(Borneo Post; March 4, 2011)

KUCHING:Sarawak Information Systems Sdn. Bhd. (SAINS), is once again calling for entries from students from Institutions of Higher Learning in Sarawak for the upcoming Sarawak Open Source Competition 2011.

This annual competition is organized by SAINS as one of its Corporate Social Responsibility activities to promote wider adoption and greater usage of Open Source System (OSS).

The usage of OSS has been recognized by the State as a cheaper, viable alternative to propriety software. With regards to that, SAINS and the Information and Communication Technology Unit (ICTU) of the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Department (ICTU) have been working closely with the State Government to nurture the younger generation to adopt and apply Open Source technologies.

The aim of the competition is to promote the development of homegrown Open Source software among our youth. Young local talents are given the encouragement to prove their ability and knowledge by building intelligent systems using cheaper, viable alternative open software sources.

With OSS, our budding Sarawakian software developers can easily afford to immerse and transform themselves into developers and contributors to the global software business market.

In this respect, the Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam, who is also the Chairman of the State Information Technology and Resources Council (SITRC) and Chairman of SAINS, has stressed that it is important that our students are exposed to the open source movement so that they will learn and develop this culture of producing useful software instead of just using systems developed by others.

The contest requires participants to implement a workable system using only open source technology. All entries must be in the form of project documentation and a workable system.

Based on the entries submitted, three main submissions will be chosen to win First Prize, Second Prize and Third Prize respectively and another 3 for consolation prizes.

All submissions will be evaluated based on their practicality, creativity, innovation, the effort involved and the project demonstration/ presentation.

All entries (in CD format and/or email access URL link to a hosted website) must reach SAINS office by 5th May 2011, 5pm.