International Collaboration

The EPU-MTCP Smart School Project

Through the successful implementation of the Smart School Project in Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar and Vietnam, led by MDeC, Malaysia has been honored as one of the six recipients of the South-South Innovation Award which was presented during the Global South-South Development (GSSD) Expo 2008. The event was held in conjunction with the Fifth United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, from 16-19 December 2008, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA.

EPU Director General, Y.Bhg. Tan Sri Dr. Sulaiman Mahbob received the award on behalf of the Government of Malaysia, from His Excellency Mr Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, president of the High-Level Committee on South-South Cooperation. The award is presented to Malaysia based on its submission of an innovative Malaysian Government's initiative under the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) in bridging the digital divide and developing ICT technologies through the Smart School Project in isolated and disadvantaged schools in Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV).

"This UNDP Award is an international recognition of Malaysia's efforts towards South-South Cooperation in capacity building and human capital development", said Tan Sri Sulaiman Mahbob.

Multimedia Development Corporation Sdn Bhd (MDeC) has been privileged to have had the opportunity in assisting the EPU in the implementation of the EPU-MTCP Smart School Project in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV).

The key features that captured the United Nation judges' attention are in the end-to-end solution for ensuring achievements, impact, and sustainability. The Malaysian Smart School model is comprehensive and provides end-to-end solutions for the schools. The project not only provides technologically enhanced infrastructure to the respective schools, but also the contents for learning enhancements, innovative tools, a continuous support structure as well as the human skills to efficiently and effectively manages these resources.

The implementation of this EPU-MTCP Smart School Project has seen many achievements of the Malaysian Smart School model in the CLMV countries, which includes the creation of opportunities for an accelerated acquisition of knowledge, the provision of direct access to ICT for students, teachers and the surrounding community as well as the gaining of project ownership.

The local students, who are now more exposed to ICT have said that "Learning is more fun now", "I understand the subject faster" and "I like the computer lab!" when asked during various monitoring visits to the respective schools.

The teachers too have shown tremendous positive reactions in view of the programme.

"...I gained a lot of knowledge from my training in Malaysia and it has helped in teaching all the other teachers in my school.." Ms Vu Anh Thu, Teacher, To Hoang Lower Secondary School, Hanoi.

"...the students enjoy learning using the new management system. Now with IT, students find classes to be very interesting..." Mr Nguyen Anh Duc, Teacher, Chu Van Anh High School, Hanoi

"...since the introduction of lessons through the internet, students' attendance in class improved dramatically.." Mr Um Samnamg, Teacher, Preahyukunthor High School, Phnom Penh

"...the school is very happy with the new computers and the teachers will use the computer lab as much as possible.." Mr Prum Sovan, Teacher, Hun Sen Bun Rany Wat Phnom High School,Phnom Penh

Multimedia Synergy Corporation Sdn Bhd, an MSC Malaysia Status Company, was the company that won the tender as the end-to-end project manager for the project in Cambodia and Vietnam. Their deliverables include project management, content development, infrastructure procurement, training and support services. In line with MSC Malaysia's objective of building small medium enterprises (SMEs) in ICT, the project in CLMV has provided much exposure particularly in building the company's capacity in the implementation aspects in other countries. An excellent example of their enhanced capacity is in the development and customization of the content relevant to the recipient countries' curriculum.

Through this EPU-MTCP Smart School Project, MDeC has been successful in positioning Malaysia as a leader in the transformation of education, leveraging on ICT in education. The project clearly shows that the Smart School concept is replicable to the other parts of the world.

Visit from the delegates of the 2nd Thailand-Malaysia Joint Working Group on Education

22 officers from the Ministry of Education, Thailand attending the 2nd Thailand-Malaysia Joint Working Group on Education made an official visit to MDeC on the 1st October 2009 for a briefing on the MSC Malaysia Smart School Flagship Application. The delegates were introduced to the background of the flagship application, current progress of the Making All Schools Smart Initiative, the smart school outcomes, challenges as well as future plans. The delegates were earlier taken to SK Seri Bintang Utara, Cheras, where they were given the opportunity to observe, understand and learn more about the Malaysian smart schools.

MSC MALAYSIA STATUS COMPANIES IN PACT WITH SOUTH KOREAN COUNTERPARTS

Two MSC Malaysia Status companies namely Telekom Smart School Sdn Bhd (TSS) and Zeal Hi-Tech Solutions Sdn Bhd signed a Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) between a South Korean e-Learning solutions provider, Dunet Inc (Dunet) on Internet Protocol (IPTV) on 9th February 2010 at Cyberview Lodge Resort.

The broad objectives of the MOU are as the following:

• To enhance the capacity of local e-education companies
• To increase global competitiveness of local Smart School companies
• To innovate the approach in the education content development and solution for IPTV
• To co-access international educational content market and solution for IPTV

The MoU signings are the result of the Multimedia Development Corporation's (MDeC) on-going efforts to create collaborative opportunities between international companies and promising local companies. Together, the two MoUs aim to enhance the capacity of Malaysian e-education companies, in addition to increasing global competitiveness of Malaysian Smart School companies.

It is also hoped that the MoUs will lead to the innovation approach to IPTV education content development and solutions, and the co-access of the international IPTV educational content and solutions market. This is aligned with the enhancement of the Smart School Flagship Application to ensure its sustainability and global competitiveness.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by YBhg. Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, Chief Executive Officer of MDeC and Mr. Kim Dong-Hwan, Commercial Attache, Embassy of the Republic of Korea.

The two MoUs are outcomes of the signing of an MoU in 2008 between MDeC and Korea's National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA), who both sought to collaborate on smart school programmes. Signed in conjunction with the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT), the 2008 MoU led to exchanges and deliberations between Malaysian and Korean consortiums, ultimately contributing to the IPTV project framework.

Speaking at the event, MDeC CEO Datuk Badlisham Ghazali said that "the signing of these MoUs will lead to the formulation of strategies to enhance WebTV. I believe both parties will be able to work closely together to develop IPTV e-learning content and solutions, and perhaps even become leaders in the IPTV global networks."

Delegation from Future Learning Finland Visit To Malaysia, 17 September 2009

Collaboration in the Area of ICT Development between Malaysia and South Korea: A Presentation on Opportunities in IPTV e-Learning Content and Solutions and MOU Exchange between Korean and Malaysian Companies, 8th – 10th February 2010, Cyberview Lodge Resort and Spa, Cyberjaya

Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) - South Korea Institute for Electronic Commerce (KIEC) workshop on developing education content and application.

South Korea, the leader in broadband is keen to explore education content development in MSC Malaysia to further enhance the investment opportunities between both countries.

MDeC's Chief Executive Officer Dato' Badlisham Ghazali said South Korea's interest in MSC Malaysia Smart School's content development marks a significant milestone in the collaborative efforts between Malaysia and the South Korean counterparts.

It aims to involve the importance of working out a winning formula for both parties by examining the unique strength and capacity of the Korean Dream Consortium (KDC) companies and the MSC Malaysia status companies.

The MDeC - KIEC programme was born out of the signing of memorandums of understanding (MOU) that was developed between MDeC and KIEC during the World Congress in IT (WCIT) that was held in Kuala Lumpur last year. In fact, a Malaysian delegation led by MDeC had preceded this current programme.

MDeC also foresees greater participation from its counterpart of the many investment opportunities in MSC Malaysia and the capacity of South Korean companies represented in enriching the e-learning initiative in Korea with the content and systems especially those for post-secondary and life-long learning programmes.

"This experience is invaluable for MSC Malaysia as we spearhead the Integrated Content Development Taskforce (ICON) that assists the Malaysian government in generating content for the High Speed Broadband (HSBB) initiative,"

"While we learn from your experience in deploying on-line content for wider access in informal learning, we hope to offer you our experience in the development of educational content for both formal and informal learning for primary and secondary level schools (K-12). This is an example of a collaborative perspective which I am sure will be explored further," Dato' Badlisham added.

"Through your inputs and our established ties with the Korea Educational Research Information Service (KERIS) and Korean Educational Development Institute (KEDI), we can continuously benchmark and enhance our locally developed Smart School Qualification Standards (SSQS) and our implementation model," said Badlisham.

MDeC will continue to play its role in this MDeC - KIEC collaboration in order to facilitate the growth and development of education through ICT and at the same time serves the collaboration of the industries that are supporting this collaboration. MDeC therefore, welcomes MSC Malaysia status companies and other companies to continue to play a part in this collaboration.

Meanwhile KIEC's director of Knowledge Business Promotion Division Sang-il Lee said, " if you look at the global ICT trend, not only hardware such as network and computer system are the important technologies, but contents such as culture, education, game, entertainment, etc. are also rapidly developing."

E-learning especially is recognized as a core future industry enabling transition to knowledge-based information society and its importance is ever growing globally. The expertise derived from this has created many spin offs. Among them inlcude the Smart Schools Project in selected schools in Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) countries - which is a collaborative effort between the Economic Planning Unit (EPU).

In fact, MDeC's experience in K-12 education development through the integration of ICT has been internationally endorsed. Recently, MSC Malaysia's smart school initiative has been selected as a recipient of the United Nation's South-South Innovation Award in New York.

The South Korean delegation was comprised of KIEC, Dunet, Daulsoft, Commbox Korea, 4cSoft, Mediopia Tech, Amasasoft and the Malaysian e-learning companies were represented by TM Smart School, Multi Media Synergy Corporation, Commbax Sdn Bhd, Integrated Technology Haus Sdn Bhd, Dynaniaga Sdn Bhd.