IBM China/Hong Kong Ltd has donated an e-business software package worth more than HK$14 million to CityU to support both teaching and research.

The package, comprising IBM's flagship products for application in e-commerce as well as Internet security management, will be used to support a number of e-business related courses offered by the Department of Computer Science. The products will be installed in the Department's E-Commerce System Development Laboratory and the Internet Security and PKI Application Centre, to support applied research projects. They will also provide an upgraded IT environment where students will be able to put e-business theory into practice.

"At CityU we are committed to producing a new generation of computing professionals," said Professor P S Chung, Vice-President (Research). "By signing up for the IBM e-generation @ CityU programme we are providing students with the opportunity to carry out laboratory work using state-of-the-art e-business software."

IBM also shares the same goal in cultivating a new generation of IT professionals. "We understand that making a success of e-business requires more than good software, it also requires great talent," said Mr Tony Tai, Director of Marketing, IBM Greater China Group.

Manpower surveys commissioned by the SAR Government reveal that the IT industry in Hong Kong will need a workforce of 106,000 in the year 2004, up from 61,000 in 2000. An annual entry of 8,000 to 11,000 IT professionals will be needed to keep pace with the upsurge in demand. It has been recommended that more than half the new entrants should hold degree-level qualifications.