Microsoft IT Academy program, which is run in Malaysia through partnership between the Ministry of Higher Education and local IT training companies, is set to expand to cover more tertiary institutions.

The academy is part of the industrial certification program that offers Microsoft professional certification to students in universities and colleges.

The Malaysia academy was launched in early 2006 as an effort to expose the participants with the relevant technology and help the graduates meeting the employment demands.

Some of the current participating higher learning institutions are Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Politeknik Ungku Omar (PUO).

With the new expansion plan, more than 20 tertiary institutions will be able to enjoy the program and offer it to their students.

The Microsoft IT Academy is part of the company’s global Partners in Learning initiative which is currently available in more than 100 countries worldwide, covering America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and Middle East. Through the program, a number of certifications are made available for participants to choose such as IT Pro Platinum, Microsoft Office Specialist and Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP).

Through the program, students will be taught and train on skills that will be handful for them in the working and employment world, based on Microsoft technology and development.

Cameron Diaz is the Hollywood’s highest paid actress, as announced by Forbes last week. Diaz pocketed a huge earning in excess of $50 million between mid of 2007 and June 2008.

Her voice and role as an ogre cum princess in Shrek 3 contributed the largest part of her pay for the past year. Additionally, she also received top compensation after starring in What Happens in Las Vegas with Ashton Kutcher.

She displaced last year’s top earner, Reese Witherspoon, who came fourth this year.

Now 36, Cameron Diaz was first discovered by the world after her successful first role in hit movie The Mask (Jim Carrey) in 1993. Even without prior acting background, she captivated the audience and soon, major offers came pouring in, many of them blockbuster movies. Her movies, among others, include My Best Friend’s Wedding, There is Something About Mary, Charlie’s Angels, Shrek, In Her Shoes and Holiday.

Diaz is followed by a string of other highly paid actresses including Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean), Jennifer Anniston (Break Up), Reese Witherspoon (Legally Blonde), Gwyneth Paltrow (Great Expectation), Jodie Foster (Silence of The Lamb), Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and The City), Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada), Amy Adams (Enchanted) and Angelina Jolie (Mr and Mrs Smith).

Young lawyers in Malaysia are finding the profession tough, with a recent survey indicated that more than 60% of them are considering to leave the profession within 5 years period.

The survey was done on Malaysian Bar, a legal body consisting about 12,500 members.

Generally, young lawyers are defined as those with less than 7 years of practice and working experience in the law field, or those who are below 40 years of age. They make up about one-fourth or 25% of the overall member size of the Bar.

Better salary, remuneration and pay, as well as advancement opportunities, are cited as the reasons why they’re considering to abandon their practice. Aspiring lawyers have also come to a realization that legal profession is less highly regarded by the citizens today, with the public confidence of the country’s judiciary system slumped to a new low after a series of scandals uncovered.

On top of that, more often than not, most will struggle to keep up with stacks of paperwork, while learning new experience. At the same time, they have to keep their clients satisfied and meet the company’s target of minimum billable hours. This translates to long hours of work and work exhaustion.

Additionally, the survey also indicated that majority of the new lawyers found themselves underpaid, especially for those who are working with smaller firms. Presently, a starting salary for a new lawyer ranges from RM1,500 to RM2,500, depending on the size, reputation and location of the firm. Medium to large firms pay better package, between RM2,800 and RM3,000.