MSTB to host 5th SOFTEC Conference

• MSTB brings its annual SOFTEC conference with a theme "The Art of Testing"
• Couple of new programs to be introduced to add more value to the event

THE Malaysian Software Testing Board (MSTB) is organizing its 5th annual SOFTEC 2012 conference which the company said is aimed at providing delegates a better understanding on the finer points of testing.

Themed "The Art of Testing," the two-day conference, scheduled to take place from July 10 to July 12 at the Istana Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, will touch on specific software testing themes such as testing techniques, effective application of the techniques, and other soft skills that contribute towards successful testing projects and practices.

“One of the primary objectives of SOFTEC 2012 is to raise the competency level in software testing among our software professionals,” said Mastura Abu Samah, MSTB President. “There is a lot we can learn from the speakers at the event, either through their sessions or direct interaction with them.

Mastura (pic) said SOFTEC is the best platform for software professionals and business managers to keep track of the latest trends and developments in the industry. Newcomers will benefit from insights on the importance and relevance of software testing to their organizations, she added.

MSTB said a total of 14 internationally renowned experts, practitioners and thought-leaders will impart their knowledge and share experiences via over 20 tutorial and workshop sessions. 

Some notable names presenting at SOFTEC 2012 include Dorothy Graham, test consultant and test automation expert; Andy Kaufman of the Institute for Leadership Excellence & Development, USA; Mark Fewster of Grove Consultants, UK; John Fodeh of Cognizant, Denmark; Ray Arell of Intel, USA; and Yasuharu Hishi of University of Electro-Communications, Tokyo, Japan.

More than 400 software professionals, business managers, academia and government officers are expected to attend the three-day conference, MSTB said.

MSTB also said that as part of a continuous effort to enrich content at the conference, a new feature – the Test Lab – has been added to SOFTEC 2012. The Test Lab is intended to provide an avenue for delegates to gain exposure on testing tools through hands-on workshops and talks.

Also for the first time, local universities will participate directly in SOFTEC through a colloquium, Postgraduate Research Workshop@SOFTEC2012. This year, nine post-graduate students are expected to present their (yet-to-be-completed) research papers on software testing-related subjects at the colloquium.  

A panel comprising lecturers from local universities and SOFTEC 2012 speakers will provide feedback and suggestions for improvement on their research papers.

Organized by MSTB, the annual SOFTEC conference has been IN existence since 2008 and the event has grown to become the premier software testing event in the Asian region, through support from Asian Software Testing Alliance (ASTA) members. 

SOFTEC is also supported by the Malaysian government through the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), Prime Minister’s Department.