ShareThis

Oh well, I just received a good news from my supervisor, Dr Chen that my paper submitted to Themes in Science and Technology Education (an international refereed journal based in Greece) has been published. That’s about 3 months of waiting after the manuscript was reviewed and accepted.  The title of the paper is Incorporating Kansei Engineering in instructional design: Designing virtual reality based learning environments from a novel perspective. The whole journal which consists of 5 papers is available for $10 euro and should you need a copy of the paper, do email me. I can’t post it online because it is against the copyright rules.

ShareThis

For the last 5 days, I was at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, taking part in the 3rd International Symposium on Information Technology (ITSim’08) jointly organised by several top IPTA and IPTS in Malaysia, and co-sponsored by IEEE. I was there to present my paper on customer oriented design support system (an on-going project funded by Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations), together with two other friends who are presenting their papers as well. I was proud to know that out of 650 papers that was submitted, only 280 papers was accepted. I was even happier to note that our papers (the only 3 from Faculty of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development) was accepted with high acceptance score from the reviewers.

As for the symposium, it was a very fruitful experience and we managed to actually meet with some top researchers and IT experts from all around the world. Personally, i’m happy to build up my networking by getting to know some new friends, some with vast experience that actually do not mind sharing their views and knowledge. I must say that the organiser (hosted by UKM) has done a splendid job organising the symposium. Apart from the symposium, all participants were given a free 1-year membership of Malaysian Information Technology Society (MITS), the first professional IT society in Malaysia launched at the symposium.

Oh well, that’s the mini report of the event. Will provide further updates once i’m back in Kuching.

P/s: updating from Cititel, KL.

ShareThis

‘No need to open up UiTM to other races’

PETALING JAYA: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UiTM) is the last bastion for Malay and bumiputra students to further their studies and there is no need to open it up to other races, the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) said.

In a response to the proposal by Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim for UiTM to open up 10% of its intake to other races, PPIM said the move would be seen as challenging the special rights of the Malays.

PPIM project director Noor Nirwandy Mat Noordin said the government and its leaders had to be tougher in defending such issues because although the country was multiracial, there was "no need to sideline Malay special rights."

"If something like this is allowed to happen, then there will be a worrying situation where many Malay institutions will crumble and be ‘Malaysia-nised’.

"It is hoped that the exclusiveness of UiTM is not undermined by anyone and it be allowed to continue as an institution that will strengthen the Malays," he said in a statement.

Noor Nirwandy said that UiTM has not only produced many excellent scholars but has also had many graduates who were able to compete with other races in the job market.

He added that the reason given by Khalid, which was to create more competition amongst students, was unnecessary because university students already competed amongst each other.

Comments by Me:

Another sad and racist statement by  a person who never seem to understand the word "harmony" and perhaps the true meaning of being a MALAYSIAN. It’s amazing how the rights to get equal education can be associated with Malay special rights. And we all know that UiTM should be opened for BUMIPUTERAS, which by definition in the constitution includes the Ibans, Bidayuhs, Kadazans, Melanaus, Thais, Penans, Orang Asli (as they call those natives in Peninsular who do not want to convert to Islam), Kelabit, Dusun Bajau…etc. not solely Malays. Why are they claiming that opening up UiTM to OTHER RACES will threaten the Malays? I can’t understand why a suggestion can be twisted as a political agenda just because it was by an Opposition leader. It’s mere suggestion and people with the right mind should know that a MB cannot change any intake policy by a university. Why bother demonstrating? Politically-driven?

ShareThis

ShareThis