4321Highlights

C O N T E N T S

WawasanLinkLinking Students, Partners And Communities

Issue No.1, July - Sept 2007

F l e x i b l e • A f f o r d a b l e • A c c e s s i b l e

PP14958/2/2008 ISSN 1985-1286

the people s university

Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, the intellectualand political giant who revolutionisedPenang s economic fortunes in the 70sand 80s, has been made the foundingchancellor of Wawasan Open University.

Hailing the former chief minister as a key architect ofPenang’s development, WOU council chairman Dato’Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik described Tun Lim as a man ofvision and experience who could guide the universitywith his sound leadership and advice.

“In Tun Dr Lim we have a scholar, a colleague, a personof eminence and intellect with impeccable credentials,”said Keng Yaik when making the announcement onthe new chancellor.

WOU vice chancellor and chief executive officer TanSri Emeritus Prof Gajaraj Dhanarajan said Tun Lim’spresence at the university would add to its standingas an institution of higher learning.

“Tun Lim’s commitment to education and social change,coupled with the fact that he has gained immeasurabledistinction as a statesman and business leader, makehim an ideal choice for the role of chancellor,” saidDhanarajan.

“He is an outstanding role model to the members ofthis university, and has the public stature to representus with the highest level of integrity and passion.”

The installation of Tun Lim as WOU’s chancellor willtake place next year upon completion of the university’snew 12-storey campus at Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah.

Tun Lim was born in 1919 in Penang. He attendedPenang Free School before he won the Queen’sScholarship at the age of 18 to study medicine atUniversity of Edinburgh. He graduated with a degreein Medicine and Surgery (MBCh) in 1944.

He then began his active public service when he wasappointed to the Penang Legislative Council in 1949.He worked his way up the political ranks, serving aspresident for two of Malaysia’s major political parties,MCA and Gerakan.

When Gerakan won the general election in Penang in1969, Tun Lim was appointed the state’s second chiefminister – a post he held till 1990. Concurrently holdingthe post of chairman of Penang DevelopmentCorporation, Tun Lim brought a new lease of life tothe state by inviting international electronics firms toinvest here. It precipitated in the development ofindustrial parks and free trade zones, and the infusionof foreign investments in local industries.

His legacy is today evidenced by the phenomenalsuccess which is renowned locally and worldwide. Hisother landmark contributions to the state include theKomtar skyscraper and the Penang Bridge.

Tun Lim has since retired from active politics. He nowconcentrates on business, holding the post of chairmanand advisor in several corporations. He has taken akeen interest in higher education since retiring, servingfrom 1994 to 1999 as pro chancellor of UniversitiSains Malaysia (USM).

Among his many honours and awards, Tun Lim holdsthe Darjah Utama Pangkuan Negeri (DUPN) conferredby the Yang diPertua Negeri (governor) of Penang;the Seri Setia Mahkota Malaysia (SSM) by the YangdiPertuan Agong (king of Malaysia); the Datuk AmarBintang Kenyalang (DA) by the governor of Sarawak;the Grand Cross 2nd Class Award by the president ofGermany; and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold andSilver Star by Emperor Akihito of Japan. He was alsoawarded Honorary Doctorate of Laws by USM and thetitle Doctorate in Honoris Causa by EdinburghUniversity.

Lim Chong Euis WOU s firstchancellor

Groundbreakingceremony

Launchingceremony

Topping Up ceremony

New University

Countdown to a

In the knowPg 2 - 5

ViceChancellor’svoicePg 2

In theregionalofficesPg 8 - 9

In the heartof societyPg 10

In theschoolsPg 7

In thelimelightPg 5 - 6

Oct 2007

Inaugural

Student Orientation

21 Jan 2007

22 Sept 2006

8 Jan 2006

In the livesof peoplePg 11

InauguralIssue!

in the know

Forging allianceswithMNCs

Some of the top multi-nationalcorporations in Malaysia are keento collaborate with Wawasan OpenUniversity to enhance their ownresearch and human resourcedevelopment.

This was expressed after several captains ofthe industry met WOU representatives headedby vice chancellor Tan Sri Emeritus Prof GajarajDhanarajan.

Among other things, they discussed cooperationin conducting retraining for mid-levelpersonnel, implementing market-driven coursesfor continuous professional development, andhaving joint research. They also discussed thepossibility of performing community projects.

Industry heads who attended included GlobalEduTech Management Group executive director

Datin S. K. Ko, Dell AsiaPacific vice presidentand managing directorS imon Wong andMotorola TechnologySdn Bhd managingdirector Yew Tian Tek.Also present were Seagate engineering directorK. C. Loo and corporate communicationsdirector Audrey Cheah, and AMD Export SdnBhd quality engineering director JariyahHashim.

WOU representatives included deputy vicechancellor (academic) Prof Wong Tat Meng,Centre for Graduate Studies dean Dato’ Dr DickHo, School of Business Administration deanProf Cheah Kooi Guan, School of FoundationStudies dean Dr Tan Toh Wah and School ofScience and Technology associate professorDr Khong Yoon Loong.

Datin SK Ko: Companiesshould enhance skills oftheir mid-levelmanagement staff.

Thousands of needy students inMalaysia will stand to benefit withthe implementation of a newambitious scholarship scheme byWawasan Open University.

The WOU Scholarship Fund 2007 is intendedto provide financial assistance through start-up bursaries to new students. The programme

will particularly help those who are financiallystrapped, but still aspire to pursue theireducation while managing their careers andfamily duties.

“This amount clearly reflects the university’scommitment towards providing incentivesto working adults to take the challenge andequip themselves with quality universityeducation in order to improve themselvesintellectually and vocationally,” said WOU vicechancellor Tan Sri Emeritus Prof GajarajDhanarajan.

Almost 400 students have already benefitedfrom the fund in the first semester whichbegan in Jan. WOU has also initiated anotherscholarship for continuing students.

As an open universitywith students spreadaround the country wefelt the need to connectwith our learners, tutors,regional staff , etcregu la r l y to keepeveryone informed ofdevelopments in theuniversity. This newsletter is a reflection ofthat desire. In it you willfind snippets aboutthe university, theindividuals who study in

it, the people who ‘teach’ and those who administer.It will contain news about academic developmentsand it will also describe physical and otherinfrastructural progress. This is your newsletter.It’s about you and it is for you.

The University is less than a year old. This is afraction of what perhaps could be its life span.But even during this short period we have crossedsome very important milestones. For instance wehave received provisional accreditation for 11degree programmes, we designed and deliveredthe first eight courses to some 720 students whostarted learning at the university beginning 21January 2007, we recruited and trained some 75tutors to help our 720 students, four regionaloffices were designed and opened, some 101 staffwere recruited and employed. I could go on, butour developments while important, are not asimportant as the students who are studying atthe university. We want to do the best we can foryou so that you will achieve your academic andeducational ambitions.

Our students represent a cross section of ourcountry in its fiftieth year of independence, theyoungest student to study with us is merely 21years old and the oldest is about 71. There are asmany men as there are women studying with us.There are homemakers, clerks, technicians, teachers,office workers, and manual workers; there arethose with a PhD and there are many who haveyears of work experience but who left school aftertheir PMR exams. The University commits itselfto supporting such a diverse group of learnerssensitively and sensibly. We also hope to connectour students with each other, with their tutorsand the university regularly through old and newtechnologies.

By the time you receive this first issue of thenewsletter, those of you who are studying withus would have finished your examinations. In ourUniversity, exams are not something to befrightened of. If you have worked through yourcourse materials diligently, completed theassignments dutifully, participated in the onlinediscussions and the periodic tutorials without fail,these exams should not have come as a surprise.These exams are about finding out what you knowrather than catching you on things you do notknow. I wish you well in your efforts and lookforward to welcoming you and our new studentsin our second semester, starting July 2007.

G. Dhanarajan

Vice Chancellor’svoice

Tan Sri Emeritus ProfessorGajaraj Dhanarajan

Vice Chancellor andChief Executive Officer

Welcometo the first issue of

our quarterlynewsletter

2 Wawasan Open University

EditorAgnes JamesCorporate Communications Manager

Copy EditorHimanshu Bhatt

MembersTan Sri Emeritus Professor Gajaraj DhanarajanVice Chancellor of Wawasan Open University

Professor Wong Tat MengDeputy Vice Chancellor (Academic)

Dr Seah Soo AunDeputy Vice Chancellor (Operations)

Mr Yeong Sik KheongRegistrar

Professor Cheah Kooi GuanDean of School of Business and Administration

Dato' Professor Ho Sinn ChyeDirector of Centre for Graduate Studies

Ms Usha VeeriahMarketing Director

Ms Grace LauPublishing Manager

Editorial TeamTeoh Soo LingLeong Mei Yee

Scholarship Fund 2007

Editorial Board

Lim Keng Yaik The construction site ofthe Wawasan Open

University s main campus became awash with an

unusual sort of flurrywhen a swarm ofjournalists descendedon the trail of a specialvisitor.

Eight years after he firstproposed the vision to set up avirtual university at Gerakan’s28th National Delegates’Conference, Dato’ Seri Dr LimKeng Yaik was stepping ontothe site at Jalan Sultan AhmadShah.

The tour was led by the deputyvice chancellor (academic) Prof

Wong Tat Meng accompaniedby general services andadministration head AndrewJoseph.

Lim bantered with the Press inhis trademark humour as hemade the whirlwind tour withphotographers in his wake.

He later expressed satisfactionat the progress of the RM25million project comprising therenovated Homestead heritagemansion and a new 12-storeyextension.

The new building is expected tobe completed in the second halfof 2007.

Lim highlighted the university’sOpen Entry System by stressingon the quality of the degreeprogrammes offered. “Easy

entry, difficult out,” he quipped.

He meant that although theuniversity had opened its doorsfor al l Malaysians withminimum SRP qualification,each student would still needto work to earn 102 creditpoints with a minimum 2.0CGPA to graduate. This was toensure that Wawasan graduateswould be credible and qualified,reflecting the quality of theuniversity’s education.

He noted that Wawasan wasbeing led by academics whowere highly experienced inopen distance education. BothWong and vice chancellor TanSri Emeritus Prof GajarajDhanarajan were pioneers indistance education at UniversitiSains Malaysia, he stressed.

Applicants who do not possessrequired educational qualificationor work experience to directly enterWOU s degree programmes can nowundertake the new HeadstartProgramme. Available at all WOU regionalcentres, the programme serves as a bridge tofurnish candidates with necessary abilitiesbefore their entry is re-assessed.

Of the 712 students enrolled in WOU in Jan2007, 81 are now taking the programme whichinvolves Mathematics, English, Malay and StudySkills. The students sit for their final tests atthe end of the 20-week programme.

Penang-based Jeffery Koay, 30, a constructionproject manager, did not complete his Form 6but has accumulated 10 years’ worth of workexperience. Returning to formal educationafter such a long time is not easy, but Koay isdetermined. He now attends Headstart classesfrom 9.30am to 5.30pm every Sunday.

“We have to make sacrifices like not going outwith friends in the evenings and weekends,”

he said. “Whatever spare time we have afterwork is spent on exercises and assessmentpapers.”

His colleague Chuah Choo Han said theguidance of tutors contributed tremendouslyto the students’ improvement, while supportfrom peers was encouraging. “We hardly kneweach other when we started. We then formedstudy groups and this has helped us motivateone another.”

Student Pauline Teo spends about two hoursevery night on assignments. “It can be verydaunting in the beginning – a lot of homeworkand exercises.”

“It’s Friday night. You return from work tiredand know you have to finish your exercisesbefore your lesson on Sunday. You have tochoose between going out with friends andfinishing the homework.”

“It is tough. But since you have chosen topursue a degree, you just have to finish yourhomework. Just think of the graduationceremony!”

visits

Pauline

It is not difficult...once we manageour time. Don’tgive up.

It builds up ourfoundation and letsus assess our ownlevel of knowledgein the four subjects.

Jeffrey

Jane Yeap Kam Moey

We need adviceon what coursesto take after this.

TheHeadstart

As part of ongoing efforts to reachout to adult workers, WOU hasembarked on a successful marketingdrive at office buildings.

One of the office building drives was held atWisma Penang Garden where many workersvisited the WOU booth. Most were already awareof the university and its impending new buildingcoming up a few doors away.

There were enquiries about the upcoming mastersprogrammes - CEMBA and CEMPA, which willbe available by 2008. Some prospective studentseven asked WOU to hurry, saying they have beenwaiting to register for a master’s degree.

At the E-Gate building a small crowd had alreadygathered to meet the WOU marketing team evenbefore the booth could be set up. They were also‘forced’ to camp at Sunshine Square Bayan Barufor three days due to the heavy response.

More marketing drives would be initiated toreach out to potential students in locations otherthan office buildings.

Office BuildingsMarketing Drive

3Wawasan Open University

joy

in the know

The inaugural student orientation was supported with astrong turnout of about 153 students.

Students taking the opportunity to activate their studentaccounts in WawasanLearn, Wawasan’s Student Portal,during the hands-on lab session during the OrientationProgramme in Penang.

Students waving their student books.

One of Penang s best known skills developmentcentre inked an agreement to partner withWawasan Open University to enhance accessto learning and training for the generalcommunity.

The Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC) signed an MOUwith Wawasan to expand and enhance collaboration inpromoting lifelong learning to working adults.

The MOU aims to increase cooperation in the following areas:staff development and exchange programmes; advancedtraining and appropriate educational opportunities for theworkforce; and optimising existing facilities at both institutionsto support teaching and research.

Participating in the signing ceremony on behalf of WOU wasvice chancellor Tan Sri Emeritus Prof Gajaraj Dhanarajan.Chairman of PSDC’s Management Council, Mohd. Sofi Osman,signed on behalf of the centre.

“For us at the university, this is the beginning of a strong andlasting arrangement,” Dhanarajan said. “With this partnership,we hope to create articulation pathways between the trainingPSDC provides and our degree programmes.”

There were smiles and nervous facesall around as the pioneering studentsof Wawasan Open Universityreceived goodie bags and a warmwelcome when meeting their fellowcourse mates and regional officestaff for the first time at theinaugural Student Orientation Dayon 21 January 2007.

The historic event was held simultaneouslyacross all WOU centres. It helped new studentsfamiliarise themselves with the services andfacilities at their respective regional offices andlearning centres. They were also briefed on theuniversity’s regulations and procedures, andintroduced to key issues and strategies to make

them better equipped to study via Open DistanceLearning.

The orientation, to be held every semester foreach new intake, was attended by more than460 students and 54 tutors.

Registration began from 8.30am with studentsreceiving bagfuls of booklets, pocket calendarsand feedback forms with sponsored pens andnotepads thrown in.

The programme included a welcoming sessionby the vice chancellor and HQ representativeswho touched on WOU regulations andprocedures as well as on study skills.

Students and officials then mingled over

refreshments before going into the ‘WOULearning Support & Services’ session which gavedetails on the IT system, the facilities,WawasanLearn and library services. Theprogramme ended with a Q & A session.

Students were given then a taste of what wasto come with a hands-on lab experience heldimmediately after.

Pioneer

4 Wawasan Open University

Athabasca Open University,Canada s largest institutionspecialising in online anddistance learning is lookingto develop research andacademic collaborationswith WOU.

A team from the Canadian universitymade a special visit to WOU in Malaysiaas part of a tour to review its strategicrelationships with notable openuniversities in the Asia Pacific.

The team comprised AU president DrFrits Pannekoek, associate vice presidentin research Dr Rory McGreal and schoolof business professor Dr Fathi Elloumi.

The group was given a tour of WOU’smain campus site under construction

at the Yeap Chor Ee Homestead alongJalan Sultan Ahmad Shah by WOUdeputy vice chancellor (academic) ProfWong Tat Meng. Dr Pannekoek, whohas keen interest in heritage buildings,was impressed with the restorationprocess of Homestead.

The AU team also held a meeting withWOU vice chancellor Tan Sri EmeritusProf Gajaraj Dhanarajan, deputy vicechancellor (operations) Dr Seah SooAun and deputy vice chancellor(academic) Prof Wong, followed byfruitful discussions with deans andsenior academicians at WOU.

Both sides exchanged ideas on modelsof delivery in open distance learningand on technologies being used. Therewere also discussions on the possibilityof purchasing AU’s course materials aswell as on collaborations in deliveringpost graduate programmes andresearch projects.

Since it was created by the Albertagovernment in 1970, AU has servedmore than 260,000 students. Apublicly funded institution, its maincentre is in Athabasca, 150 km northof Edmonton.

MOUwith PSDCWOU charms

Athabascan glacier melted by

a

WOU staff members were given an insight into aunique series of distance education research projectscurrently conducted in 12 Asian countries.

Dubbed PANdora (PAN Asia Networking Distance and Open ResourceAccess), the research is sponsored by the International DevelopmentResearch Centre (IDRC), and includes projects in Bhutan, Cambodia,China, India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Laos, Pakistan, the Philippines, SriLanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The research was introduced by PANdora academic advisor, Dr JonBaggaley, during a seminar for WOU’s academic and operations staff.

Dr Baggaley is responsible for the development of new media technologies

and policy for distance-based delivery of Athabasca University'sprogrammes.

Baggaley, a professor of educational technology at Athabasca University,has been visiting each of the Asian project sites while supervising thepublication of their reports in academic outlets over the past 15 months.He is currently spending the last few months of his extended leave inMalaysia.

During the seminar held at WOU’s headquarters, Baggaley presented asummary of findings from nine projects, discussing the merits andproblems of the transnational and collaborative approaches they haveadopted.

In the ensuing discussion, a number of interesting suggestions werereceived from the WOU staff. Baggaley expressed his keenness to followup on the suggestions to turn them into future collaborative projectsinvolving WOU staff during the 2nd round of the PANdora project fundingallocations.

Details of the PANdora projects may be viewed at

www.pandora-asia.org

Dr Jon Baggaley in discussion with the WOU staff.

Pan-Asianresearch

Contributing to

COLExecutive Masters’ with

Members of the School of Business andAdministration have been privileged to haveface-to-face discussions with theCommonwealth of Learning s (COL) specialistin higher education and policy development,Dr Willie Clarke-Okah, during his 2-day tripto Penang.

The visit was part of Clarke-Okah’s tour to institutions of higherlearning that are participating in the Commonwealth ExecutiveMaster of Business Administration and Master of PublicAdministration (CEMBA/CEMPA) programmes. Prior to the trip here,he visited three other countries to lend his advice and gain feedbackon development of the programmes there.

Clarke-Okah, who also serves as the counsellor and head ofdevelopment cooperation at the High Commission of Canada inJamaica, has extensive background in international developmentand education, spanning 32 years in areas of policy and programming.He has also been associated with the Canadian InternationalDevelopment Agency (CIDA) for over 25 years.

While meeting WOU’s business course coordinators, he gave helpfulsuggestions on improving and localising the mode of delivery ofthe programmes. He brought along sample courses from the otheruniversities he had visited as reference for the coordinators. He alsomet staff of supporting operations departments, including thosefrom the educational technology, IT support and services, and thepublishing units.

Following the visit, WOU is now converting the course materialsfrom print mode to online, in tandem with its plan to offer theCEMBA/CEMPA programmes by Jan 2008.

For details of CEMBA/CEMPA, visit

www.col.org/colweb/site/pid/3953

privilegedencounter

Dr Willie Clarke-Okah making a point.

Working adults in Malaysia can now obtain aninternationally recognised MBA or MPA designed by arenowned inter-governmental organisation providingeducation and training through open learning.

The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) has signed an MOU with WawasanOpen University to make available its Commonwealth Executive MBA andMPA (CEMBA/CEMPA) by distance learning in Malaysia.

The ceremony was participated by COL president and chief executive officerSir John Daniel and WOU chief executive officer and vice chancellor Tan SriEmeritus Prof Gajaraj Dhanarajan. It was witnessed by Penang state executivecouncillor Dato’ Dr Toh Kin Woon.

Formed by the Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1987, the Vancouver-based COL devised the masters’ programmes in collaboration with four openuniversities in south Asia.

The instructional materials were developed by experts from universities inAustralia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, India and Canada. As a result of thisnetwork, the Commonwealth Executive masters’ programme is internationallyrecognised while giving students mobility and credit transfer acrossparticipating institutions.

When made available in Malaysia, the degree programmes will mark amilestone in the collaborative approach adopted by the global open learningcommunity. Students can choose either Business Administration (MBA) orPublic Administration (MPA) as their major.

Specially designed for part-time study by busy working professionals, theprogrammes are flexible, modular and affordable. As currently run in otheropen universities, CEMBA/CEMPA gives students the option to leave atvarious stages in the programme, after earning a certificate, diploma, graduatediploma or degree.

5Wawasan Open University

in the limelight

HIGHLIGHTS

WOU has joined three of Asia s most established open universities for a string ofinitiatives in academic excellence by signing MOUs with Open University of HongKong (OUHK) and SIM University (UniSIM) of Singapore, and a separate agreementwith India s Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU).

The joint initiatives included efforts in research,training and conferences, curriculum and coursedevelopment, course material design, credittransfer agreements and support for research-based postgraduate study.

UniSIM is Singapore’s fourth university, and theonly one in the island state catering to workingprofessionals and adult learners. Established in2005, it has a strong record, having evolved outof the highly successful SIM Open UniversityCentre that produced more than 5,000 graduatesover 12 years.

The OUHK, formed in 1989, offers more than100 postgraduate, degree, associate degree andsub-degree programmes.

Signing on behalf of WOU, vice chancellor TanSri Emeritus Prof Gajaraj Dhanarajan hailed theoccasion as an opportunity to benefit throughpartnerships with like-minded open universitieswith experience.

The other signatories at the event held at theEvergreen Laurel Hotel, Penang, were OUHK’sProf John CY Leong and UniSIM’s Prof CheongHee Kiat.

In a separate MOU during the same function,Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra OpenUniversity (YCMOU) joined WOU to collaborateon course materials design in accordance withWOU’s Blue Print and Quality Protocol. YCMOUwas represented by its VC, Dr Rajan Welukar.

The ceremonies were witnessed by Penang stateexecutive councillor Dato’ Dr Toh Kin Woon.After a press conference, the gathering wasgiven a quick tour of the university’sheadquarters at its construction site and of thePenang RO.

Higher education minister Dato’ Mustapa Mohamedlaunches Wawasan Open University

by hitting a traditional gong.

Symbolic handover of the Letter of Establishment of WOU.From left to right: Dato’ Seri Stephen Yeap, Tan Sri Dr KohTsu Koon, Dato’ Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, Tan Sri EmeritusProf G. Dhanarajan and Dato’ Dr Sharom Ahmat.

LaunchingCeremony22 September 2006,Menara PGRM, KL.

Dato’ Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik (right) and Dato’ SeriStephen Yeap (left) planting a tree to launch the

development of WOU’s main campus.

8 January 2006, Homestead at JalanSultan Ahmad Shah, Penang

WOU’s main campus is located on a 4ha land atHomestead, a heritage building designed in 1919,

and donated by the Yeap Chor Ee Charitableand Endowment Trusts.

Ground breakingCeremony

21 January 2007Disted College in Penang, Southern College in Johor,

Menara PGRM in KL, and Excelsior Hotel in IpohThe inaugural orientation, held simultaneously at all the regional

offices, had a strong turnout from pioneering students.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koonsigning the plaque to mark the launchWOU’s Penang Regional Office. Lookingon are Dato’ Seri Stephen Yeap (left) andTan Sri Emeritus Prof G. Dhanarajan.

Countdown to a New University

PGRO OfficialOpening

7 June 2007Wisma Behn Meyer, China Street Ghaut

Joint InitiativesAcross Borders

6 Wawasan Open University

WOUInaugural Orientation

WOU’s Deputy Vice Chancellor,Professor Wong Tat Meng (third

from right) and Johor BahruRegional Centre Director, Ng PengLong (fourth from right) with some

of WOU’s staff and students.

Dato’ Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik (centre) having a lightmoment with (from left) Dato’ Seri Stephen Yeap, Tan SriEmeritus Prof G. Dhararajan, Dato’ Dr Sharom Ahmat,Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu.

in the limelight

SKILLS COURSES

A distinguished member of theacademic board of theCommonwealth Executive MBA(CEMBA) and MPA (CEMPA)programmes has been proudlywelcomed by the School of BusinessAdministration into the everexpanding WOU family.

Prof Madhulika Kaushik joins the schoolon a two-year contract from Indira GandhiNational Open University (IGNOU). Shecomes with great expertise and experience,having been directly involved in the initialdevelopment of these programmes at theCommonwealth of Learning. At WOU, shespearheads the development of the

CEMBA and CEMPA programmes, targeted tobe offered in 2008.

Madhulika, who has conducted consultancyprojects funded by international agencies suchas UNDP, UNESCO, FAO, COL and ILO, haspublished extensively in the areas of consumerbehaviour and marketing, as well as in openand distance learning. She has conducted

substantial research in different aspects ofdistance, as well as online, education. To dateshe has written a textbook, published 23 journalpapers and delivered 22 conference proceedings.

She obtained her Ph.D. at Jodhpur Universitywhere she later rose from a research fellow in1978 to become associate professor in 1987.She joined the School of Management Studies,IGNOU, in 1988, and was promoted as a fullprofessor in 1996. During her 18 years thereshe held various positions, serving as a professorof management studies, director of the Schoolof Management Studies, director of planningfor the university, and director of NationalCentre for Innovations in Open DistanceLearning.

in the schools

Two new courses at WOU will soon address studentconcerns about writing and communicating foracademic purposes. The courses, in the pipeline throughthe School of Foundation Studies, also offer workplaceskills like preparing reports and making presentations.

‘English for the Workplace’ is a practical course to help learners developEnglish proficiency and communication skills. It covers topics likeeffective telephone skills, socialising in workplace situations, businessletters, memos, faxes, emails, SMS writing and also the conducting ofmeetings and negotiations. Learners will also be taught sensitivities ofcross-cultural issues.

‘Writing Skills for University Studies’ guides students to produce textthat is appropriate for university academia. In addition to being taughthow to paraphrase, quote and cite effectively, students will learn toclassify, describe a process, narrate, persuade, compare, contrast, discuss,evaluate, define, give solutions to problems, and describe cause andeffect.

In the near future, both courses will also be offered as short coursesfor the public. In fact, they are just two of many more short coursesrelevant to business situations, hobbies and life enrichment that willsoon be on the platter for the public.

coming soonWOU is entering into an exciting phaseof development by initiating graduatestudies by 2008, in a bid to developa strong research arm that can attract

project funding to the university.

The development of graduate study as well as of the research agenda isbeing spearheaded by the Centre for Graduate Studies under its dean Dato’Professor Ho Sinn Chye.

Working in partnership with all schools within the university as well aswith participating research institutions and external organisations, thecentre facilitates the development of various types of skills trainingprogrammes that are currently unavailable. These include new graduatecertificate and diploma programmes for those wishing to acquire additionalacademic credentials in specific areas. These credentials may then be usedas credits when pursuing future degrees.

The graduate certificate and diploma programmes are also valuable tothose who have completed graduate degrees but require further credentialsor knowledge and skills.

Scholarship research is highly valued by the university. Therefore, thepromotion of an active research culture provides the necessary supportto its researchers, whether they are academics or graduate students.

The School of Science and Technology offers fiveprogrammes in IT and electronics disciplines to meetthe technological needs of modern industries andservices in Malaysia.

The school kicked off its first semester programmes in Jan with an initialintake of 200 students, each taking three degree level courses and othernon-degree subjects. Another three courses are in the pipeline for thesecond semester with ten more targeted to be introduced in the third.About five to eight new courses will then be added every subsequentsemester. All courses for the five programmes are expected to be fully

developed in 2012.

In order to deliver education in a most relevant way, the school aims tonot only stay abreast but ahead of the technology curve in our rapidlychanging environment. It is therefore actively seeking appropriate linkageswith industry and research-based institutions to gain feedback on itsprogrammes and have collaborations in technology-based activities.

The school also seeks innovative ways to harness technology to delivereducation, and is particularly keen to build a reputation for researchactivities.

In an environment where multi-skills are becoming increasingly important,the school’s new programmes are likely to be “hybridised”. For example,a programme can combine IT with Finance, or Electronics with Medicine.

To meet the industry’s requirements for enhanced skills, it is also lookinginto developing post-graduate programmes at the Masters and PhDlevel.

School ofscience and technology

Graduate StudiesThe Centre for

Prof Madhulika!

Welcome

7Wawasan Open University

in the regional offices

It proved to be a nice sunny Thursdaymorning for the 130-odd people gatheredby the breezy waterfront quay of GeorgeTown. The pleasant weather must haveseemed as auspicious as the event theywere gracing.

The Penang Regional Office, housed in the Wisma BehnMeyer heritage building at Weld Quay, was officiallylaunched by Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh TsuKoon.

Also present were WOU vice chancellor Tan Sri EmeritusProf Gajaraj Dhanarajan, and WEF chairman and YeapChor Ee Charitable and Endowment trustee Dato’ SeriStephen Yeap Leong Huat.

Built in the late 1930s, the Wisma Behn Meyer building has had its interior upgraded to cater for modern workingneeds of WOU staff and students. Outside, the Penang Regional Office was festively decorated with its signature green.

Thumbs up to a new vision... (from left) WOU Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) Prof Wong Tat Meng, WOU ViceChancellor Tan Sri Emeritus Prof Gajaraj Dhanarajan, Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, WEF Chairmanand Yeap Chor Ee Charitable and Endowment Trustee Dato’ Seri Stephen Yeap Leong Huat, and WOU Deputy ViceChancellor (Operations) Dr Seah Soo Aun.

LaunchedPenang

Regional Office

Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon declaring the premise open with a ribboncutting ceremony.

8 Wawasan Open University

Hong Chuan Lee, one of theearliest students to registerat the Ipoh Regional Office,is no ordinary individual. The41-year old currently works in aprivate firm in Teluk Intan as anaccounts clerk. He is physically disabledbut is prepared to overcome allobstacles in his endeavour to gain abachelor’s degree in information andcommunication technology.

Hong, whose highest qualification isan SPM, is determined to improvehimself and is grateful to be given

this opportunity by Wawasan OpenUniversity. Even though his home in TelukIntan is rather far from the nearest learningcentre in Ipoh, he makes it a point to travelevery month to attend tutorials.

He is fortunate to have a very supportivewife who assists him in every possible wayduring this challenging period, includinggetting him to Ipoh on time for classes.At the university, everyone is ready to lenda helping hand to help Hong achieve hisambition. WOU plans to install special liftsto help students like Hong reach the upperfloors in the learning centres.

TRUE GRIT

When throngs of people converged upon theIncome Tax Department counters to beat thedeadline to file their returns, little did theysuspect they would be enticed into takingdegrees!

Kuala Lumpur Regional Office staff recently brought out theirmarketing banners and brochures to a WOU booth strategicallyplaced to greet incoming crowds surging towards the taxdepartment counters in Menara PGRM.

KLRO has been on the high road in a variety of marketingcampaigns in Damansara, Ampang and Klang. The team hasalso visited companies under the Valued Partnership Programmeand put on exhibitions during the Gerakan National DelegatesConference.

The KLRO staff and students arealso took active part in the “RelayFor Life” organised by theNational Cancer Society ofMalaysia in the MSN TrainingStadium in Bukit Jalil.

Various events accompanied theovernight relay to keep the spirits(and eyelids) up. It was anopportunity to show caretowards the less fortunate insociety. It marked the first timeKLRO students took part inactivities under WOU’s studentdevelopment programmes.

A hive of activity at the WOU booth during the FACON exhibition at the KLCC on 18 March 2007.

There were no free fizzy drinks whenstaff from the Johor Bahru RegionalOffice recently visited the F&N Coca-cola (M) Sdn Bhd centre in Tampoi.But they certainly managed togenerate plenty of bubblingenthusiasm.

The team was helping to conduct a WOU coursepreview during the company’s monthly meetingfor its southern region managers.

The half-hour preview session was attended byF&N Coca-Cola regional manager Goh Eng Huaand 12 of his managers. Quite a few queries wereraised after the presentation conducted by JBROdirector, Mr. Ng Peng Long.

The event on 9 May provided yet another platformfor WOU course information to be disseminatedto working professionals keen to upgradethemselves academically.

Can t Beat The Real Thing

From Tax Forms to

Degree Scrolls

9Wawasan Open University

April is the month for Secretaries Week. KLRO sponsored two ofthese events in leading KL hotels. Are these people “singing” fora course?

KLRO Director, Meilina Puteh explaining a point to PRGMdelegates during the national delegates conference on 8 April2007 at the Dewan Wawasan, KL.

in the heart of society

In order to survive successfully, human beings areconstantly learning. When one ceases to learn, oneceases to lead a meaningful life.

There were pearls of wisdom to be heard when Tan Sri Emeritus ProfGajaraj Dhanarajan gave a talk on life-long learning in a public eventorganised by PACE (Promoting Activities in Continuing Education).

Learning, stressed the vice chancellor, is necessary to bolster careerchanges and mobility, even as it empowers the citizen to protect hisrights.

He related an incident of an under-educated Pakistani woman who foiledher husband’s plan to divorce her without her knowledge with theminimal reading skill she gained by attending a community literacy class.

Peppering his talk with anecdotes, Dhanarajan drew from his experience,which includes the years as president and CEO of the Commonwealthof Learning (COL).

Many people in society can benefit from accessible learning - from theilliterate to those with learning difficulties, and from out-of-schoolyouths to those who are physically challenged.

Everybody, he said, could strive to access the best possible learningopportunities, regardless of personal circumstances like age or lack offunds or support.

Dato’ Dr Sharom Ahmat, CEO of Wawasan Education Foundation,introduced Tan Sri Emeritus Prof Gajaraj Dhanarajan as the foremostexpert on lifelong learning, and as the one who helped transform theOpen University of Hong Kong into a leading open education provider.

10

A brush and palette in hand, Wong CheeMeng kneels at a canvas, in his cottageon a hill while reflecting on the sereneenvironment around him.

“It has given me a new life, being here,” says theTaiping-born art lecturer. “I have stayed in KL for 13years. It’s a hectic place. But when I came down here,the solace just struck me in the first weekitself.”

Wong is the first of many artists to benefitfrom a new residential programme on oneof the highest hills in idyllic Balik Pulau, thecharming rustic side of Penang island.

Surrounded by secondary rainforests andnative fruit trees with migratory birds, insectsand little animals, the artist-in-residenceproject at Malihom is set to usher fresh wavesof creativity in the region’s art scene.

The programme, an inspiration of thephilanthropist Yeap family, is officially namedthe ‘ABN AMRO-Malihom Artist in ResidenceProgramme of the Wawasan Open University’.

While the location and its infrastructure arehosted by Malihom Sdn Bhd run by the Yeaps,the programme is administratively supportedby the Wawasan Open University with ABNAMRO-Malihom as the main sponsor.

ABN AMRO-Malihom, incidentally, alsosupports some of the world’s foremost artvenues, including the Stedelijk Museum inAmsterdam and the National Gallery ofLondon.

“My family members are not art connoisseurs,but we are passionate about art,” explainsStephanie Yeap. “We were informed that mostartists are struggling, and they don’t have thesources and means to support their careersas artists.”

Covering some 40 acres, the retreatincludes a gallery and four cottagesto house resident artists with plansto further build workshops for non-resident local artists.

‘Mali’ in Thai means jasmine fragranceand ‘hom’ is the word for ‘rice’. The6-month residential sessions inJanuary and July, are meant toaccommodate up to 8 artists.

“At the end of the artist’s stay, we’llhold an exhibition of the artworksthat were done here,” Stephanie says.

For further details, visit

www.malihom-air.org

Wong Chee Meng, the first artist-in-residenceat Malihom, at work.

ahill ofArt

Serene air of creativity pervades Malihom.

Wawasan Open University

RemembranceWalking in

Staff members of Wawasan OpenUniversity recently partook in ameaningful event to help to fightcancer and save lives. Reflecting theinstitution’s focus on social and humanitariancontributions, ten WOU members attended theRelay for Life – Fighting Cancer Together 2007.

The event was a community-based projectinitiated by the National Cancer Society ofMalaysia (Penang Branch) together with thePenang Hospice Society, and partially sponsored

by WOU. The project aimed to spread awarenessabout cancer and the preventive, diagnosticand supportive services that are available. Italso aimed to raise monies for cancer-relatedprogrammes in the state.

Some 2,500 people gathered at Youth Park forthe opening ceremony by Penang Yang diPertuaNegeri (governor) Tun Dato' Seri Utama (Dr)Abdul Rahman Abbas, who was accompaniedby chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon andhis wife Puan Sri Chui Kah Peng.

About 200 teams of at least ten persons eachand more than a hundred individuals took part.

For sixteen hours, people walked the giant ovaltrack, serenaded by music, announcements andspot prizes throughout the night. A ceremonyto light hundreds of candles was held early thenext morning to remember loved ones lost tocancer.

Live to learn, Learn to live

in the lives of peopleAs a boy, he deliberately failed hisSRP as he wanted to be enrolledinto the police force. To his dismay, hewas turned down because of his youth.

But N. Velayutham was not one to bemoan hisplight. He picked up English reading newspapersand chatting with passengers while driving ataxi for 12 years. He then worked towardsretaking his SRP exams and passed.

Today, Vela, as he is known among family andfriends, has become the first student to beenrolled in Wawasan Open University.

“Even though I have left school for 30 years, Ican still do it. I can still improve myself,” saysthe 43-year-old from Ipoh. “When you put yourmind to it, you can do it.”

Supported by his wife Susila Devi, he passedthe Diagnostic Test “with flying colours” atWOU’s Ipoh regional office, and invested inrevision books to prepare himself for the

Headstart programme.

Vela was particularly moved when his eldestdaughter Shamni offered to share her books.

Father and daughter now take turns to use anew PC as he prepares for his programme.Shamni, who has just completed her PMR,admits: “I’m impressed that my father wantsto learn again. Even at his age, he’s stillenthusiastic.”

Vela particularly wants his children, aged 7 to15, to understand the importance of goodeducation by watching him.

Vela had followed WOU’s development eversince he heard Dato’ Seri Dr. Lim Keng Yaikpropose a virtual university at the 1999 Gerakannational delegates’ conference. His wife andsecond daughter even attended the university’slaunching ceremony.

As someone who finds joy in learning, hebelieves one should give knowledge back tosociety. Besides being a Gerakan supporter, Velaorganises charity fairs and seminars for theMalayali Association. Time management andplanning are crucial as he juggles the manyroles as father, husband, taxi driver and nowstudent.

“As long as you are positive, sincere and goodto your children and wife, you will do well inlife.”

I like to dowhat otherpeople thinkthey cannot.

N. Velayutham

11Wawasan Open University

When she was 8, Haszlinda MohdShahruddin fulfilled her mother sdeath wish to move in with hermaternal grandmother as her fathermarried another woman. She would goon to care for her grandmother while managingthe household on a meagre income of RM 100a month.

Today, the 31-year old administrative assistant,who passed her SPM without owning a referencebook or attending tuition, longs to upgradeherself with a degree.

“I want to rise above my current status whetheror not I have support,” says Haszlinda. “I wantmy family and friends to know I can dosomething to change myself.”

She heard about Wawasan Open University

through colleagues at the Islamic College whereshe has worked for 8 years. As the university isoffering scholarships for a thousand candidates,

she was determined to stand a chance. Shemade up her mind to enrol in the Business inManagement degree programme at the Ipoh

Regional Office.

“I’m still young and can afford to study again.In another 5 years, I will have upgraded myselfwith this degree,” she smiles, hoping to land amore secure position in a well-establishedgovernment body.

“I was very frustrated before this as I was notable to study due to of family and financialproblems.” Her husband, a sales executive,encouraged her. She was also supported by herfriends, many of whom are professionals andlecturers.

She now wants her sons to observe and beinspired by her when she studies. “Oh, my sonswere excited when they knew I would bestudying again. They kept asking whether theycould tell their friends!”

I want tofurthermy studies formyself,my career andmy future.

Haszlinda Mohd Shahruddin

He suspected something was amisswhen he was 21 as the monthlyallowance from his father was twomonths late. Surviving on 50 sen buns anddonated milk powder for a whole fortnight, theIpoh lad then received news his father wasdiagnosed with cancer.

The filial son with 9 siblings chose to give uphis degree in computer studies to help treat hisfather. In doing so, he lost the opportunity tofulfil his father’s wish to see at least one of hischildren achieve higher education.

Now, twenty years later, Oh Teik Dong, an Ipohcity municipal councillor, vows to make hisfatherís dream come true.

“When I finally get my degree, I’ll make a copy,address it to my father and burn it so that itreaches him,” says the 41-year-old.

Oh is pursuing a Degree in Business InformationSystem. A firm believer in lifelong learning (”Itis important to prepare ourselves to embracethe increasingly globalised world”), Oh hopes

to set up an IT company with his degree.

His mother is glad that the “family tragedy” hasfinally come to a close with him being the firstamong her children to gain a degree.

“During the recession from 1982 to 1987, manySPM and STPM holders missed higher education,”Oh reminisced. “There were no privateinstitutions of higher learning then to cater forthose less financially well-off.”

Six months after Oh was told of the cancer, hissalesman father passed away, leaving him toprovide for himself. At one stage he resorted tocollecting, repairing and reselling old shoes fora living. However, in 1991, he managed tocomplete his computer studies on a part-timebasis while teaching at a high school.

Born in Ipoh, Oh has been the head of the IpohCity Council’s public service bureau the pasttwo years. Ever willing to help, he tutors needysecondary students in English, Malay andChinese during the evenings for a small fee ofRM5 to RM10.

“The poor will always understand other personswho are poor,” he says.

The father of two sons – 9 and 7 – and a4-year-old daughter wants to show his familyhe can still study after 15 years. And he relishesthe idea of sitting to study with his children onthe same table.

Till then he looks forward to the day he burnsa copy of his degree to put at rest the one wishof his late father.

This is aGod-givenopportunityto fulfil thedream of mylate father.

Oh Teik Dong

Contact Us

A web of

Roof is UpTopping up ceremony scheduled to be in October.

Moving InWOU shall be moving into the main campus at theHomestead at the end of 2007.

Branching out to Melaka andKota BharuLooking forward to launching regional offices in Melakaand Kota Bharu in 2008.

Headquarters

Wawasan Open University (700364-W)

51-20 Menara BHL, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, 10050 Penang, Malaysia.Tel: 04-2273 323 Fax: 04-2269 323 Email: enquiry@wou.edu.my

Regional Offices and Learning CentresOpen Tuesday to Sunday: 10.00am - 7.00pm(extended to 10.00pm from Tuesday to Friday for KL only)

Penang Regional OfficeNo. 7 China Street Ghaut, 10300 Penang.Tel: 04-2633 323 / 2625 359 Fax: 04-2623 669Email: ro_pg@wou.edu.my

Ipoh Regional OfficeWisma Gerakan, 80 Persiaran Greenhill, 30450 Ipoh, Perak.Tel: 05-2426 323 / 2436 323 Fax: 05-2549 323Email: ro_ip@wou.edu.my

Kuala Lumpur Regional OfficeLevel 3 Menara PGRM, 8 Jalan Pudu Ulu, 56100 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.Tel: 03-9281 7323 / 9283 8323 Fax: 03-9284 9323Email: ro_kl@wou.edu.my

Johor Bahru Regional Office17 & 19 Jalan Jaya 2, Taman Jaya, 81300 Skudai, Johor.Tel: 07-5564 323 / 5566 323 Fax: 07-5549 323Email: ro_jb@wou.edu.my

In the minds of

our readers We would like to hear from you. Whether it’s a view, a comment or even a question,don’t hesitate to drop us a mail at mediainfo@wou.edu.my

For more details, visit wou.edu.my

Students of Wawasan OpenUniversity can now exchangeviews and information on theweb through a unique e-forumthat also provides online accessto resources specific to theircourses.

With its convenient and friendly navigationprocedure, WawasanLearn allows a studentto interact with other students by accessingthe web pages of a relevant course. A chatfacility enables them to participate insynchronous discussions.

Students can systematically work on theircourse contents through the web pageswhile a course calendar reminds them aboutevents and activities.

The system’s resources, ranging from web-links to directories, consists of common fileformats with images, flash and Powerpoint.

It features quizzes, also known as CMA(Computer Marked Assignment), withformats like multiple-choice, true-or-false,short answers and matching answers. Thequizzes are currently created for practice,and are not counted as part of the student’sfinal grade.

There are three types of forums onWawasanLearn. The public forum allowseveryone - from students to tutors andcourse coordinators - to have generaldiscussions on a course. The group foruminvolves various tutorial groups wherestudents can participate and view discussionsof fellow students. The CC-tutor forum ismeant exclusively for CCs and tutors todiscuss course related matters while sharingresources.knowledge

FutureDevelopments

Wawasan Open University Makes It Possible!

EventsUpcoming Student Info

1 July 2007 - Headstart Programme begins15 July 2007 - Last day to add courses28 & 29 July 2007 - First tutorial starts fordegree students23 September 2007 - Last day to drop courses

Payment31 July 2007 to 27 August 2007

Kuala Lumpur RegionalOffice LaunchDate : 4 August 2007 (Saturday)Time : 10.30amVenue : Main Lobby, Menara PGRM 1

Student Orientation DayThis familiarisation event will help to explain tostudents the services and facilities in their respectiveregional offices and learning centres, whileacquainting them with the university’s regulationsand procedures.

Student Orientation Day forJuly 2007 intakeDate : 22 July 2007 (Sunday)Venue : Learning Centres nationwide

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