Hitachi Established Hitachi Myanmar Laboratory at University of Information Technology, Yangon

Yangon, Myanmar, Dec 14, 2015 - (JCN Newswire) - Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE:6501, "Hitachi") announced today that it has established Hitachi Myanmar Laboratory at the University of Information Technology, Yangon (UIT) (Rector: Saw Sanda Aye, Ph.D.) to develop Myanmar's next generation of IT leaders. In addition to sending engineers from Japan to offer IT courses for UIT professors and students, Hitachi will also donate the necessary IT platform such as servers for the courses.

Among the countries of Southeast Asia, Myanmar is maintaining high economic growth. In addition to investment in social infrastructure such as electricity, railroads, and communications, investment in other industries such as finance and tourism has also increased. As a result, the development of the country's IT infrastructure and skilled personnel to support these fields has become very important.

Myanmar's Ministry of Science and Technology focuses on the country's educational activities. In December 2012, the ministry designated the UIT as a Center of Excellence (COE) with the aim of developing skilled IT personnel who will be candidates for positions as government ministers and CIOs(1) in private companies.

Since 2013, Hitachi has been offering training programs by companies, governments, and universities, inviting UIT professors chosen by the COE to Japan. The establishment of the laboratory is expected to accelerate development of IT personnel. For the next five years, Hitachi is planning to offer two-week courses for UIT professors and graduate school students four times a year as well as the necessary IT platform.

The first-year course covers operational management of IT systems and data centers, and provides students with opportunities for hands-on experience with IT equipment. For subsequent years, the goal of the courses is to develop personnel who can use IT to resolve various social issues. The courses teach approaches to the social innovation business that are a focus for Hitachi, including applications for IoT (Internet of Things)(2) and big data in the social infrastructure fields. Hitachi will expand the contents of the courses and educate graduate students, considering furthermore work with them in our local business. (Courtesy of en.acnnewswire.com)