Hong Kong Linux Industry Association [HKLIA]

CityU Joins Hands with Thiz
to Promote Educational as well as Technological Advancement of Linux

March 4, 2003

City University of Hong Kong's Department of Computer Engineering and Information Technology and Thiz Technology Group Limited ("Thiz", stock code:8119) today announced the launch of a joint collaboration in promoting education on Linux and developing the technology. Linux has received the recognition from the central governments of mainland China and Germany. It is one of the key computer operating systems advocated by the government of China and is very popular in the mainland. The agreement between CityU and Thiz marked a major milestone in the development of education on Linux in local tertiary institutions as CityU is the first institution to join Thiz in promoting the education of this important operating system in the world following the establishment of "Thiz Open Software Education Alliances" in mainland China.

Under the agreement, CityU's Department of Computer Engineering and Information Technology will join hands with Thiz to organize training on Linux for IT professionals and students and explore opportunities to develop applications on Linux systems. They will also jointly establish a Linux resources and examination centre, the first of its kind at a Hong Kong tertiary institution. The centre will offer Linux courses, train Linux teachers and gives accreditations.

Speaking at the signing ceremony held today at CityU, Professor Hong Yan, Acting Head of CityU's Department of Computer Engineering and Information Technology, said "We strive to provide training to meet the changing needs of the community and enhance the competitive edge of our students. With the support of Thiz, we will equip students with practical knowledge in Linux and its applications, and the ability to design and implement the systems, an operating system which has been gaining increasing influence in mainland China."

Ms Lily Chan, General Manager of Thiz Technology Group Limited, said "The collaboration with CityU will enable us to broaden our education alliance and help to promote the application of Linux. The establishment of the ThizLinux examination centre at CityU marks our first step towards the development of training on Linux in Hong Kong."

CityU's Department of Computer Engineering and Information Technology aspires to become one of the best educators and researchers in the areas of computer engineering and information technology in the Asia Pacific Region. It also aims to foster collaboration with the industry and the Government to promote synergy for the developments on IT research and education. The Department is actively engaged in research in areas such as image and speech signal processing, computer graphics and animation, multimedia information systems, Internet computing, mobile communications and security technology.

A pioneer developer of Linux platform and information technology business software application business, Thiz is one of the largest and most experienced suppliers of Linux systems and related application system in the world. It has made substantial achievements in promoting the application of Linux. It has established the first "Thiz Open Software Education Alliances" (http://www.education.thizlinux.com) in mainland China, under which over 30 mainland universities, which included Beijing University, collaborate with Thiz to train hundreds of thousands Linux operating system, software system and network management talents. CityU is the first among the tertiary institutions in Hong Kong which has been identified by Thiz to be its partner in this endeavour.

The Collaboration Signing Ceremony held today on CityU campus was officiated by Prof Edmond I. Ko, CityU's Vice President (Undergraduate Education) & Dean of Students; Professor Hong Yan, Acting Head of CityU's Department of Computer Engineering and Information Technology; Mr Albert Wong, CEO of Thiz and Ms Lily Chan, General Manager of Thiz.

For media enquiries, please contact Ms Claudia Ho of City University of Hong Kong's Public Affairs Office at 2788 9325 or Mr Raymond Si Tou of Thiz at 2735 2725.

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