UKM Places Great Importance to Visual Informatics Research

By Radzuan Ghazali

Pix Mohd Hairul Azmi Jahid

BANGI, 9 Nov. 2011 – The National University of Malaysia (UKM) places great importance to research in information and communications technology in line with the National Digital Transformation Plan that can spearhead the country’s economic development.

Deputy Vice Chancellor  (Students and Alumni Affairs) UKM, Prof Ir Dr Othman A. Karim said the university has been allocated a sum of RM44million under the 10^th Malaysia Plan for research in the area against an allocation of only RM3million under the sixth plan.

Speaking at the opening of the International Conference of Visual Informatics at the Equatorial Hotel here today he expressed confidence that the Ministry of Higher Education will continue to support the university to undertake research and innovations in informatics.

The three day conference is organised by the Institute of Visual Informatics UKM and Faculty of Information Science and Technology, UKM with the theme ‘Virtual Informatics: Sustainable Innovations Towards Wealth Creation’.

It is attended by some 150 engineers, academicians and those involved in the industry worldwide. A total of 71 papers have been tabled for discussions.

Chairman of UKM Board of Directors, Tan Sri Zulkifli A Hassan  who officiated the opening on behalf of the Minister of Higher Education said informatics technology plays a very important role in revolutionising and supporting various sectors including education, communications, health care in addition to biotechnology and genetic engineering and visual informatics.

He said visual informatics was especially relevant in education as it has the widest reach compared to the traditional method thus allowing more people in the country to have access to it.

 
Since the setting of the Malaysia Super Corridor (MSC) 2,455 companies including institutions of higher learning have been given MSC status with 2,574 IPs registered.

Prof Dato’ Dr Halimah said the conference is a platform for academics and professionals and experts in visual informatics to share their experiences and information and was confident that participants would greatly benefit from it.