Royal Institute of Traditional Arts implements Saudi-Chinese cultural exchange program    Localization in Saudi military industries rises to 19.35%    Logistics park for vehicles worth SR300 million to be set up at Dammam port    Commerce Ministry recalls 6,500 Genesis cars due to risk of fire    HONOR KSA expands its presence with new flagship Experience Store in Riyadh HONOR's first flagship store in KSA provides visitors with a premium experience, exciting offers and free services    Saudi, Iranian foreign ministers discuss Oman-mediated talks with US    Prince Sultan University launches first bachelor's program in language and media    Al-Falih: Eastern Province hosts 700 investment opportunities worth SR330 billion    Putin announces three-day Russian ceasefire in Ukraine from 8 May    Crown Prince donates SR1 billion to support housing for eligible families    Pakistani military says it killed 54 militants attempting to cross border from Afghanistan    Suspect charged after Vancouver car ramming leaves 11 dead    Eight hundred Houthi targets hit after weeks of strikes, says US    Rock & Roll Hall of Fame picks Outkast but not Oasis    Duran leads Al Nassr past Yokohama Marinos into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Al Ahli cruise past Buriram into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi orchestra to perform at Sydney Opera House in May    Al Hilal thrash Gwangju to reach AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Where are the young Saudi masters of the Mainframe?
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 28 - 05 - 2014


Molouk Y. Ba-Isa
Saudi Gazette


Imagine a technology that works so well, you never even know you're using it. The mainframe computer is a “behind the scenes” technology that remains relevant and crucial to many of the tasks we take for granted - even though it's 50 years old. From automatic banking transactions to airline reservations, the mainframe computer is part of the information technology foundation that makes modern life possible.
Over the last 50 years, the mainframe has been the backbone of some of the world's most critical and sensitive workloads and industries. Unceasingly adapting to evolving trends, the IBM Mainframe secures the era of cloud, analytics, mobile and social. In fact 92 of the top 100 worldwide banks, 21 of the top 25 Insurance organizations, 23 of the top 25 retailers and the majority of credit card transactions rely on the IBM Mainframe, the only commercial platform with EAL5 security classification.
In April, IBM brought students from countries around the world to New York City to compete in a premier enterprise coding event, “The IBM Master the Mainframe World Championship.” In this first-of-its-kind global competition, competitors sharpened their programming skills, cultivated advanced development tools and learned how the mainframe platform supports the applications and data essential to the digital age. Using that knowledge, the competitors were tasked to build a business application on the mainframe. First Place went to Yong-Siang Shih, National Taiwan University and Second Place was won by Rijnard van Tonder, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
No student from the Arab World competed in the coding event in New York City. Moreover, while Mainframe contests are planned for 2014-2015 for many developed countries and even developing nations such as China, India, Mexico, Kenya and South Africa - not a single competition is scheduled yet in the Arab World.
Succeeding on a Smarter Planet requires not only the right enterprise systems, storage and software, but also a staff of IT professionals that are smart, hardworking, forward-thinking and globally aware. This work force will need to meet multiple challenges associated with issues of large-scale systems integration and automation. Saudi students aren't becoming the mainframe experts that the Kingdom needs to help companies and organizations leverage the superior security, availability, scalability and efficiency of the mainframe in support of core business processes as well as new and growing services.
Students, educators, parents or organizations looking to get involved in “Master the Mainframe” should contact [email protected]


Clic here to read the story from its source.