Wawasan Open University Open Distance Learning in Malaysia

About Us

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History
How WOU is organised
- The governance structure
- Chancellor
- List of Principal Officers
- The organisational structure
- Vice-Chancellor
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- International Advisory Board
WOU Mementos
WOU Facilities
Logo Rationale
Crest Rationale
Academic Profile
- School of Business and Administration
  - Dr Leow Ghin Yin
  - Dr Oei Hong Lim
  - Dr Tung Lai Cheng
  - Dr. Chuah Poh Lean
  - Serena Kang
  - Prakash V. Arumugam
  - Lum Li Sean
  - Loo Choo Hong
  - Deehbanjli Lakshmayya
  - Loo Saw Khuan
  - Lilian Yap
  - Chong Fook Suan
  - Ravindran Raman
  - Gabriel Gim Chien Wei
  - Lee Kian Tek
- School of Science and Technology
  - Prof Tham Choy Yoong
  - Dr Ghanshyam Kumar Singh
  - Dr Chan Yuan Eng
  - Dr Magdalene Goh Wan Ching
  - Dr Teoh Ping Chow
  - Ishan Abeywardena
  - Kevin Tan Pooi Soo
  - Vincent Chung Sheng Hung
  - Karen Khor Ean Teng
  - Goh Hui Weng
  - Chandarasageran Natarajan
  - Ooi Wen Hui
  - Azrina Binti P Jamal Mydin
  - Wong Voon Hee
- School of Education, Languages and Communications
  - Prof Dr Rahil Mahyuddin
  - Lalita Sinha
- School of Foundation and Liberal Studies
  - Jasmine Selvarani Emmanuel
  - Chelsea Peh Mei Fung

About Us

Home > About Us > History

Chronology of Events

July 1999	Dato' Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik put forward the vision of a private, non-profit virtual at the 28th Gerakan National Delegates Conference in Penang.
March 2000	The Gerakan Education Foundation - later renamed Wawasan Education Foundation (WEF) in August 2002 - established as a tax-exempt charitable foundation. WEF received a substantial donation from the family of Yeap Chor Ee, a prominent Penang tycoon and philanthropist.
June 2002	Eight experts in open and distance learning commissioned to prepare a detailed proposal for the establishment of an Open and Virtual University of Malaysia (OVUM). The foundation received the report in 2003.
July 2003	Yeap Chor Ee's grandson, Dato' Seri Stephen Yeap, announced that "Homestead", the heritage Yeap family estate at Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Penang, would be donated to serve as the main campus of the proposed virtual university.
January 2005	The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) invited WEF to plan for the setting up of 'Wawasan Open University College' (WOUC).
April 2005	WOUC officially established, with Tan Sri Emeritus Prof. Gajaraj Dhanarajan appointed as Vice Chancellor. Inaugural Council Meeting held.
August 2005	1st Management Board Meeting held.
January 2006	Groundbreaking ceremony held for the development of a new 12-storey tower to provide additional administration and academic space for WOUC behind the heritage "Homestead" mansion. 1st meeting of International Advisory Board held.
April 2006	WOUC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) to facilitate the offering of the Commonwealth Executive MBA and MPA (CeMBA/CeMPA) programmes by distance learning in Malaysia.
June 2006	WOUC formally registered under the Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996.
July 2006	All relevant documents to upgrade the status of "Wawasan Open University College" to "Wawasan Open University" (WOU) submitted to MOHE. WOU granted university status by MOHE. 1st Senate Meeting held.
August 2006	WOU officially registered.
September 2006	WOU signed MoUs with the Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK), SIM University of Singapore (UniSIM) and Yashwantrao Chavan Maharastra University of India (YCMOU) to undertake joint initiatives in research, training and conferences; curriculum and course development; course material design; credit transfer agreements and support for research-based postgraduate study. WOU officially launched by Dato' Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of Higher Education.
December 2006	Conservation and restoration of "Homestead" to serve as a distinctive landmark began.
January 2007	WOU signed an MoU with the Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC).
May 2007	The Council endorsed nomination of Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, who served as Chief Minister of Penang from 1969 to 1990, as WOU's first Chancellor.
August 2007	Chancellor's Scholarship Fund launched.
September 2007	WEF presented the movie 'Road to Dawn' in Malaysia to raise money for the scholarship fund. Filmed in Penang, this historical drama depicts Dr Sun Yat Sen's life here and his planning of the "Guangzhou Uprising" in China in the early 1900s.
November 2007	A bronze statue of Yeap Chor Ee was unveiled in front of the mansion in recognition of his substantial contribution to fund the running of private schools and educational development in Penang.
December 2007	Development of WOU's main campus completed, comprising construction of the 12-storey Albukhary Building and restoration of the 'Homestead" heritage mansion.
January 2008	The main campus officially launched by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
February 2008	Deputy Information Minister Dato' Seri Chia Kwang Chye launched 'Road to Dawn' DVDs in Penang for public sale, with proceeds to benefit WOU Chancellor's Scholarship Fund.
March 2008	WOU signed an MoU with the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM).
April 2008	MoU signed with Chartered Institute of Management Accountants for CIMA.
November 2008	Tun Dato’ Seri Utama Dr Lim Chong Eu was officially installed as WOU’s first Chancellor in a formal inauguration ceremony at the university’s main campus. Tun Dr Lim then conferred the university’s first ever Honorary Degrees on Prof Wichit Srisa-an (Doctor of Letters honoris causa) and Dato’ Dr Sharom Ahmat (Doctor of Laws honoris causa) of a special convocation that followed.
December 2008	WOU inked a MoU with the National Union of Bank Employees.
December 2009	Prof Dr Wong Tat Meng succeeds Tan Sri Emeritus Prof Gajaraj Dhanarajan as Vice Chancellor and CEO of WOU.
May 2010	Tun Dato' Seri Utama Dr Lim Chong Eu is reappointed as WOU Chancellor.
November 2010	WOU Chancellor Tun Dato' Seri Utama Dr Lim Chong Eu passes away.
January 2011	WOU signed an MoU with Junior Chamber International (JCI) Malaysia.