1.0 Introduction

     On 1 Oct 2018, we as SCSP student together with SCSB student had a visit to CICT, UTM. At the beginning of this visit, a talk was introduced by Sir Mohd Zahari bin Zainal  Abidin, assistant officer of Technology Information of CICT. In this talk, introduction to organisation of CICT, management and security of ICT, customer relationship management, achievements and goals in the future were given in details by Sir Mohd Zahari.

     After the talk, we have a visit to PPICIP. This is basically a computer lab which can accommodate up to 70 people with all the internet services provided. We were given a chance visit to CICT Gallerium too. In this gallerium, students were exposed to components and computer hardware。

     Early in the year 1975, computer centre in UTM was formed. This is then combined with department of computer science under faculty of science in year 1981. Along the year 1984 to 2004, computer centre was upgraded to Institution of Computer Science and after that became Centre of Information & Communication Technology (CICT).

    CICT is a unit that satisfy the needs of university, either staffs or students in ICT services area. The ICT services provided including ICT infrastructure & security, application development and academic activities.

   Vision of CICT is to become top digital university in academic-based service delivery while mission is developing an entrepreneurial digital ecosystem by fostering innovative digital professionals and promoting collaboration in digital services. CICT mainly focus on providing ICT services and implement the continuous improvement to increase customer satisfaction in conjunction with its vision and mission.

2.0 Center for Information & Communication Technology (CICT)
2.1 Organization Structure

Picture 1 : Organization Structure of CICT UTM. (Pusat Teknologi Maklumat & Komunikasi n.d.)

     CICT has a huge team which consists of a few departments which are in charge of different task. The Top Management of CICT is leaded by the Director, PM Dr Shahizan Othman, followed by four Deputy Director who are from Application Development Management (ADM), Infrastructure and Operation Management (IOM), Strategic Management (SM) and CICT Kuala Lumpur (CICTKL). The top management is assisted by Corporate Management to ensure a better management towards CICT.

     The Deputy Director of Application Development Management (ADM) is Dr Mohd Murtadha Mohamad, followed by Chief IT Officer, Mr Roslai Paimin and the Security IT Officer, Mr Shahrul Ismail. The main focus of ADM is the application development in UTM such as UTMHR, UTMFin, UTMACAD, and other support application. Besides that, ADM be in charge of multimedia and networking, as well as the development of mobile application, PMO-BI and data management.

     Infrastructure and Operation Management (IOM) is leaded by Dr Syed Norris Hikmi Syed Abdullah, the director and assisted by Jaffar Sidek Haron, the Senior IT Officer. This department consists of a few branch of team which are Customer Relationship Management (CRM), High Performance Computer (HPC) and Software Services Team, Data Centre, Network, Security Management Team, Business Development as well as Business Continuity and Security. Besides, IOM provides services such as UTM-Hosting, UTM-Ads and UTM Cert for all alumni and students in UTM.

     For Strategic Management (SM), this department is leaded by Mr Samsudin Nyat and assisted by Chief IT Officer, Pn Siti Faridah Shikh A. Rahman, and one more IT Officer, Pn Azniza Ali, who are both involved in corporate branding of UTM. The main job of SM includes centralization of F Scheme (IT Officer and Technician), staff management attachment and ambassador, commentary and strategic planning, quality and branding ,management of CICT, as well as training and competence management of staff.     

     Apart from the three main department, Business Development Office (BDO) plays an important role in administration system of CICT. This department mainly in charge of business generation management of CICT, business opportunity management and business model development. The administrative task mainly is done by Corporate Management (CM) Department of CICT, while ICT project management is under the inspection of Project Management Office (PMO).

2.2 Service

 There are four main services provided by CICT to all of the UTM alumni and students :

• Infrastructure and Security
• Application Development
• Softwares
• Facilities

2.2.1 Infrastructure and Security

2.2.1.1 ID Account & Access

ACID is a unique ID of the user through the authentication server to use to log into the university system. All students have their own user ID after registering the program through their respective faculties. Meanwhile, the staff must have a mail account official UTM first before applying ACID account. (Pusat Teknologi Maklumat & Komunikasi n.d.)

2.2.1.2 Email

     Starting from 28^th June 2015, UTM is officially migrated from Desknow to Gmail in order to enhance email service to all UTM community, especially for UTM staff.

     The Gmail account is also a Google Account, so user can use the same Gmail username and password to use other Google products like YouTube, Google+, Google Sites, Google Drive, Google Talk, and others. (Pusat Teknologi Maklumat & Komunikasi n.d.)

2.2.1.3 UTM Hosting

      CICT offer hosting services such as web hosting, server hosting and colocation server hosting to UTM community and external customer for conference, association or club activities, special events etc. with affordable price.

     CICT provides a dedicated server to enable customer to make maximum customization and configuration of servers and applications. (Pusat Teknologi Maklumat & Komunikasi n.d.)

2.2.1.4 UTM-Ads

     This advertising platform is the first of its kind in Malaysia. UTM Ads platform will injecting digital advertiser banner direct into a user browsing session via campus Hotspot Wi-Fi network (UTMJB and UTMKL) and promoting the product brands and contents. As long as the user is using campus Wi-Fi network, the banner impression will continuously be repeated during the browsing session even they change the website page. (Pusat Teknologi Maklumat & Komunikasi n.d.)

2.2.1.5 ICT Security

     CICT provides and manage ICT security using Next Generation Firewall with reducing complexity and lowering the total cost of ownership. CICT also implement High Availability concept with active-active balancing to optimize the functionality and efficiency.

Key Features:

• Firewall Policy
• URL Filtering
• Application Control
• Intruder Prevention System

(Pusat Teknologi Maklumat & Komunikasi n.d.)

2.2.1.6 High Performance Computing (HPC)

1. a) Key Feature :

HPC involves computation that uses parallel processing. Parallel processing is a decomposition of a computation into smaller computation tasks that can be executed in parallel. The main aim of parallel processing is to reduce computing time. So HPC is needed when user want to reduce computing time.

1. b) Tools & Technology :

• SUN Oracle Cluster
• SUN Cluster
• IBM Cluster

(Pusat Teknologi Maklumat & Komunikasi n.d.)

2.2.1.7 Video Conferencing & Streaming

     Video conferencing service between UTM JB-UTMIC and UTMJB-overseas is provided to support business activities of UTM.

     By utilising this innovation of technology, there is a few savings can be done :

• Cost saving - travelling cost
• Time saving - travelling time and waiting time during the meeting
• Manpower saving - conference can be done once only

2.2.1.8 WIFI

2.2.1.8.1 UTM JB - Hotspot@UTM

On 1 September 2018, UTM JB had reached 100% WIFI coverage after the installation of 1600 Access Point in the campus.

Key Features :

• Unified Login Portal
• Using ACID account for login
• Guest account available upon request
• Multivendor Access Point Compatibility
• Hotspot @ UTM Access Point Monitoring

2.2.1.8.2 UTM KL

Key Feature:

• Wireless Hotspot @ UTM service in selected location
• Preventive maintenance weekly / Monthly based on zoning concept
• There are 8 Zone in UTMKL, each zone assign to separate technical staff
• Using Xirrus Technology on WIFI @ UTMKL
• Total Access Point – 220 including @ Kolej Siswa Jaya (KSJ), Setapak
• Cover up to floor / room area in UTMKL main campus. (85% coverage)
• At KSJ, WIFI only cover Hotspot at each floor.
• WIFI network support up to 200 concurrent user for each location
• Using ACID account for login
• Using Single Access ID named CICT
• Support Roaming features

(Pusat Teknologi Maklumat & Komunikasi n.d.)

2.2.2 Application Development

2.2.2.1 System Development

     CICT builds and manage administrative, support, multimedia, teaching and learning applications to improve the university’s service delivery efficiency and quality. CICT also develop new application (web base and mobile) and maintain the current UTM application base on request by PTJ in term of data requirement.

(Pusat Teknologi Maklumat & Komunikasi n.d.)

2.2.2.2 Mobile Apps

     UTMSmart is a mobile application developed by CICT team to record attendance of students to the class or any event in UTM. The attendance is recorded when students scan the QR code given by lecturer or the organiser. This application makes the attendance of students can be took in a more efficient way.

2.2.2.3 Multimedia Development

     CICT provides multimedia development such as montage, corporate video, promo video and quality video editing. CICT also provides graphics design for logo, presentation slide, web, bunting and banner. (Pusat Teknologi Maklumat & Komunikasi n.d.)

2.2.3 Software

Software license by UTM is provided by CICT as the following list :

• ANSYS
• Endnote
• Mathematica
• MATLAB
• Microsoft office (Mac only)
• NVIVO
• Simul8
• SPSS Amos
• IBM SPSS Moduler (Windows only)
• SPSS Statistic

(Pusat Teknologi Maklumat & Komunikasi n.d.)

2.2.4 Facilities

CICT provide computer lab for class and training.

      Feature :

• Capacity : 70 persons
• Facilities Provided :
• PA System - 1 unit
• LCD Projector - 1 unit
• Screen Projector
• Whiteboard
• Tables and Chairs
• Computer – 70 unit
• Teaching Computer - 1 unit
• Internet Service

2.3 Achievements

Picture 2 : UTMFin SAGA Compliance Award, 22 November 2017. (Pusat Teknologi Maklumat & Komunikasi n.d.)

Picture 3 : UTM received Certification of Data Centre Design Tier 3 on 1 December 2017 and become the first institute of higher education in Malaysia which have a data centre. (Pusat Teknologi Maklumat & Komunikasi n.d.)

2.4 Information Systems That Have Been Developed/Maintained

            The most remarkable information system developed and maintained by CICT is the MyUTM Portal, a one stop student services portal which includes a lot of services for students in UTM as well as enhance their learning experience. 

Picture 4 : Services provided by MyUTM portal. (Pusat Teknologi Maklumat & Komunikasi n.d.)

3.0 Discussion

Requirements and job specification needed for a career in IT

      When looking for a job, the qualifications for the positions or job requirement are important as they are deemed by the employer as essential to satisfactory performance for that job. Job requirements may include specific skills, types and amount of works experience, personal qualities, educational credentials, professional certifications or areas of knowledge.

     Since computers have become such an important part of everyday life, IT careers have become more common. Computer programmers, support specialists and systems analyst are just a few typical information technology careers. Programmers are the translators who convert software developer’s designs into codes that computers understand. Support specialist are the ambassadors who help ordinary people when they encounter problems with their computers. Systems analyst work with business to ensure that the companies’ computers and networks are working efficiently.

     The dominance of the IT job market is due in part to numerous factors, including the growth of the internet and e-commerce, lower hardware and software prices allowing more business to upgrade their technology, increased demand for information security specialists spurred by the escalating frequency and sophistication of cybercrime, the advent of smarter applications enabling companies to analyse data and develop business intelligence and the dawn of the mobile computing era. IT jobs such as programmers and analyst usually require at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related area, but sometimes an associate’s degree will suffice.

     Experience is always a boost and can be gained through school as well as on the job. Not all computer specialist jobs require high qualifications in education. You may find that different companies have their own way to select their dreamed employee.

How students are capable to recognize potential for improvement

      It is important to recognize your potential because once we’ve developed our full potential, it is time to work achieving it and it will take planning, time and effort.

     Achieving your full potential is about engaging yourself to the process of self-improvement, not a single task. First, define the best version of yourself because it is important to know yourself. Write down your values, strength, weakness and work on something you ever wanted such as writing, programming skills, graphic designing and many more. Then, try to improve that skills of yours by attending talk or skills workshops held regarding your skills.

     Second, work towards your goal every day. Once you have acknowledged that your goal is achievable and realistic, get to work. Commit to the process, rather than the end point you will find it much easier to stay on track.  You can seek for consultation on how to improve you skills such as on IT career and how to develop your skills on the right track.

     Lastly, trust your intuition that comes from experience and instinct. Although you must be open to change, you should also be willing to trust your own experience and knowledge. Remember that intuition and muse are not mutually exclusive. You can use your intuition to help inform your decision making process, even when you are not relying in it fully. Intuition is helpful tool for making quick decisions. This can free you up to work on other important target. You do not dwell on every decision but acting on intuition does not mean making the decision lightly either.

4.0 Reflection

     During our first industrial visit in Center for Information and Communication Technology (CICT) in UTM, we were fortunate enough to learn how CICT does their work and services in UTM KL and JB. When we had our visit, I was really inspired on how their system and organization working to make the system running without having a lot of problems.

     Since we are studying degree in data engineering, we are having the same dream, to be a data engineer in the future. Data engineer is someone that build massive reservoirs for big data. They develop and maintain such as database and large-scale data processing system. Data engineer may work together with data architect and data scientist. They often struggle with problems associated with database integration and messy, unstructured data sets. Their final aim is to provide clean, usable data to whomever may require it.

     During the visit, we amazed on how all the data in UTM KL and JB being connected to each other and how their teamwork within the organization to produce a good services for all the students and staff in UTM either in KL or JB which it becoming one of our reason why we choose to be a data engineer in the future. Besides, CICT also provided services to manage, supervise and maintain the main database of the University which is being used by UTM university system which make we feel more inspired to pursue in this job.

     Since we are interested in data engineering, there a lot of improvement that we need to do to be a part of the industry. One of them is we need to be fluent in the language and tools to help us to get hired. We also need to be extremely comfortable at the command line. Besides, we have to master in two or three programming language such as c++,c and java. This will help us to gain a lot of skill which can draw people attention that will help us to get hired. Last but not least, we also need to understand database management and in-depth knowledge of SQL which is hugely valuable. This skill also will give us a lot of help especially if we are interested in freelancing business.