4 top graduates from Malaysia have been selected by Cisco Systems for a training program based in the United States.

The training, which lasts for a one year period, will be taking place in Research Triangle Park in North Carolina.

The selected graduates are Lim Wei Chiang from Universiti Malaya (UM), Mukhriz Zakaria from UiTM, Leong Wai Seng from Multimedia University (MMU) and Tan Wee Chun, also from MMU.

They were selected from a group of candidates enrolled into the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) program, and were assessed on their communication and interpersonal skills, personality, attitude and certification marks.

Wei Chiang studied computer science while Mukhriz is a graduate of data communications and networking. The other two from MMU, Wai Seng and Wee Chun took electronic engineering and information technology (IT) respectively.

The Research Triangle Park or RTP is the largest research park in the America, and is one of the most well-known research and development centers in the field of high technology and science. It is often referred to as the Silicon Valley twin.

The training, called Cisco Associates Sales Engineer (ASE), is a program tailored to capture engineering and IT talents from tertiary institutions around the world and expose them with the research and development of high technology in world-renowned centers. Among of the skills nurtured are business development, product, sales, and other technical skills.

This is the first year Malaysian students are sent for the training program.

Image: The Star

The disposable income in United Kingdom has slumped into its lowest in a decade, with many families finding them short of about £2,600 a year to spend compared to last year’s 12-month period.

Last year saw an average family in Britain had a disposable income of £1,425 per month. This year, it went down to £1,210 per month, which is £215 less the previous your. Over 12 months period, the relatively small £215 difference becomes a significant £2,580.

The rise of fuel price, food, mortgage, energy tariffs, tax and household goods leave many citizens sweating over the financial undertaking.

The price of food for the past 10 months has increased by some 25%, petrol fuel by 30% and electricity by a staggering 60%. All signs and indications are showing the imminent arrival of financial recession. On top of that, the rise in salary and wages has not been able to cope up with the increase in national inflation rate. About 9 million people, who represents about 25% of the national workforce, will get no salary raise at all this year.

Disposable income is defined as the surplus of earning after all deductions such as taxes, provident fund and the essential expenses e.g. food, clothing and accommodation.

A good business and organization is not only run with merely profitability in mind, but also takes the corporate responsibility (CR) at heart.

Corporate responsibility refers to an effort to make one’s company responsible to contribute back to society. A good approach in CR will improve the company’s branding and reputation, increase the employee motivation level, and boost the company’s overall performance.

Recently, 7 companies which make CR their practice were honored in the Malaysia Corporate Responsibility Awards 2008. They are Nestle, TM (Telekom Malaysia), CCM (Chemical Company of Malaysia), KPJ Healthcare, Opus Group, Faber Group and Tex Cycle Technology.

The award is divided into 2 main categories. First, companies with market capitalization of RM1 billion and above, and secondly those with below RM1 billion capitalization. Nestle, TM and CCM belong to the former. They bagged the honor in their respective categories – marketplace and community category, workplace category and environment.

The award and event was a collaboration between Star Publications and the Institute of Corporate Responsibility Malaysia (ICRM). The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Securities Commission and Bursa Malaysia were the in the working committee, with their representatives elected as the judges.

The Malaysia Corporate Responsibility Awards 2008 was the first of its kind and may be made an annual event.