This is a joint venture program initiated by the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA). Its main objective is to produce IT entrepreneurs (IT technopreneurs) at the postgraduate level. It is an effort to increase the number of highly skilled local IT technopreneurs and software developers.
The normal duration of this program is 2 years (4 semesters) and technopreneurs need to complete a total of 32 credits before graduation where 8 credits is dedicated to completing an IT-based project. Besides the normal class lectures, this program also adopts a Teaching Factory concept where technopreneurs have to undergo extensive practical exposure to enhance their IT as well as their entrepreneurial skills. Industrial involvement is eminent to the success of this program, thus, technopreneurs will be engaged to industrial mentors through the Mentoring & Coaching concept introduced. To further equip the technopreneurs to become more competent, innovative, versatile, and possess ethical entrepreneurial values, they will be exposed to various kinds of external entrepreneurial programs such as seminars, series of short courses, business discourse, workshops, business forums & networking, business competitions, business visits etc.
Objectives
The main objective of this program is to produce successful IT entrepreneurs who have :
1. Ability to translate IT innovations into successful & sustainable business.
2. Ability to develop & manage a profitable business based on IT product or service.
3. High competency to compete in global & local IT-based product & service market.
4. Ability to build strong business network to gain competitive advantage.
5. Possess ethical and entrepreneurial values.
Type of Progammes
Since this is a jointly organized program between UTM & MARA, its target candidates are those who have Bumiputra status. This is a special program conducted on a full-time basis at the UTM Skudai Campus.
Mode of Study
This program is conducted as a taught course where the instructors are those from the UTM graduate faculty members. Where necessary, guest speakers from the industry will be invited. In addition to the normal class lectures, this program also adopts a Teaching Factory concept where technopreneurs have to undergo extensive practical exposure to enhance their IT as well as their entrepreneurial skills. To further enhance their learning experience technopreneurs are required to attend and participate in various non-credit faculty arranged entrepreneurship related courses and activities to study various aspects of entrepreneurship in more detail.
Locations and Language
Upon registration, each technopreneur will be assigned an incubator equipped with IT facility as their working place. This incubator is located at the Kompleks Usahawan Teknologi (KUT) MARA building at the UTM Technovation Park, UTM Skudai, Johor. Most lectures and entrepreneurial activities will also be conducted here with English as the language medium of communication.
Entry Requirement
Academic Requirements
Applicants must have the following academic qualifications:
At least a Bachelor's degree with good honours in the area of computer science or IT related discipline from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia or any other institutions of higher learning recognized by the university senate.
Or
A Bachelor's degree from other technical background with at least two years working experience in IT related field may also be considered.Special Requirements
Apart from the academic requirements, candidates must also possess and display strong entrepreneurship qualities and desires to pursue IT entrepreneurship. For this purpose , an entrepreneur qualifying test will be conducted during interview session.
International Student Entry
International applicants to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia must satisfy academic admission and English language proficiency requirement(IELTS band 6 or TEOFL score of 550) and any other conditions specified. Students who do not fulfill English Language proficiency will be required to take an English exam upon registration, failing which, they have to register for English modules offered at the university.
Course Structure
Candidates from non-IT background must complete a maximum of four pre-requisite subjects upon enrolment into the program. Students must pass the pre-requisite subjects before registering for the associated core subjects. All students are required to take University Common Elective Subjects (2 credits), Compulsory Faculty Subject (2 credits), IT Subjects (12 credits), Entrepreneurship Subjects (8 credits) and Product Development and IT Business Subjects (8 credits). The total minimum number of credits required for the award of a degree is 32 credits and candidates must obtain a final academic grade of at least 3.0 CGPA.
Exit Points
Students may graduate after successfully completing a minimum of 32 credits, and must obtain a final academic grade of at least 3.0 CGPA .
Fees
Education Fees is based on the postgraduate program as determined by the School of Graduate Studies, UTM. Consideration will be given to qualified candidates for MARA educational loan facility.
Career Opportunities
Graduate of the SKIT programme should be able to become IT technopreneours and start a new IT based business venture upon graduation.
Contact Person
Coordinator
Name: Hj. Norhashim B. Abu Samah
Tel: 07-5532239
Fax: 07-5532210 / 5565044
Email: hashim@utm.my
