KUALA LUMPUR: The country wants to be a major player in the lucrative software-testing market as it seeks to develop a sustainable ecosystem for software testing and certification services.
At the launching of the Q-Lab, Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Fadillah Yusof said the advanced software testing laboratory is one of the key elements identified as enablers for the creation of a sustainable ecosystem of Malaysia's software testing industry.
Fadillah said concerted efforts are being carried out with the aim of developing the nation's capability in software testing and certification services and will ultimately establish Malaysia as a regional hub and global destination for outsourced software-testing services.
"This is a strategic move because software testing is poised to become the next thrust of the national economy," he said.
Located in Puchong, Selangor, the RM11mil Q-Lab is equipped with the latest testing tools, methodologies and infrastructure that support high-end testing activities.
It is one of the programmes by the Malaysian Software Testing Board (MSTB) which is spearheading efforts to develop the country's software testing industry.
"Software testing is regarded as an emerging market and as such, a large part of it is still untapped and undeveloped. The opportunity is there but we have to move fast," said MSTB president Mastura Abu Samah.
"A sustainable ecosystem will help propel our software testing industry to become a new thrust of our economy, contributing significantly to the national GDP (gross domestic product), against a backdrop of large and growing global market," she said.
Apart from the Q-Lab, the other key components are Q-Capability, a programme to produce internationally recognised professionals and experts; Q-Industrial Development, a programme to create awareness on the overall initiative; and Q-Portal, an online gateway to information on software testing, development and advances.
Mastura said that under the Q-Capability programme, MSTB is adopting a two-pronged approach to rapidly increase the number of certified testers in the country.
"We are encouraging working professionals to go for certification and are working with local universities on professional certification programmes for qualified final-year students," she said.
MSTB hopes to have 10,000 certified software testers in five years and is looking at a bigger pool of candidates from the universities.
"As the programme for working professionals continues, we will engage potential final-year students to promote software testing as a career option. We want to encourage these students to go for professional certification to increase their quality," Mastura said. - Bernama