the question posed by Kurt Messersmith, Microsoft
\noperations's developer and platform group for the Asia-Pacific
\nregion, in front of Bina Nusantara University students last
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
But when asked whether they were confident of getting a job
\nafter graduation, not one of the approximately 100 students
\nattending the forum raised their hands.<\/p>\n
There is no doubt that Information Technology (IT) is one of
\nthe fastest growing industries in the world today, but here in
\nIndonesia it is a relatively new field, that although recognized
\nas important, has little government support.<\/p>\n
\"The Malaysian government, for example, subsidizes
\ninfrastructure so that unlimited Internet access only costs 50
\nMalaysian ringgit (about US$13) a month, while here it costs Rp 2
\nmillion (US$206) a month,\" Microsoft Indonesia's academic
\ndeveloper Zeddy Iskandar Gunawan said in his presentation.<\/p>\n
He said that more than 85,000 Indonesians have opted to study
\nIT abroad since 2001, because Indonesia spent very little on
\neducation and there were too few efforts to bridge the gap
\nbetween university study and industry.<\/p>\n
However, the rapid growth in IT and its importance in almost
\nall aspects of modern life, ensures that IT graduates will be in
\nhigh demand in the near future, Messersmith said.<\/p>\n
\"During the next three years, there will be more than 500,000
\njobs in IT, software and services. Even in health care, behind
\nall medical research, there's IT research,\" he said, explaining
\nthe opportunities will grow even more as governments realize that
\nif they want to be competitive, they must be competitive in IT.<\/p>\n
Realizing, however, that the university curriculum could not
\ncontinually change to keep up with the industry, Microsoft
\norganized Campus Launch in 10 universities that have an IT major.<\/p>\n
\"Students have to always update their knowledge in view of the
\nrapid development of the industry. What usually happens is that
\nwe find the knowledge taught at university is not up to date with
\nwhat the industry expects,\" Bina Nusantara University's Microsoft
\nstudent ambassador, Wilson Partogi, told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
By regularly introducing new technology to universities,
\nMicrosoft hopes to cut down training time of new employees, and
\nprepare students for when they graduate, Messersmith said.<\/p>\n
This month's Campus Launch is organized at the School of
\nInformation Management and Computer Technology (Stikom) in
\nSurabaya, East Java; Tanjung Pura University in Pontianak, West
\nKalimantan; STT Telkom in Bandung, West Java; and Budiluhur
\nUniversity and Bina Nusantara University in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
It will launch at Duta Wacana Christian University in
\nYogyakarta and Atma Jaya Catholic University in Jakarta in
\nJanuary, and at Maranatha University and Bandung Technological
\nInstitute (ITB) in Bandung in February.<\/p>\n
At the Campus Launch in Bina Nusantara University in West
\nJakarta on Wednesday, Microsoft introduced its latest software
\ndevelopment tools Visual Studio 2005, Biztalk Server 2006 and SQL
\nServer 2005.<\/p>\n
Free training for about 250 students will also be organized
\nfollowing the Campus Launch, Wilson said.<\/p>\n
During the launch, Microsoft also invites students to
\nparticipate in the annual competition for Imagine Cup 2006.<\/p>\n
\"Since its inception three years ago, participants from
\nIndonesia are still few, and we want to attract more Indonesian
\nparticipants for next year,\" Zeddy said, explaining that
\napplications opened in early November. and will close in March
\n2006.<\/p>\n
A total cash prize of US$50,000 will be available for winners
\nin six categories. The competition is open to all students
\nregardless of whether they are baccalaureate, masters, or
\ndoctorate students.<\/p>\n
More information on Imagine Cup is available on the Internet
\nat www.imaginecup.com.<\/p>",
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