eForesee

Re: Re(2): Replacement:Re(2): eForesee malta-ict: Scenarios for Malta in ICT

[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

  • Subject: Re: Re(2): Replacement:Re(2): eForesee malta-ict: Scenarios for Malta in ICT
  • From: Antoine Gambin
  • Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 5:23:51 +0200

On Thu, 22 Aug 2002 16:49:56 +0200 "Angele Giuliano" wrote:
> Paul and Neil,
> 
> I agree with both of your ideas, however if ICT advances so
> much as to be able to give services from anywhere, all the time,
> like already is possible thanks to the Internet we have to be
> careful that countries like India and Tunisia which are so much
> cheaper than us, do not steal the European market!
> Even Maltese companies would find it easier to commission
> software abroad.
> 
> One might argue that we are cheaper than the Europeans but of
> the same quality, but we cannot close our eyes and ears to the
> rest of the world. We might face a situation where the best
> Maltese minds go working abroad and they would then be more
> expensive for Malta itself to use them.. we might start
> "importing" cheaper labour to fill our needs!
> 
> Angele
> 
> -----------------------------------------------ooO-^ ^-Ooo--
> AcrossLimits - http://www.acrosslimits.com
> (address) 16 Bwieraq Street, Birkirkara - Malta
> (mobile) +356 99447060 (email) [email protected]
> (tel) +356 21 496376, 21 493983 (fax) +356 21 486008
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Galea Paul at MITTS 
> To: 
> Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2002 5:38 PM
> Subject: Re(2): Replacement:Re(2): eForesee malta-ict: Scenarios for Malta
> in ICT
> 
> 
> > I totally agree with Dr. Falzon regarding the brain drain.
> > Many maltese will disappear from our island as soon as they have freedom
> of
> > moovement.
> >
> > I know a lot of people (especially in IT) who do not venture beyond our
> shores
> > because it is a Beaurocratic nightmare to get a work permit from these
> > countries.
> > Once this is solved (with EU membership) we will undoubtedly loose their
> > services to other countries.
> >
> > Like I said in my previous mail and very well put by Dr. Falzon, to 
> solve
> this
> > we need to be able to provide services, without the need of being at the
> > location itself. This is where ICT should help (as it is doing in
> Telemedicine)
> > and in this way we can start to overcome the braindrain issue.
> >
> > Again, I mention the BANDWITH ISSUE and a lot of this will not bve
> possible if
> > our international bandwith is left "AS IS"
> >
> > regards
> >
> > paul
> > PS. call me paul
> >
> > Dr. Neil Falzon (22/08/02 15:19):
> > >Hi,
> > >
> > >Just picking on a one of Mr. Galea's comments (re. Malta not producing
> enough
> > Software developers), a scenario I foresee revolves around a
> problem only
> > sparingly mentioned at the eForesee workshop a few weeks ago - brain
> drain.
> > >
> > >I am not an IT expert, so I will not venture to deep into that aspect,
> yet the
> > brain drain issue is certainly not limited to the IT sector. There is
> hardly
> > any point (selfishly speaking) in strengthening an educational system if
> the
> > products of that system, effective and productive as it may be, do not
> > contribute to the country's entire advancement and well-being. Hence a
> > scenario I foresee is rather dark with increased mobility with EU
> membership
> > cutting down on intellectuals (I use the word intellectuals in the
> widest
> of
> > senses) residing in Malta.
> > >
> > >To tackle this, ICT could by-pass the brain-drain problem by attacking
> its
> > very definition, which can be seen as geographic in nature. Is there
> really a
> > brain drain if Maltese intellectuals residing overseas are enabled to
> perform &
> > contribute locally at various level of civic inclusion? Can ICT
> help with
> > this? We cannot deny the attraction 'overseas' holds for ambitious
> > intellectuals. I don't this balance will ever be tipped, our size will
> never
> > change.
> > >
> > >Neil
> > >
> > >_____________
> > >
> > >
> > >EURIS CONSULT LTD.
> > >46/3, South Street, Valletta VLT 11, Malta.
> > >Tel: (+356) 21232551
> > >Fax: (+356) 21237277
> > >E-mail: [email protected]
> > >Website: http://www.eurisconsult.com
> > >
> > >This message (including any attachments) contains confidential
> information
> > that is intended for a specific individual and purpose, and is protected
> by law.
> > >If you are not the intended recipient, you should delete this message
> > forthwith and are here notified that any disclosure, copying,
> printing or
> > distribution of this message, or the taking of any action based on it is
> > strictly prohibited.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Galea Paul at MITTS
> > > To: [email protected]
> > > Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2002 4:44 PM
> > > Subject: Replacement:Re(2): eForesee malta-ict: Scenarios for
> Malta in
> ICT
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I think that considering that Malta was a late entry in the Global IT
> secto,
> > > our achievements in the last decade by far exceeds our expectations.
> > > Keeping this in mind, I think that we could use the experience gained
> in this
> > > "FRESH START" approach that Malta had in the 1990's and offer
> our help
> to
> > those
> > > countries (especially in the north african region) who are still
> struggling
> > to
> > > set up their IT infrastructure ans IS capabilities.
> > >
> > > Also, this could also lead to Malta being a hub in the provision of
> services
> > > (ISP, ASP, NSP, and so on), especially providing Software as a
> service
> or
> > > Application Service Provision (ASP).
> > > Another area which we could benefit from is the provision of remote
> > > administrastion/support/maintenance/helpdesk services.
> > >
> > > All this can only happend if Malta's Internet bandwith problem is
> solved.
> > > A lot of people in Malta are speaking about on-line services
> being made
> > > available but unless our international bandwith is adequately
> "beefed-up",
> > none
> > > of these services will materialise at an international level.
> > >
> > > One of the worlds' greates deficiencies nowadays is the
> non-availibility of
> > > SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS. The educational systems around the world (and in
> > > particular those of small countries like ourselves) seem to lack the
> ability
> > to
> > > produce people with very good software skills. I see this from
> 11 years
> > > experience at MSU/ MITTS Ltd. where I have mentored a number of
> students
> > from a
> > > number of academic backgrounds (University, Technical Institute, 
> Junior
> > > Collegge, ..). The biggest problem (Juan hit the nail on the
> head with
> his
> > > coments on this) is that not enough emphasis is place on the teaching
> of soft
> > > skills. (and these include softWARE skills)
> > > The current educational system ( I am sure that most of you have gone
> through
> > > University, passing exams and not remembering what the subjects were
> about
> > > after a couple of days) only deems people as being successfull,
> if they
> pass
> > > exams and in the particular area of software, this is a great
> fallacy.
> > Another
> > > problem with software is that it is very difficult to teach
> software if
> you
> > are
> > > not a software developer yourself. As such, I feel that the we need
> more of
> > the
> > > Hand-on approach that juan mentioned.
> > > I feel that there is a high concentration of software developers in
> Malta
> > > already, but with a bit of investment and foresight, we could
> have more
> of
> > > these on the island and start exporting our software skills and
> services
> > more.
> > >
> > > Regards
> > >
> > > Paul Galea
> > > Consultant
> > > Strategy and Architecture Department
> > > Central Information Management Unit
> > >
> > >
> > > Jennifer Cassingena Harper (22/08/02 12:21):
> > > >Leonard,
> > > >
> > > >many thanks,
> > > >
> > > >Jennifer
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: Leonard Bezzina
> > > > To: [email protected]
> > > > Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2002 1:18 PM
> > > > Subject: Re: eForesee malta-ict: Scenarios for Malta in ICT
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Dear Jennifer,
> > > > I would like to suggest the following scenario:
> > > >
> > > > Malta would become a centre of excellence in ICT in education
> (practice
> > and
> > > theory). This implies a situation where all teachers are making the
> best
> > > possible use of ICT in order to enhance teaching and learning in all
> areas of
> > > the curriculum and at all levels of our education system (primary,
> secondary,
> > > post-secondary and tertiary). This vision includes making most of the
> > > communication capabilities of current and future technology in
> order to
> > promote
> > > learning at a distance and at all times of the day (e-learning)
> and at
> > > facilitating communication between parents/guardians and the
> school. It
> also
> > > implies a situation where Malta develops innovative ways of
> making use
> of ICT
> > > in our classrooms. Once such a vision is in place we can become a
> > Mediteranean
> > > centre of excellence in teacher education in this area. We can then
> offer
> > > appropriate University level courses mainly through distance
> learning.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Leonard Bezzina
> > > >
> > > > Jennifer Cassingena Harper wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Dear Colleagues, We would like to initiate an on-line
> discussion
> on
> > > alternative futures for Malta in ICT. We would like you to send us up
> to ten
> > > different scenario themes for Malta in ICT. These can be scenario
> themes
> > > focused on:
> > > > a.. specific niche areas (e.g. Malta as an e-learning hub)
> > > > b.. or ICT-enabled initiatives (e.g. on-line gambling)
> > > > c.. or telecomms-related initiatives
> > > > d.. or any other ideas in general !!
> > > > Ideally, this exercise should not involve too much time -
> maximum
> 30
> > > minutes - just jot down what comes immediately to mind. So send
> us your
> > > feedback if possible by Thursday 22 August.Looking forward to hearing
> from
> > you,
> > > Jennifer
> > > > ___________Dr. Jennifer
> Cassingena
> > > Harper
> > > > Head, Policy Unit,
> > > > Malta Council for Science and Technology
> > > > Villa Bighi, Bighi, Kalkara CSP 11, Malta
> > > > email: [email protected] http://www.mcst.org.mt
> > > > direct dial-in: +356 23602125
> > > > tel. +356 21 660340 (fax) +356 21 660341
> > > > ___________
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> +++++++++++++++
> > > >
> > > > Dr Leonard Bezzina
> > > > Department of Mathematics, Science and Technical Education
> > > > Faculty of Education
> > > > University of Malta
> > > > Msida MSD 06
> > > > Malta
> > > >
> > > > E-mail address: [email protected]
> > > > Telephone number: 3290 2404
> > > >
> > > >
> +++++++++++++++
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > sender : "Galea Paul at MITTS" 
> > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > This is the malta-ict mailing list of the EU financed eFORESEE
> > > project on regional foresight. Please go to the project website
> > > at http://eforesee.info to subscribe, unsubscribe or update
> > > your profile. Feel free to forward this message to colleagues or
> > > friends interested in any foresight related activities.
> > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> > sender : "Galea Paul at MITTS" 
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> > This is the malta-ict mailing list of the EU financed eFORESEE
> > project on regional foresight. Please go to the project website
> > at http://eforesee.info to subscribe, unsubscribe or update
> > your profile. Feel free to forward this message to colleagues or
> > friends interested in any foresight related activities.
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> 
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> sender : "Angele Giuliano" 
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> This is the malta-ict mailing list of the EU financed eFORESEE
> project on regional foresight. Please go to the project website
> at http://eforesee.info to subscribe, unsubscribe or update
> your profile. Feel free to forward this message to colleagues or
> friends interested in any foresight related activities.
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
but wouldn't the importing cheaper labour exercise survive only until
they can do it from their home base without our intervention ?
antoine
FREE!! Submit your website's URL to the largest search-engine for Maltese web-sites on the Net AT NO COST! 
Simply go to http://searchmalta.com/submit/ and follow the instructions on the site.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
sender : Antoine Gambin 
---------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the malta-ict mailing list of the EU financed eFORESEE
project on regional foresight. Please go to the project website
at http://eforesee.info to subscribe, unsubscribe or update
your profile. Feel free to forward this message to colleagues or
friends interested in any foresight related activities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------


top-of-page Email-A-Page

  [ foresight in cyprus ] [ foresight in estonia ] [ foresight in malta ]
  [ conferences and events ] [ mailing lists ] [ foresight links ] [ search ]
  [ home ] [ about foresight ] [ contact us ] [ web discussion ] [ user area ]


   Design, hosting and programming by AcrossLimitsAcrossLimits.