Home > News & Events > News Archive 2007 > Sun Microsystems Launches Education Initiative With Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS
SUN MICROSYSTEMS LAUNCHES EDUCATION INITIATIVE WITH UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI PETRONAS
6th August 2006
Sun Microsystems Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Sun) signed a collaborative agreement with Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) on 9 August 2006 to create a synergistic relationship via the Sun Academic Initiative (SAI). This initiative will see UTP working together with Sun to provide its students with training in Sun’s technology offerings.
The SAI will help UTP students leverage on a pre-defined, globally recognised programme, allowing them to get hands-on experience of Sun’s state-of-the-art technologies and develop marketable IT skills to help them succeed in the competitive marketplace after graduation. One of the key benefits of participating in the SAI is the industry-leading certification from Sun that would not only increase students’ IT competency but also their marketability locally and internationally.
Sun’s Managing Director, Cheam Tat-Inn said: “Students who are certified with industry-standard measurements have better opportunities for initial job placement and future professional advancement. With certification comes acknowledgment of specific technology skill sets. Professional certifications such as the SAI mitigate the gap between what graduating students know and what they need to know in order to perform certain job roles and remain marketable.”
IT professionals are becoming more aware of Sun's leadership in various technologies such as Java technology. A Sun Certified Programmer (SCJP) has an added edge over non-certified programmers.
Under the SAI programme, UTP students will be introduced to Sun’s technologies such as Java, Solaris OS systems administration, the complete StarOffice productivity suite and a full range of online training programmes.
“The growth of the network economy has bolstered the demand for IT education. IT professionals are becoming aware of Sun’s leadership in various technologies such as Java and Solaris. The Sun Educational Services will tap the growing Java market opportunity with innovative technologies and quality education to maintain its leading position in educational software,” added Cheam.
Dr Zainal Abidin Haji Kasim, the Rector of Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS said: “We welcome such collaboration with Sun Microsystems. The Sun Academic Initiative provide our students a unique opportunity to take advantage of Sun technology training courses and a chance to confirm their knowledge through certification. We are working closely with Sun to look at ways to ensure our students are well-versed with the latest innovation and development taking place globally.”
As part of this programme, UTP will become an Authorized Sun Academic Initiative Center, enabling the academic institution to deliver training on Sun technologies to its students. In addition, students can obtain free access to selected online courses through the Sun Web Learning Center.
UTP will offer Sun-authorized courses as part of its IT curriculum under the SAI programme. Apart from Java Programming courses, students will also be encouraged to participate in the internationally recognized Sun Certified Java Programmer exams. Upon graduation, they will have the requisite skills to undertake Java programming and development work anywhere in the world, placing them ahead of competition in the workplace.
The SAI is a philanthropic programme designed by Sun as a way to share Sun’s training content with non-profit academic and research institutions. Through this programme, qualifying institutions become Authorized Sun Academic Initiative Center (SAI), allowing these institutions to provide selected courses to help prepare students for the certifying exams in Sun technologies.