An IT degree with a difference
IF one were to think of a single invention that is essential today, how many would acknowledge the computer? Once upon a time they were only available to governments in secret buildings and in huge sizes – today many households own a computer.
Almost every task imaginable could use a computer to make it better, more impressive and effective. Ideas are transformed into creations at a higher speed, leaving people more time to pursue other ambitions in life – thus enabling this world to develop at a faster pace.
The knowledge of acquiring more skills to master this realm of the IT world is available at all major universities and it is a no brainer that this course is becoming more important.
In fact, all courses such as law, business and medicine are not functional without computers these days.
We see new gadgets entering the market every day and replacing older models. It is as if there is a group of people in labs all over the world constantly studying how lives of people may be improved and changed even more.
What could you do if you were an expert of Information Technology? You could create new codes, design clothes and view it from various sides, even figure out ways to create illusion in film with graphic design. The opportunities and possibilities are endless.
Individuals who enjoy the challenge of solving complex puzzles and structures would love IT. One could dream up an idea and independently work towards seeing it come to life.
IT work doesn’t always require seclusion in the lab or office. There is a lot of research to be done and interaction with people is important in order to understand what they need and fulfil it in some way. Projects are different and each one could be a lot more different than the last.
Monash IT graduates have careers as medical consultants in India, TV producers in Malaysia, criminal identifiers in Australia, entrepreneurs in Vietnam, oil industry executives in Bangladesh, and software engineers in China.
Good salaries await the savvy IT extraordinaire that is not only knowledgeable with skills of present day technology but is also imaginative enough to create revolutionary techniques for the future.
A programme especially for IT students are available called the Industry Insight Program.
Top industry players from the IT field are brought to the campus, where they address a hall of students about the experiences that await them, as well as what will be expected of them.
This session benefits the students who get to ask as many questions as possible to ensure they have the correct idea of the field they are interested in or even not interested in.
“The students really enjoy the Industry Insight Program and industry talks because they hear from leading IT experts themselves what’s happening in industry.
“Our partner companies, on the other hand, use this platform to identify candidates for jobs,” Head of School Dr Saadat m alhashmi said.
But graduating with purely an IT degree is not enough.
As the IT field matures, so does the need for graduates with skills in other areas to complement their IT degree.
Deputy Head of School (Education) Dr Thomas O’daniel said this was why Monash University IT courses were made flexible.
“A third of the programme consists of free electives that can be taken from any other School. For students, it gives them more responsibility to choose what they want to study.
“We are opening up the curriculum so students from the School of IT can pursue units at other Schools, and vice versa.”
The IT courses at Monash University Sunway campus encourages students to opt for free elective units at the School of Arts and Social Sciences, School of Business, School of Engineering, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and School of Science.
For more information, visit www.monash.edu.my