KUALA LUMPUR: The Association of the Computer Industry                                                                                                
Malaysia (Pikom) andShe Malaysian Institute.of Management                                                                                             
(MIM) last week signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to                                                                                         
jointly develop and offer educational programmes to members of                                                                                        
both orgalusations, as well as to the general public.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
Derscribing the MoU as an "engagement," MIM chief executive                                                                                 
officer Dr Tarusius Chin said it promises collaborative work                                                                                          
from both organisations to be undertaken in the future.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
"Like an engagednent, which could very possibly result in an                                                                                     
eventual marriage, the MoU will bring different strengths from                                                                                        
the two organi sations together," he said.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
"It is a merging of IT and management to move to a higher                                                                                        
`platform' the management of technology," he added. Under the                                                                                    
MoU, the two parties will organise seminars, conferences                                                                                              
training and education. programmes on a national, regional or                                                                                         
international level.                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                      
These prograrnmes are intended to erdiance the knowledge and                                                                                          
management skills of Malaysians.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                      
According to Pikom chairman Dan Khoo, the organisation has in                                                                                         
the past alooked at conducting an MBA in IT, but lacked the                                                                                           
resources for such an endeavour."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                      
"Hence, we look upon MIM to provide the educational expertise                                                                                    
while we provide input to the programmed he added.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                      
The first of the programmes from the agreement are expected to                                                                                        
be available by the end of the year.