University plans to give away laptops to students

University plans to give away laptops to students

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Computer company PT Acer Indonesia pledged on Tuesday to provide
free laptops for 2,500 students enrolling at Bunda Mulia
University (UBM) in Ancol, North Jakarta for the 2006 year.

The firm would also provide hot-spot facilities in the campus
to enable students to connect to the Internet and teach students
about computer hardware.

Company president director Jason Lim said the move was part of
its commitment to providing information technology in the
country's schools.

The laptops, which cost US$800 each, will be launched next
year.

Acer has reportedly provided similar facilities to schools in
Singapore, Australia and Thailand.

"We are the biggest supplier of hardware for education in
Australia now. We hope we can provide similar products to more
universities in Indonesia. We have a long-term plan for that,"
Lim told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

The pledge was formalized in a memorandum of understanding
signed by UBM and PT Acer Indonesia at the university in Ancol,
North Jakarta on Tuesday.

Lim said his company would also set up a service point inside
the campus, which would be managed by the students themselves.

"We will train and empower the students on notebook technology
in the service point. So, it will be like on-the-job training.
Later, the students will serve students," Lim said.

UBM deputy rector for external affairs Anna Maria said that
the notebook would be given to students who enroll for the
2006/2007 school year as part of the university's commitment to
offering quality education focusing on information, communication
and technology.

"We plan to establish full e-learning in our university. With
this free notebook program, our plan will soon materialize, Anna
said.