IT jobs, innovations on the rise, graduates in tight competition

When the internet network is down, some may become frustrated because they can't open their favorite sites, or when the BlackBerry is left at home one will feel that they're missing a limb.

These responses are typical in this digital era.

Knowing the role of technology nowadays, final-year student of Gunadarma University Owdi Rachmat Acbari was sure that in the future, it would keep developing in a fast pace.

"I believe that in the future many companies will need a state-of-the-art device to facilitate their work. It's important to understand technology."

Throughout his studies, Owdi has been developing several programs in cooperation with some companies, including with a local taxi company.

"I developed a system for its human resources division, from the recruitment, the hiring, to the payment process," he said.

In addition, he said, by applying such technology, it could be another way to support the green movement.

"When we apply those systems, we no longer need paper as much as before."

Like Owdi, students of Bina Nusantara University also agreed that technology has taken great parts in their lives as they were born and raised in the era of technology.

Aripin Iskandar from Computer Engineering said that as it had become a new way of life, thus becoming technology literate was essential if one did not want to get left behind.

"And when we're studying here, IT has become our daily meal."

Echoing Aripin, his teammate Rommy Haryanto said that an early introduction to technology had ensured the trajectory of his career post-graduation.

As almost everything was now based on computer, Rommy said, the gate of opportunities was wide open.

"I don't mean to undermine other departments. The law department, for instance, its development will not as big as what happen in technology. And thanks to the rapid development, students are encouraged to generate new ideas and harness their creativity."

Professional headhunter Irham Dilmy said, looking at the current trends, the technology and information sector would see a rising trend as the world now heavily depended on it.

Programmers, software developers and technical support are some occupations that he predicts would be highly essential at least until 2014.

In addition, there have also been so many IT projects that are born from the hands of students, even when they are still in high schools. They are not only device or systems designed so that people can do some fun, such as virtual games, but also those who could make someone's life easier.

From Bandung Institute of Technology, for instance, four of its students created a device that can detect if someone suffers from malaria from its blood test.

David Samuel, Dody Dharma, Dominikus Damas Putranto, and Samuel Simon introduced PDA-Scope, a PDA or mobile phone with camera that is installed with Malaria Observation System and Endemic Surveillance.

Instead of having to take a peep through a microscope, the diagnosis can be easily seen through the phone's screen.

Another example of the innovation is dedicated to facilitate disabled people to access things they are limited to more easily.

The Eye-B-PoD software helps disabled people to do the click of a mouse by using their right eye. Built by Josephine Klara, Victor Kurnia and Stanley Audrey Kosasih, users operate pointers at the screen with eye movements.

The movements of the face and eye are captured by the camera then the program translates them into a language that the computer will take as the command to move the cursor.

However, the innovations seem to have just stopped at the laboratories, exhibitions or competitions.

Dean of computer faculty at Binus, Sablin Yusuf, said that many projects went nowhere after students finished their education, as many chose professions outside the IT sector.

"So their works are cut off with no other progress," he said, adding that channeling all innovations in a place under the school would be an alternative.

IT analyst Onno W. Purbo said that relying only on the companies to distribute the creations were not enough, they would tend to see losses in that case. Thus, they needed to be brave enough to go on their own.

"We need to change the mindset. When students have finished with their projects, then they tend to pursue companies to offer their projects," he said.

"But actually, the people-to-people strategy will work better for it's based on trust."

Onno added social skills would be necessary as soon as the students left their laboratories.

In addition, he said that the university graduates now had to compete with students from vocational high schools as many vocational high schools focusing on information and telecommunication sector produced graduates whose skills could not be undermined.

Onno said that some students from vocational high schools were more prepared because the curriculum at the schools had bigger space for practice.

Indonesia, he said, should have more classes on animation and multimedia as the sectors were in high demand.

"Request for graduates who are expert on those two sectors is high, but we don't have many because there's no curriculum yet for that."