Information is lifeblood; we are only as powerful as the information we possess. Yet, there is less concern for its safety than that of our food. Social protection in cyberspace is urgently needed, and it must be embedded in technical architectures to be effective.
Unafraid to switch his focus from pharmacy to technology is Taufiq Jusoff from the Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering (FISE) at Management and Science University (MSU).
“I’ve always been passionate about IT and have worked with computers since I was 9 in 1999 and Windows 3.11 still existed. But my parents had different plans for my future, which explains my first Diploma in Pharmacy. After spending three years in the industry as a Pharmacy Technician, I felt it was time for a career shift. Armed with the experiential skills that I had, I took on the position of Customer Service Engineer at F-Secure; a Finnish multinational cybersecurity company where I worked for three years and was in due time promoted to Senior Customer Service Engineer. After that I was at a low-code company called Outsystems, where I received training in Portugal and spent six months in their Malaysia office before starting out on my own."
Taufiq is aware that understanding how technology works and how it impacts the common good is crucial to propagating a culture of public-interest technology. Such knowledge, whilst aiding design and development of tech services and products, would also better equip future policymakers, public servants, and business professionals alike.
From a standpoint of increasing concern about the harms of technology – diminishing privacy, exacerbated divisions, perpetuated bias – he focuses on how technology can best serve the public good; with practical tools for, and experiences in, data privacy and algorithm fairness.
“I’m a certified HRD Corp [formerly HRDF] trainer, and founder of Impak Proaktif Enterprise – an entity that, other than providing computer supplies, upgrades, and repairs, envisions social transformation via digital entrepreneurship; with overarching goals of creating, developing, and providing public-interest technologies that serve everyone and not just some. It’s also how I support my young family and my studies here at MSU.”
Taufiq pins his route to MSU on GEmS, which he describes as nothing short of compelling.
“Back in 2017 when I was Head Marshal (Referee) for Dodgeball Malaysia, I was invited to MSU for two Dodgeball events and that was when I discovered GEmS. I found it interesting because I’d never experienced anything like it in my previous full-time study elsewhere. It made me want to become an MSUrian even back then.
“When I was deliberating on returning to full-time study, I pre-applied through the MSU website online application form and was impressed by the very knowledgeable academic counsellor who contacted me the very next day. Pn Hayati addressed all my concerns in detail and helped seal the deal.
“I also live in Seksyen 15, Shah Alam. MSU being close in Section 13 allows me to send both my kids – Jannah, 5, and 7-month-old Maryam – to daycare centres nearby and still make it in time for my 8am classes on campus. On days that my classes end at 5.30pm, I pick them up before heading home.”
On his decision for full-time study, Taufiq puts it down to discipline.
“After 8 years of part-time Bachelor in Psychology (Hons) post-Pharmacy, I was still only in my 2nd year. I decided that I didn’t have the discipline, so I opted for full-time Diploma in Information Technology at MSU instead.”
With hopes of shaping the future of tech, for example via apps and web services whose stored personal data may be controlled by the user through privacy-preference encryption, Taufiq is expanding opportunities and advancing equality by making sure to bring others along on his new journey at Management and Science University (MSU). It was only fitting that he was selected to lead the Oath Taking Ceremony in February.
“Effective citizenship and leadership in the 21st century require not only knowledge and experience with technology but also understanding its social impacts. Harnessing the tremendous power of information technology is hard, but I’d like to lead the way.”
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Information is lifeblood; we are only as powerful as the information we possess. Yet, there is less concern for its safety than that of our food. Social protection in cyberspace is urgently needed, and it must be embedded in technical architectures to be effective.
Unafraid to switch his focus from pharmacy to technology is Taufiq Jusoff from the Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering (FISE) at Management and Science University (MSU).
“I’ve always been passionate about IT and have worked with computers since I was 9 in 1999 and Windows 3.11 still existed. But my parents had different plans for my future, which explains my first Diploma in Pharmacy. After spending three years in the industry as a Pharmacy Technician, I felt it was time for a career shift. Armed with the experiential skills that I had, I took on the position of Customer Service Engineer at F-Secure; a Finnish multinational cybersecurity company where I worked for three years and was in due time promoted to Senior Customer Service Engineer. After that I was at a low-code company called Outsystems, where I received training in Portugal and spent six months in their Malaysia office before starting out on my own."
Taufiq is aware that understanding how technology works and how it impacts the common good is crucial to propagating a culture of public-interest technology. Such knowledge, whilst aiding design and development of tech services and products, would also better equip future policymakers, public servants, and business professionals alike.
From a standpoint of increasing concern about the harms of technology – diminishing privacy, exacerbated divisions, perpetuated bias – he focuses on how technology can best serve the public good; with practical tools for, and experiences in, data privacy and algorithm fairness.
“I’m a certified HRD Corp [formerly HRDF] trainer, and founder of Impak Proaktif Enterprise – an entity that, other than providing computer supplies, upgrades, and repairs, envisions social transformation via digital entrepreneurship; with overarching goals of creating, developing, and providing public-interest technologies that serve everyone and not just some. It’s also how I support my young family and my studies here at MSU.”
Taufiq pins his route to MSU on GEmS, which he describes as nothing short of compelling.
“Back in 2017 when I was Head Marshal (Referee) for Dodgeball Malaysia, I was invited to MSU for two Dodgeball events and that was when I discovered GEmS. I found it interesting because I’d never experienced anything like it in my previous full-time study elsewhere. It made me want to become an MSUrian even back then.
“When I was deliberating on returning to full-time study, I pre-applied through the MSU website online application form and was impressed by the very knowledgeable academic counsellor who contacted me the very next day. Pn Hayati addressed all my concerns in detail and helped seal the deal.
“I also live in Seksyen 15, Shah Alam. MSU being close in Section 13 allows me to send both my kids – Jannah, 5, and 7-month-old Maryam – to daycare centres nearby and still make it in time for my 8am classes on campus. On days that my classes end at 5.30pm, I pick them up before heading home.”
On his decision for full-time study, Taufiq puts it down to discipline.
“After 8 years of part-time Bachelor in Psychology (Hons) post-Pharmacy, I was still only in my 2nd year. I decided that I didn’t have the discipline, so I opted for full-time Diploma in Information Technology at MSU instead.”
With hopes of shaping the future of tech, for example via apps and web services whose stored personal data may be controlled by the user through privacy-preference encryption, Taufiq is expanding opportunities and advancing equality by making sure to bring others along on his new journey at Management and Science University (MSU). It was only fitting that he was selected to lead the Oath Taking Ceremony in February.
“Effective citizenship and leadership in the 21st century require not only knowledge and experience with technology but also understanding its social impacts. Harnessing the tremendous power of information technology is hard, but I’d like to lead the way.”