eForesee

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

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  • Subject: Re: Re(2): Replacement:Re(2): eForesee malta-ict: Scenarios for Malta in ICT
  • From: "Louis Borg"
  • Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2002 21:03:06 +0200

Dear Friend
After having read all the e-mails I became concerned. The attitude of
underestimating the value of the Maltese workforce has to change.
 If we enter in EU we need to be competitive, not only throught cheaper
prices because that way we would be losing all the specialised workforce and
by that I mean not only IT Specialists.
Even if we do not enter the EU, these people will definitely find better
opportunities in other countries and shift out of the island. This is
already happening.
What is of great concern is the fact that foreign nationals who are given
the work permits are being paid more than the local workforce with the same
profession. These foreign nationals work with Governmental Entities and
public liability companies. If the same kind of money is paid to the
Maltese Specialists they would not be so encouraged to leave the island.
Most importantly we have to stop promoting ourselves as cheap labour because
this is self inficing harm.
Louis Borg
----- Original Message -----
From: "Angele Giuliano" 
To: 
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2002 4:49 PM
Subject: Re: Re(2): Replacement:Re(2): eForesee malta-ict: Scenarios for
Malta in ICT
> 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.
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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