The Industry Advisory Board (IAB) on Information Technology convened on 10 October 2024, bringing together industry leaders and INTI’s academic team to explore how education can keep pace with rapid technological advancements in IT and Computing. The session, held at INTI International University, focused on equipping students with foundational knowledge and practical experience to meet the evolving demands of the IT industry.
Members of INTI’s Industry Advisory Board and Computing and IT faculty gather for a group photo following a session on aligning education with industry needs.
- Gopala, CEO of Thulija Technologies, highlighted the critical need for students to build a strong foundation in logical thinking before tackling advanced technologies. “Before we even talk about advanced technology skills, students need to be grounded in core subjects like mathematics. Logical reasoning is the cornerstone for any technical role, and without it, students will struggle to adapt to industry needs,” he said.
Gopala also emphasised the importance of hands-on learning, particularly in IT, where practical exposure to the latest technologies is critical to student success. “Educational institutions must not lag when it comes to new technologies. In an AI-driven world, students need hands-on experience with the latest tools to truly understand how technology functions in real-world scenarios,” he added.
Calvin Yeap, Marketing Director of BMEC.asia, reinforced this point, stressing the need for early exposure to emerging technologies. He cautioned that waiting for technologies to become mainstream could leave IT graduates at a disadvantage. “The earlier students are exposed to new technologies, the better. We’ll be behind if we wait until these technologies are widely adopted. Our students need to be future-ready, which means acting now,” he remarked.
The discussion also addressed the growing importance of ethics in IT, particularly with the rise of AI. Ricky Tan, Tech Lead of Amazon Web Services (AWS) Global Education, highlighted the dual responsibility of teaching technical skills and ethical judgment. “In today’s world, it’s not just about how students use AI, but when it is appropriate. Ethical considerations need to be front and centre. We should also be introducing topics like Generative AI into our curriculum while retiring outdated ones such as Assembly Language, which no longer serve the evolving needs of the industry,” Ricky stated.
Another key takeaway from the session was the challenge of balancing theoretical knowledge with practical skills. Gopala pointed out that while theory remains essential, more is needed to prepare students for the fast-changing IT landscape. “The tech industry is in constant flux, and if we focus only on teaching theory, students will find it hard to keep up with the latest innovations. We need to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application,” he explained.
The IAB reaffirmed INTI’s commitment to staying ahead of industry trends by regularly updating its IT programmes. By collaborating with industry experts, INTI ensures that its IT students are equipped with the latest skills, practical experience, and ethical understanding needed to excel in the fast-evolving world of technology.
An engaging discussion between INTI’s Industry Advisory Board and Computing and IT lecturers, focusing on the future of technology in education and preparing students for industry demands.