Press Release DGX Launch

April 10, 2001

For Immediate Release

Kuala Lumpur: In a concerted effort to sift through the local talent pool to identify Malaysian prodigies, Microsoft Knowledge Capital Center in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Malaysia and i2Media Sdn Bhd today launched the Developer Generation-X (DGX) Developer Code Competition 2001 (DGX-DCC 2001). It is also the aim of this initiative to highlight the fact that software development will be one of the key careers of the future in Malaysia.

“The DGX Developer Code Competition 2001 will hopefully represent an opportunity for the current generation in Malaysia to leapfrog into the Information Age as well as to meaningfully participate in the emerging knowledge-based economy,” Salwana Ali, Manager of Microsoft Knowledge Capital Center (MKCC) said. “As a whole, we believe the DGX initiative will positively contribute to and support the overall development of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC), particularly in the area of human resource development as one of its main objectives is to spearhead information technology (IT) awareness and applications among the young.”

The contest is open to all Malaysian residents who are 18 years of age and below. Participants may register for DGX-DCC 2001 as an individual or as a team of not more than three members at www.dgx.com.my. The closing date for registration is May 20, 2001.

“There are no software requirements for the preliminary round of DGX-DCC 2001,” MKCC’s Salwana explained. “Each team is required to sit for a 65-question multiple choice test. The centres where the tests will be conducted will be announced to all contestants two (2) weeks before the date of the first-round competition via e-mail and completed tests will be assessed on June 1 and 2, 2001 and the finalists will be notified by June 4, 2001 via registered postal mail as well as by e-mail.

“The top 15 teams with the highest average in the preliminary round of DGX-DCC 2001 will then continue their route to the finals,” Salwana said. “The teams in the finals are free to develop any application according to their intellectual, analytical and programming skills. Each team will be given ten (10) days to complete their project proposal. The contest committee will approve the project proposals before actual development starts.”

The DGX-DCC 2001 finals will start on June 15, 2001 and the 15 teams are expected to complete their code and documentation no later than August 31, 2001. The contest’s panel of judges will evaluate the projects of the 15 finalists on September 3, 2001 from 9:00AM to 5.00PM and select the top three entries to present their projects.

Also according to Salwana, contestants of DGX-DCC 2001 are encouraged to participate not just by way of signing up for the competition but also by way of actively participating in the DGX electronic community in www.dgx.com.my to generate and contribute ideas. “Participation in the DGX e-community is especially crucial because it serves as a platform for the free flow exchange of ideas and creates an environment where there is mutual support and understanding, continuous learning, new knowledge, skills and competencies amongst developers. But what’s more exciting is it will be a hands-on learning experience for all the members of the DGX developers’ community," she said.

“Our empirical research shows that often time the quality of the code is not governed by age alone but more by the person’s maturity and interest in the field of software development,” Salwana said. She is of the opinion that young programming prodigies do exist in Malaysia and in considerable numbers too. “It is the intention of DGX-DCC 2001 to discover and nurture these rare and valuable talents,” she reiterated.

“The finalists of DGX-DCC 2001 will also gain national visibility while still at school and when the time comes for them to seek internships or full-time jobs, their participation in a nationwide software development competition will definitely give them the advantage over other applicants,” Salwana added.

Released on behalf of Microsoft Knowledge Capital Center by i2Media Sdn Bhd. For more information, kindly contact Daniel Tsen at +60-12-2360072 or e-mail daniel@i2media.com.my