IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING FOR AN

APRIL 2016
IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING
FOR AN ORGANISATION
8 ETIQUETTE TIPS WHEN WORKING
WITH DIFFERENT CULTURES
EXECUTIVE DIPLOMA
FOR SECURITY OFFICERS
PP 15800/08/2012(030519)
>
OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA
Jalan Tun Ismail
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603 - 2773 2121 012-303 9934 / 35
enquiries@oum.edu.my
INTERNATIONAL OPEN COLLEGE
Jalan Tun Ismail
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603 - 2773 2020
enquiry@ioc.edu.my
INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Sri Rampai Learning Centre
No. 1 Jalan Rampai Maju
Rampai Business Park South
53300 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603 - 4143 3955
ipd@ipdoum.edu.my
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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FIRST WORDS
IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING FOR AN ORGANISATION
AN ENGAGING LEARNING EXPERIENCE
PLANNING YOUR CAREER PATH
COL AND OUM CO-HOST INTERNATIONAL FORUM
8 ETIQUETTE TIPS WHEN WORKING
WITH DIFFERENT CULTURES
BEST PRACTICES FOR CHOOSING A SUCCESSOR
BOOST FOR THE POLICE AND
PRACTICUM LEARNERS
JAPANESE STUDENTS GET TO KNOW MALAYSIA
IPD ENHANCES TIES WITH TRAINING PROVIDERS
EXECUTIVE DIPLOMA FOR SECURITY OFFICERS
IT’S THE BEST TIME OF YOUR LIFE!
PRESIDENT/VICE-CHANCELLOR ATTENDS
MOOC SUMMIT IN TOKYO
SPEEDING UP GROWTH VIA EDUCATION
A STUDENT SPEAKS
PATHWAY TO UNIVERSITY
Chancellor
YABhg Tun Jeanne Abdullah
Pro Chancellor
YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim
Editorial Team
Advisor
YBhg Prof Dato’ Dr Mansor Fadzil
President/Vice-Chancellor
Chief Editor
YBhg Prof Dr Ahmad Hashem
Vice President (Business Development & Technology)
Editors
Datin Teh Raqamah Abdullah
Director, Centre for Corporate Communications
Contact us at:
OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA
Jalan Tun Ismail
50480 Kuala Lumpur
T: +603-2773 2045
F: +603-2697 8825
E: oumeducation@oum.edu.my
>
FIRST
WORDS
Professor
Rahmah Daud
Senior Manager, Centre for Corporate Communications
Azeezah Jameelah Mohamed Mohideen
Assistant Manager, Centre for Corporate
Communications
Associate Editors
OUM Education is a magazine published
monthly by the METEOR Group of Companies.
The electronic version is available at
www.oum.edu.my
Content Partner
Hidayati Kasuma Abdul Hadi
Manager, Institute of Professional Development
Tengku Amina Munira Tengku Mohd Azzman
Shariffadeen
Assistant Manager, President’s Office
Dato’ Dr Mansor Fadzil
There is a story that I would like to share
with all our readers and it goes like this:
Two woodsmen were out in the forest
chopping wood. One man worked relentlessly
all day. He took no breaks and only stopped
briefly for lunch. The other man took several
breaks and even had a short nap after lunch.
At the end of the day, the man who had
taken no breaks was startled to find that his
companion had chopped more wood than he
had.
“I don’t understand,” he exclaimed. “Every
time I looked around, you were just sitting,
yet you chopped more wood than I did.”
His companion smiled and answered, “Did It does not matter how you define success.
you notice that while I was sitting down, I Whether as a parent, a learner, an employee
or a business owner, planning marks that
was also sharpening my axe?”
first initiative towards realising our dreams.
This is an often-cited anecdote on the Even organisations must plan for success.
importance of planning. It reminds us that we As an education provider, OUM Education
must plan in order to make the most of our focuses on planning by striving to recognise
time and efforts. Not only is planning crucial the needs of our learners; learning our own
for success, it also separates someone who strengths and weaknesses; leveraging on
technology to provide the best possible
is reactive from another who is proactive.
services; and most importantly, by keeping
The question I have at this point is which our vision and mission close to heart.
would you rather be? I hope the answer is
clear for all of us. We cannot merely rest Our readers can do the same at the individual
on our laurels and hope that success would level. Take the time to plan, and I can assure
come knocking on our doors. Rather, we need you that it will be time well spent.
to proactively take steps towards success.
03
OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA
>
IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING
FOR AN ORGANISATION
Essence of Planning
Knowing our strengths and weaknesses and
using them to exploit opportunities, mitigate
threats and overcome challenges is the
essence of strategic planning. There are three
basic questions to address in the planning
process:
Prof Ramli
Planning is important for personal and
organisational success. It helps an individual or
organisation to chart progress while working
towards achieving goals.
For an organisation, planning becomes even
more important as it provides the blueprint and
direction the company is heading, the steps
involved and finally, the anticipated outcome.
OUM Vice President (Planning and Finance)
Prof Ramli Bahroom contends that modern
strategic planning emphasises simplification
where the entire roadmap of an organisation
can be displayed in just a piece of paper or in a
balanced four-quadrant scorecard.
Organisations employ strategic planning as a
tool for gaining competitive advantage over
competitors, he says, adding that OUM is facing
enormous challenges to maintain its lead as an
open and distance learning (ODL) provider as
more institutions are joining the fray.
“OUM may be the pioneer in ODL in Malaysia,
but many institutions are slowly catching up,
particularly now that public universities are
also leveraging on ODL to boost their student
numbers and increase their revenues.”
04
“We have also developed a new learning
management platform, myINSPIRE, to
provide more effective student support and
meaningful learning experience.”
Setting Goals
Setting goals that challenge everyone in
an organisation to work towards better
performance is a key aspect of the planning
1. Where are we?
process. The holding company, METEOR Group,
2. Where do we want to be?
is in the process of developing a new set of
3. How do we get there?
performance measures or key performance
A critical analysis of these three components is indicators (KPIs) for the entire organisation, its
essential for OUM to devise its growth strategy. subsidiaries and staff.
“Knowing our market, the environment we
With the new KPIs, performance of the various
are in and our competitors is essential in
subsidiaries will be more aligned to that of the
developing an effective plan. Our strategies
Group, the departments’ performance to that
have been successful in the past, but this does
of the subsidiaries and the staff performance
not mean that we can rest on our laurels,” Prof
to that of the departments. This is to ensure
Ramli says
that the entire organisation moves more
effectively and in greater unison.
To stay ahead of our competitors, we have
to be innovative. “We cannot be doing
“With the new KPIs linked to the overall
the same thing that we did in the past.
strategies of the Group, they will ensure
Innovations give us a head start, which is
consistency of purpose and ultimately, push
one of the reasons why OUM is now focusing
our organisation to greater heights,” Prof
more on e-learning and mobile learning.
Ramli says.
>
AN ENGAGING
LEARNING EXPERIENCE
OUM prides itself as a learner-centric
institution. With the majority of its learners
being working adults, the University strives
to continuously improve its services and
academic support so that learning becomes
more meaningful.
Recently, the University rebranded its
Centre for Student Management as Centre
for Learner Affairs and Alumni (CLAA) to
manage matters related to learner and
alumni affairs more effectively and to
address key issues on learner retention and
support in close collaboration with faculties,
learning centres, divisions and units.
Dealing with working adults, the University
understands that learners require clear
pathways and effective support to achieve
their academic ambition. Waiting for long
period to have their queries or problems
resolved can easily frustrate learners who
have to balance personal, work and study
commitments.
Dealing with such problems in an effective
manner is crucial as learner satisfaction
contributes to improved retention rate. “A
more integrated approach in dealing with
learner problems and enquiries is necessary
to ensure that problems raised by learners
are attended to satisfactorily and in a timely
manner,” says CLAA Director Rames Prasath
A/L Mahatam Rai Centre.
In line with this new development, the
University is phasing out its print modules.
Learners will soon be given access to digital
modules for all programmes. The modules
are more interactive with enhancements
like colour graphics and interactive quizzes
so that learners are more engaged in their
learning. The current Internet facilities at
Learning Centres nationwide will also be
improved as the University is working to
increase the Internet bandwidths to provide
a better learning experience for learners.
The University’s e-CRM service that attends
to complaints, enquiries, suggestions and
even compliments from learners caters to an
average of 600 messages a week, where 90
percent of them are resolved within seven
working days.
Acknowledging that learner satisfaction is
an important benchmark in the delivery of
Technological infrastructure that allows high-quality education, OUM is aggressively
learners to study more effectively also helps expanding its presence in smaller towns
to increase learner retention and graduation through the establishment of new Learning
rate. Towards this end, OUM is introducing a Centres. This enables learners in smaller
totally new learning management system, towns like Kuala Krai, Manjung, Tanjung
myINSPIRE, this May that allows learners Malim, Pontian and Temerloh, for instance,
to easily access learning materials, interact to attend classes without having to travel
with peers and tutors and engage in online far.
study more effectively. This is because
myINSPIRE is bundled with various learning METEOR Properties, a new entity that is
materials with easy navigation structure and tasked with managing and preserving the
is user-friendly.
value of OUM learning centres, meanwhile,
will be looking at renovating METEOR House,
which is the campus of the International
Open College (IOC).
The company is also involved in the
development of new Learning Centres and
in ensuring that the designs of the acquired
or bought Learning Centre buildings conform
to the standards set by the University.
By having its own learning centres
nationwide, it provides learners with a
sense of pride for being part of the OUM
campus community.
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OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA
>
COL AND OUM CO-HOST
INTERNATIONAL FORUM
The
Eighth
Pan-Commonwealth
Forum (PCF8) is expected to draw
about 800 participants from 70
countries when it takes place at the Kuala
Lumpur Convention Centre from 27 to 30
November.
This is partly due to the advent of the
Internet and technology applications which
enable people to explore new teaching and
learning approaches. “While teaching and
learning in the 1990s was limited to printed
learning materials, face-to-face interactions
and audio-visuals, people now have access
to free digital learning resources and
free online courses like Open Educational
Resources (OERs) and Massive Open Online
Courses (MOOCs),” she added.
The Forum which is co-hosted by the
Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and Open
University Malaysia (OUM) will discuss the
role of open and distance learning (ODL) in
widening educational access, enhancing
economic development and creating social Open, online and flexible learning provides
equity and inclusion of communities, both people with greater access to education,
particularly marginalised and disadvantaged
locally and globally.
groups, but questions regarding quality
Since the first Pan-Commonwealth Forum in remain.
Brunei in 1999, the Forum has evolved to
become a premier platform for practitioners,
experts and policy makers to discuss
pertinent issues which have an impact on
ODL. Learning approaches and programme
delivery have also changed drastically over
the years, particularly with the advent of
technology at the turn of the 21st century.
Prof Kanwar said Governments want to
see more accountability from education
providers, particularly from those offering
distance and online learning. It is very
important to have rigorous quality assurance
mechanisms in place so that students don’t
just have access, but also access to success.
Prof Asha
“The last 15 years has seen a significant rise
in the number of ODL providers of various
types, including dual mode, cross border,
private, online and e-learning,” said COL
President and Chief Executive Officer, Prof
Asha Kanwar.
The issue of quality and equity in learning
is one of the subthemes of PCF8. It will
enable policy makers and experts to discuss
quality assurance frameworks, accreditation,
certification and benchmarking, among
others.
With the theme “Open, Online and
Flexible Learning: The Key to Sustainable
Development”, the other subthemes
covered in the Forum are: Access and
Inclusion, Efficiency and Effectiveness and,
Technology and Innovation.
Online Forum
REGISTER NOW
call for papers
Efficiency and Effectiveness
[1 April - 30 April 2016]
Abstract Submission:
15 April - 15 June 2016
Access and Inclusion
[15 May - 15 June 2016]
Full Paper Submission:
1- 29 July 2016
Quality and Equity in Learning
[1 July - 30 July 2016]
Technology and Innovation
[15 August - 15 September 2016]
08
Early Bird Registration:
by 27 September 2016
Visit http://pcf8.oum.edu.my
The Forum provides a platform for educators,
practitioners and those interested in ODL
to network, learn about and adopt best
practices, and collaborate in future research,
thus creating a win-win situation for
everyone.
For those who are unable to participate
in PCF8, pre-conference online forums to
discuss the four sub-themes will open for
public discussion beginning 1 April. Each
forum will last for four weeks. The idea
is to get a good sense of what the global
community considers as important concerns
in relation to each sub-theme. Ideas,
pertinent issues and recommendations
expressed in the online forums will be
shared during PCF8.
Universiti Pemenang Pelbagai Anugerah
MAY INTAKE
Applications are accepted through our academic entry requirements
For more information:
E-mail: pcf8@oum.edu.my or
Visit: http://pcf8.oum.edu.my/
http://apel.oum.edu.my
OUM SPEEDLINE
03-27732121
012-3039934
012-3039935
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HAPPENINGS
>
BOOST FOR THE POLICE
AND PRACTICUM LEARNERS
Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Dato’
Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, witnessed the signing
of the memorandum of understanding and
memorandum of agreement at the OUM Main
Campus in Kuala Lumpur on 8 March. The
agreements were signed by OUM President/
Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dato’ Dr Mansor Fadzil,
and Vice President (Business Development
and Technology), Prof Dr Ahmad Hashem,
with Unikop College Chairman, Datuk Mohd
Nazar Samad, and CEO, Mohamad Islahudin
Abdullah.
According to Dato’ Mansor, the collaboration
would provide greater opportunities for
police personnel to enhance their potential
Police officers can now study at OUM, IOC and IPD with the signing of the agreements
through education and become more
Police personnel and their children can now eligible candidates for admission into part- effective law enforcers. Tan Sri Khalid
pursue higher education at OUM, IOC and time academic programmes at OUM, full-time said it would also enable them to acquire
IPD under agreements signed recently with diploma programmes at IOC and skills-based knowledge through flexible means while
continuing to carry out their duties.
Unikop College. The college will identify programmes at IPD.
>
In another development, OUM has entered
into a strategic collaboration with IIUM
EduCare and FELCRA Training & Consultancy
that will provide placement for OUM learners
to do their practicum at kindergartens
and daycare centres belonging to the two
organisations.
The practicum is a requirement by the
Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) for
learners pursuing diploma and bachelor’s
degree programmes in early childhood
education.
14
Dato’ Mansor exchanging documents
with Dr Ainol Madziah (left) and
Haji Rohaizat (right)
OUM President/Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dato’
Dr Mansor Fadzil, said practicum placement
at the right organisation is important to
ensure that the University produced quality
teachers in the field of early childhood
education.
“The practicum will provide the learners
with opportunities to observe teaching and
learning and to handle young children. This
is important because learners will have
valuable opportunities to put their learning
into practice,” Dato’ Mansor said.
Under the Memorandum of Agreement
(MoA) signed between the three parties on
7 March, IIUM EduCare and FELCRA Training
& Consultancy will provide learners with
guidance and mentoring to develop their
teaching skills in order to accommodate
children from different social, ethnic and
religious backgrounds as well as age groups
and abilities.
Dato’ Mansor represented OUM at the
signing ceremony while IIUM EduCare was
represented by its Chairman, Assoc Prof Dr
Ainol Madziah Zubairi, and FELCRA Training
& Consultancy by its Managing Director, Haji
Rohaizat Ahmad.
OUM INTERNATIONAL
>
JAPANESE STUDENTS
GET TO KNOW MALAYSIA
Two groups of students from Japan now have
much better knowledge about Malaysia,
thanks to efforts by OUM in partnership
with Soka University. The students had
taken part in programmes conducted by
OUM International, a unit which conducts
study tours and training programmes for
international institutions and government
agencies.
The first group, which comprised 16 bubbly
teenagers from Soka Senior High School’s
Tokyo and Kansai chapters, arrived in
Kuala Lumpur with three chaperones on 22
February. They had been selected from more
than 80 eager applicants to take part in the
annual language and socio-cultural exposure
programme conducted by OUM International.
Exciting language games and activities were
conducted to help the students improve their
grasp of the English language. They were
also taken sightseeing to experience the
cultural splendour of Malaysia. In addition,
they made a stop at Tadika Seri Soka in
Selangor. This kindergarten is operated by
Soka Gakkai Malaysia, an organisation that
promotes peace in society through cultural
exchanges and humanistic education.
The second group comprised 29 students
from the Faculty of International Liberal
Arts at Soka University in Tokyo. This was
the largest delegation of students from
the university to spend two weeks of their
spring vacation with OUM.
the historical development of race relations
in Malaysia, governmental planning for an
inclusive society, multi-faceted approaches
to understanding Islam, the emergence
of the halal food industry and other
contemporary issues.
They
attended
a
programme
on
understanding the sociolinguistic milieu
of Malaysia, which involved discussions,
visits and presentations on the country’s
challenges and successes due to its
multiracial population. They learnt about
On the final day of the programme, the
students presented their observations
via a presentation and feedback
session, facilitated by invited
lecturers from the OUM Faculty of
Education and Languages.
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INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
>
IPD ENHANCES TIES
WITH TRAINING PROVIDERS
Companies and employees now have more training programmes to On 25 February, IPD signed a memorandum of agreement with its
choose from to suit their organisational and career needs, thanks to existing and new approved training providers. They were welcomed
an agreement signed by IPD with several local training providers.
by Vice President (Business Development and Technology), Prof Dr
Ahmad Hashem. According to IPD Director, Assoc Prof Dr Richard
IPD provides management and professional development Ng, contracts were renewed with existing providers to ensure
programmes by working with local and international providers continuous offering of high-quality programmes while new providers
to offer various skill-based and professional courses. Among the were appointed to offer more industry-driven courses.
courses offered are plantation management, early childhood
education, photography, beauty management, airport ground “We intend to form 20 more new partnerships so that we will have
handling, cabin crew and logistics.
80 approved training providers by the end of this year,” he said.
IPD collaborates with the training providers in the states of Tamil
Nadu and Kerala to offer training and development programmes
on technical, interpersonal, leadership and managerial skills for
executives and non-executives.
Among the partners they visited were Mahatma International
Institute of Hotel Management and Science, Chennais Amirta
International Institute of Hotel Management, NIMS International
Institute of Hotel Management, MACFAST College, Guiders Education
and Hindustan University. Discussions were held to explore new
training programmes with market potential.
Dr Richard with some of the students in India
During the visit, Dr Richard delivered a lecture on social
entrepreneurship and customer service to Master of Business
Administration students and faculty members.
At the international level, Dr Richard and his deputy, Dr Shishi The visit reinforced IPD’s commitment to provide efficient and
Kumar Piaralal, went on an eight-day trip to India recently to visit effective support to its partners in India, which is an important
its approved and potential training providers in the southern part of business focus for for the Institute.
the country.
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>
EXECUTIVE DIPLOMA
FOR SECURITY OFFICERS
No matter how high or low you think you are on the career ladder, there is always
opportunity for you to improve yourself if you put your mind to it. It is not only the young
and inexperienced that require further training, as might have been previously thought.
And any time you open yourself to new knowledge, you are bound to benefit from it.
Azman Ramli, 47, would agree. He began his working life as a clerk in a bank, and later with
telecommunications companies. In 2001, he became a security guard at a shopping mall
and eventually rose to become a senior security executive at a tyre company.
In 2012, he enrolled in the Executive Diploma in Security Management (EDSM) programme,
which was conducted by IPD in collaboration with Malaysia Security Dot Com Sdn Bhd
(MalSec). Thanks to his decision to upgrade his qualification, he is now the Head of Security
at the KNM Group of Companies.
IPD has been Malsec’s partner since 2010 to offer the security management programme
that is open to all levels of security personnel in both the public and private sectors. To
enrol, candidates must have a minimum requirement of SPM/SPVM or three years of work
experience working in the field of security.
Azman Ramli
The one-year programme requires the completion of one module per month for 10 months.
Learners need only attend three days of classes and one day of exam during weekends of
every month. The remaining two months are to be spent on projects. The modules cover management, security and management services,
loss prevention methods, crisis management and others.
The EDSM is a fantastic opportunity for security personnel to upgrade their credentials. Registration is open to those in Kuala Lumpur, Johor
Bahru, Kuantan, Kulim, Kemaman and Kota Bharu as well as those living in the states of Sabah and Sarawak.
FEES
RM
8,500
West Malaysia
/
RM
9,000
East Malaysia
PAYABLE THROUGH:
1. EPF withdrawal
2. Payment through employer
3. Scheduled cash instalments
FOR MORE DETAILS, CONTACT IPD AT:
Tel: +603-4143 3955 E-mail: ipd@oum.edu.my
17
INTERNATIONAL OPEN COLLEGE
>
IT’S THE BEST TIME
OF YOUR LIFE!
BY MOHD JAFERI HANAFI YAAKOB
jaferi@meteor.com.my
At IOC, you will meet many colourful personalities.
A lot has been said about life in college. The general perception 1. BECOMING AN IOC STUDENT WILL ENABLE YOU TO EMBARK
is that once you enter the unfamiliar realms of tertiary education,
ON A JOURNEY OF SELF-DISCOVERY
your life will definitely change: leaving behind the regimented life in It is perfectly normal to be unsure of what you are passionate
secondary school and the watchful eyes of your parents.
about or where your interest lies. Here, you will have the
opportunity to explore various areas of studies and a wide
For some, entering college means gaining freedom and the ability to
range of topics until you discover your own niche area.
make one’s own decisions. With countless depictions of college life by Hollywood, involving parties all night and every night, parent- Passion comes from within yourself, so grab the chance to
free fun and crazy college mates, you might start thinking your time
indulge in new academic experiences and ask questions
in college will be the most bewildering yet fun-filled years of your
whenever you have doubts. At IOC, you are encouraged to
life. These Hollywood versions of college life might be true if you
discover your passion and potential.
plan to never graduate.
2. ACCESS TO THE BEST FACILITIES
Realistically speaking, college life is not like in the movies. However, Once you become a registered IOC student, you will be given
this does not mean that college life is just an extension of your
access to the best facilities a student would need, free of
secondary school experience. Life in college can turn out to be a
charge. Take advantage of the Digital Library, computer labs
truly wonderful, fulfilling, maturing and memorable time for you.
and the latest learning management system, myINSPIRE.
At the International Open College (IOC), life is a mixture of colourful academic sessions, complemented by various extra-curricular
activities and a super sturdy bond of friendship and support.
18
When you feel like working out, hit the gym located within the
college compound. After a full day in class, you can de-stress
with your buddies by playing football, netball or tennis. All
these are available for you to enjoy without burning a hole in
your pocket.
When you graduate and enter the real world, you will find that 5. MELTING POT FOR CREATIVITY AND SELF-EXPRESSION
everything comes with a price. So, make use of the facilities and Self-expression via arts is proven to boost one’s creativity and
enjoy your campus life.
confidence. Take part in singing or dancing, stage play or run a
photo gallery – the choice of activities is up to you.
3. YOU WILL DEVELOP A NEW MINDSET
At IOC, you will come across people with backgrounds and As long as you have the interest and determination, you may
perspectives that are different from yours. You will be taught
eventually find something that interests you. Some may not
by lecturers whose teaching approaches and methods differ
realise their talents while others may be too scared or shy to be
from one another. You will meet and work with classmates who
under the limelight. With the facilities and support available at
may think, speak and act in ways that are different from yours.
IOC, rest assured that the artistic side of you will shine.
Over time, after having met and interacted with different types College life is a stage that prepares you for the next big thing in life.
of people, you may develop a new mindset that reflects a more It is like a wholesome meal, every part of it is significant. If you live
mature you.
it fully, you will appreciate the experience forever.
4. LIFETIME FRIENDSHIPS
You will have the opportunity to make many friends in college.
You will do things together, embark on new challenges, discover
new experiences and face the ups and downs of being a college
student together. This is where the precious bond of friendship
is developed.
At IOC, even students and staff are like buddies. Everyone is
treated with respect. Games and college activities are carried
out together. After a game of futsal or netball, students and
staff will go for a teh tarik session and have a good laugh. You
will feel needed and that you belong.
Even though your future does not solely depend on it, your time
in college will still be a crucial chapter in your life. Make sure
you paint it with the right colours so that you get a rainbow
instead of a dark shadow. Enjoy the freedom, enjoy the
company of your friends and their antics. Be active. Be
alive. It is the best time of your life!
19
HAPPENINGS
>
PRESIDENT/VICE-CHANCELLOR ATTENDS
MOOC SUMMIT IN TOKYO
Dato’ Mansor (sixth from left) with the other presenters at the start of the summit
OUM President/Vice-Chancellor Prof Dato’ Dr
Mansor Fadzil and two staff represented the
University at the Asia Regional Massive Open
Online Courses (MOOC) Stakeholders Summit
in Tokyo recently.
The event on 4 March was hosted by Meiji
University in partnership with Japan Open
Online Education Promotion Council and Open
University of Japan. It was an inaugural attempt
to bring together Asian MOOC stakeholders
to share their national experiences and seek
>
opportunities for collaboration. It also offered from UNESCO’s Bangkok office, presented a
a unique opportunity to learn about current regional overview of MOOC. The summit also
featured presentations from Japanese MOOC
MOOC initiatives across Asia.
platform providers. Dressed in a kimono, the
The summit was attended by renowned CEO of DOCOMO gacco, Inc, Miwako Iyoku,
experts from Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, presented a unique showcase from the
Taiwan and Thailand. It attracted a total Japanese perspective.
of nearly 100 participants, many of them
Japanese nationals from corporations, The summit enabled OUM to understand the
current MOOC landscape and discover how we
universities and high schools.
can potentially leverage on the expertise of
Dr Libing Wang, Chief of Section for the other MOOC stakeholders in Asia.
Educational Innovation and Skills Development
BOOK PRIZE
FROM SINGAPORE
Singapore-based Brand Alliance Group Pte Ltd has presented a book
prize of SGD1,500 (about RM4,300) to OUM for conducting a research
on brands preferred by the Generation Y in Malaysia.
Both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last
November to enable Brand Alliance Group to tap the expertise of
academics in OUM to conduct the research as part of the group’s Asiawide initiative to gain insights on the brands preferred by Generation
Y in the region.
Two academics from OUM Business School conducted a survey
involving 500 Generation Y respondents throughout the country to
find out which brands they preferred for a wide range of consumer
goods and services. The findings of the research, together with those
from other Asian countries, will be released soon.
Rodriguez presenting the mock cheque to Prof Shaari
20
OUM Vice President (Academic), Prof Dr Shaari A Hamid, in receiving the
book prize, thanked Brand Alliance for the opportunity to work together
on the international-level research. It provided an excellent opportunity
for the University’s academics to work on research involving regional
communities.
>
SPEEDING UP
GROWTH VIA EDUCATION
>
Tan Sri Anuwar
speaking to
administrative and
diplomatic officers
in Cyberjaya
Malaysia aspires to be a developed nation by 2020 but with its Instead, he said, it should enrol the best brains in local universities
present Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$11,000, it will be an particularly at undergraduate level as practised by many developed
uphill battle for the country to make the giant leap to become a countries like Japan and Korea.
high-income nation in four years.
Universities should hire good academics to teach instead of focusing
OUM Senior Advisor Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Anuwar Ali said the on ways to improve their international ranking. This often leads to
country is targeting a GDP of US$20,000 in 2020 to qualify as a misallocation of resources and as a consequence, teaching takes a
high-income economy but this might be difficult if it could not break back seat.
free from the middle income trap.
What matters most is for institutions of higher learning to give
Developed nations have a GDP that is six times more than that of priority to quality teaching and learning, quality assurance and
Malaysia and 60% to 65% of their workforce has tertiary education. fostering innovation to produce graduates who are knowledgeable,
In contrast, in Malaysia only 27% of its 14.2 million working people possess higher order thinking skills and good social skills.
have tertiary qualifications.
A common grouse among employers in Malaysia is that it is difficult
Malaysia also lags behind in terms of university enrolment for the to recruit staff with the right skills. Many believe that the major
19-24 age group whereby only 33% have continued their tertiary constraint on growth is access to talents. Higher education, to a
studies after completing secondary schooling compared with more certain extent, has failed to deliver the workforce that the country
needs to make the giant leap to become a high-income economy.
than 50% in developed countries.
Delivering a talk entitled “Realising Human Capital Potential: Critical
Role of Government” to administrative and diplomatic officers in
Cyberjaya recently, Tan Sri Anuwar emphasised the importance of
improving the quality of education at all levels in order to produce
the highly educated and skilled labour that the country needs.
This concern is addressed in the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) where
it outlined the Government’s focus on accelerating human capital
development and creating a world-class talent base that the country
needs in the final leg of its journey towards becoming a developed
nation.
Tan Sri Anuwar said for Malaysia to remain globally competitive, it
has to ensure the effective implementation of various strategies
outlined in the Education Blueprint and 11MP. “Priority must
be given to develop human capital that is equipped with
the right knowledge, skills and attitudes, improve the
efficiency of the labour market to accelerate growth,
transform TVET to meet industry demand, strengthen
lifelong learning for skills enhancement and, improve
To realise these goals, he suggested that the Government review its quality of education for better student outcomes and
current policy of sending good students overseas for tertiary study. institutional excellence,” he explained.
He said the Malaysian Education Blueprint (Higher Education): 20152025 aims to produce holistic and balanced graduates through
the implementation of the Blueprint’s 10 shifts. These include
developing holistic, entrepreneurial and balanced graduates, quality
Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates,
globalised online learning, financial sustainability and talent
excellence, among others.
21
INTERNATIONAL OPEN COLLEGE
>
A STUDENT
SPEAKS
Suresh Velsami
21 years old
Diploma in Mass Communication
I have gone through many struggles in my
childhood. When I was eight years old, my
mother had thyroid cancer and my father
admitted her into hospital in Seremban where
we lived. After a week, she was transferred
to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital. By then, my
father, who was a lorry driver, had sent me to
an orphanage in Selangor. I had only one other
sibling, an elder brother called Selvam.
stopped my education and forced me to beg
for money which he used to buy alcohol. I
remember spending five days at the Terminal
One Bus Station in Seremban begging people
for money. I had not eaten for two of those
days.
final semester student in the Diploma in Mass
Communication programme at IOC. The college
fees are very reasonable and there is financial
aid for students who do well academically
and are active at the college. Even the hostel
accommodation is free of charge.
A Good Samaritan rescued me and later, I was
sent to Vinashini Home in Seremban which took
care of the mentally and physically challenged,
though I was neither. Once I settled in this
orphanage, I went back to school, entering
Year Three.
I remember the first time I came to IOC, I
approached the CEO, Prof Dr Siti Aishah
Hashim, and sought financial aid. She said
something that brought tears to my eyes,
“Suresh, you are like my son and I’m like your
mother, I can help you.” Her words gave me
strength.
The orphanage operators helped with my
education, even providing tuition classes for
me. They provided financial assistance too
and even got their son to take care of me.
Their support inspired me to continue studying
and improve myself. Until today, I treat them
like they are my parents.
After my diploma, I intend to sign up for a
bachelor’s programme in public relations
or corporate communications. I want to
become a public relations officer or corporate
communication specialist.
I do not feel bad about staying in an orphanage
because there are others who are worse
off than me. The mentally and physically
challenged residents at the orphanage make
me happy. Their faces are full of smiles and
happiness. I usually hang out with those who
have Down Syndrome. I love them, there are
many things I can learn from them.
I thought of taking up journalism after
completing my SPM. Then, helping to take
some residents from the orphanage to the
hospital for appointments got me interested in
becoming a medical assistant. I even obtained
I was treated very badly at the orphanage. On
a scholarship but my weakness in mathematics
my third day there, I received a phone call from
put an end to that dream. I fear mathematics
the hospital informing me that my mother had
as much as I fear centipedes!
passed away. The orphanage management
I want to give back to society by helping the
made fun of my mother’s death and my My next choice was mass communication and needy, which is what I get to do through the
relatives refused to take care of me. My father thankfully, it worked out for me. I am now a Fight for the Needy project together with my
classmates.
Under the project, we visited an orphanage,
volunteered at a hospital, conducted learning
activities in a school and fed the homeless.
We raised funds for charity by washing cars,
selling sandwiches and we also accepted cash
donations to buy goods for the needy. These
activities will go on until May.
My experience during the feed the homeless
event was awesome. Many people asked us
why we were offering food to the homeless,
claiming that they were lazy people. Actually,
they are not lazy. Most of them have jobs but
are living on the streets because they could not
afford to rent a house. I do not think it is wrong
to help them as long as we do it sincerely.
My college mates and me at the centre for the homeless in Kuala Lumpur
22
>
PATHWAY
TO UNIVERSITY
IOC graduates who hold diplomas in management and human
resource management can now enrol in Heriot-Watt University
Malaysia (HWUM).
GRAB ATTRACTIVE BURSARIES FOR
SCHOOL-LEAVERS!
They will enjoy direct entry and subject exemptions with the
following conditions:
• If they graduate with a minimum CGPA of 3.7 and approval by
Heriot-Watt University of the course mapping, they can enrol
in the second year of the programme chosen; or
•
•
Register with us and enjoy:
•
member of OUM Alumni
•
They must have at least a B+ in SPM English or any other
equivalent English qualification equivalent to IELTS 6.0, in
order to meet the English language proficiency requirements
for entry into the programme.
The IOC diploma holders can enter any of these programmes:
1. Bachelor of Business Administration BBA (Hons.)
2. Business Management MA (Hons.)
3. Business Management with Enterprise MA (Hons.)
4. Business Management with Human Resource Management MA
(Hons.)
5. Business Management with Marketing MA (Hons.)
•
•
•
•
•
Courses , learning materials and resources
Virtual learning environment
Blended pedagogy
Learner-centred services
Flexible schedule
- Guaranteed scholarship for
the first semester. Scholarship for
the following semesters will
depend on academic performance
i.e. CGPA of 3.5 and above.
•
Registration fee of just RM175
THERE ARE MANY WAYS YOU CAN GET IN
TOUCH WITH US!
Speedline: 03-27732020
E-mail: enquiry@ioc.edu.my
Whatsapp: 019-357 9074 / 011-290 99 530
The collaboration with HWUM was begun in November 2015
with the aim of providing a pathway to degree programmes for
IOC graduates.
Website: www.ioc.edu.my
Facebook: International Open College
Instagram: International Open College
Why IOC?
Financing
Available
Full scholarship if you are among the first 100 to
register
If they graduate with a minimum CGPA of 3.3, they can enrol in
the first year of the programme chosen; and
IOC is a private college
under OUM Education,
which also comprises
OUM and IPD. It leverages
on OUM’s experience in
providing:
Discounts of RM800-RM2,000 if you are a family
•PTPTN
• EPF Withdrawals
•Scholarships
(subject to terms & conditions)
Programmes
Foundation
Diploma
• Free transport
• Free books/modules
• Technology-based learning
• Affordable fees
• Student allowance provided
• Free hostel accommodation
Foundation in Arts
• Easy and flexible instalment scheme
Bachelor
Bachelor of Management (Hons)
Diploma in Management
Diploma in Accountancy
Diploma in Human Resource
Management
Diploma in Mass Communication
23
Open University Malaysia
Jalan Tun Ismail
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel : 03-2773 2121 | 012-303 9934 | 012-303 9935
Fax : 03-2697 8780
www.oum.edu.my