The Centre for Foundation Studies (CFS) aims to support the University’s mission of elevating Malaysians’ level of knowledge and scholarship by thoroughly developing and delivering MPU (General Education courses) and University courses that are relevant to the programmes offered by the host of Schools in WOU. The MPU courses help support Malaysia’s aspiration to produce holistic graduates with employability skills and a profound sense of patriotism, nation-building and social responsibility. The University courses emphasise basic skills, thinking skills and personal qualities, as well as competencies such as resourcefulness, interpersonal communication and information technology.
With the purpose of meeting the increasing needs of the industry and society at large, the Centre will also reach out to the community by offering suitable certificate-level programmes, short courses and soft skills-based courses.
The following is a list of MPU courses offered by the Centre:
(This structure is effective for students who have enrolled in the January 2022 semester onwards.)
1. Course Code/Name of Course: MPU3183/03 Penghayatan Etika dan Peradaban
Kursus ini mempersiapkan pelajar untuk menghayati etika dan peradaban yang wujud dalam masyarakat kepelbagaian etnik di Malaysia untuk memperteguhkan pemikiran kritikal dan analitikal mereka bagi menangani kehidupan yang lebih mencabar. Pengisian kursus ini memfokuskan kepada penghayatan etika dan peradaban dalam acuan Malaysia. Pelajar akan didedahkan dengan dinamika konsep etika dan peradaban yang menjadi kekuatan kepada pembentukan negara Malaysia berdasarkan susur masa evolusi sejarahnya dari era pra-kolonial sehingga ke pasca-kolonial. Kefahaman tentang pembentukan etika dan peradaban dalam masyarakat kepelbagaian dibincangkan bagi meningkatkan penghayatan etika dan peradaban ke arah pemantapan kesepaduan nasional dan bangsa Malaysia. Peradaban acuan Malaysia perlu dikupas serta diperdebatkan dalam aktiviti akademik berpandukan Perlembagaan Persekutuan sebagai tapak integrasi dan wahana etika dan peradaban. Pembinaan kesepaduan nasional amat dipengaruhi oleh globalisasi dan perkembangan teknologi maklumat dan komunikasi yang kompleks. Oleh kerana itu, penghayatan etika dan peradaban menzahirkan perilaku tanggungjawab sosial dan digerakkan pada peringkat individu, keluarga, komuniti, masyarakat, dan negara. Justeru, perubahan yang berlaku dalam masyarakat dan pembangunan langsung ekonomi telah membawa cabaran baru dalam mengukuhkan kelestarian etika dan peradaban di Malaysia.
2. Course Code/Name of Course: MPU3193/03 Philosophy and Current Issues
This course consists of the relationship between the knowledge of philosophy and the National Philosophy of Education. Philosophy is used as a tool to refine the thought culture in life through arts, thinking skills and human concepts. The main topics in philosophy such as epistemology, metaphysics and ethics are discussed in the context of current issues. Emphasis is given to philosophy as the basis to enable dialogues between cultures and to cultivate common values. At the end of this course, students will be able to visualise the disciplines of knowledge as one body of comprehensive knowledge that is interrelated to one another.
3. Course Code/Name of Course: MPU2193/03 Philosophy and Current Issues
This course consists of the relationship between the knowledge of philosophy and the National Philosophy of Education. Philosophy is used as a tool to refine the thought culture in life through arts, thinking skills and human concepts. The main topics in philosophy such as epistemology, metaphysics and ethics are discussed in the context of current issues. Emphasis is given to philosophy as the basis to enable dialogues between cultures and to cultivate common values. At the end of this course, students will be able to visualise the disciplines of knowledge as one body of comprehensive knowledge that is interrelated to one another.
4. Course Code/Name of Course: MPU3143/03 Bahasa Melayu Komunikasi 2
This course trains international students to communicate in basic daily life situations using the Malay language. Students will be taught how to write and speak in simple Malay. Teaching and learning will be implemented in the form of lectures, tutorials, assignments and student learning experiences both inside and outside the classroom. At the end of this course, students are expected to be able to effectively communicate both orally and in written forms using simple sentences.
5. Course Code/Name of Course: MPU3213/03 Bahasa Kebangsaan A
This course aims to increase students’ proficiency and mastery of the Malay language. The emphasis of this course is on expressing thoughts and ideas and communicating effectively in both formal and informal settings. This course also tests the students’ sensitivity to listening and writing skills at the workplace.
6. Course Code/Name of Course: MPU3223/03 Decision Making Skills
This course enables the students to learn and gain decision-making skills by closely examining internal factors, the world of work, and decision-making styles and strategies. This course provides students with the knowledge that career and lifelong decision-making process is empowering and skills learned in the course can be valuable throughout life as individuals encounter crossroads that may prompt life and career changes.
7. Course Code/Name of Course: MPU3412/02 Co-Curriculum
This course engages students in group discussions, planning and executing planned community service and social/charity activities. Leadership, team work and communication are the focus areas of personal development.
The following is a list of university courses offered by the Centre:
1. Course Code/Name of Course: WUC116/05 University Mathematics for General Studies
This course introduces you to the existence of mathematics in the early civilisations and their contributions to the modern world. You will be amazed at the usage of mathematics in the early civilisations. Next, you will also learn that mathematical properties exist in nature such as plants, animals and humans, as well as in man-made structures. You will also be introduced to Set Theory where you will learn the art of grouping and categorising objects for a specific purpose. This course also teaches you to organise data and present them effectively in different ways. Finally, you will learn the approach to learning mathematics through poems, puzzles, stories and games.
2. Course Code/Name of Course: WUC107/03 Workplace Communication Skills
This course aims to develop a firm foundation of English Language and Communication Skills required of the student to communicate effectively in a wide range of business situations. Students will develop the ability to select suitable registers of English and to employ appropriate strategies when communicating in the workplace in a fast changing society. It will focus on communication for career success, effective telephone skills, basic writing for the workplace, presentation skills, meetings and negotiations. Relevant areas in grammar and vocabulary development are integrated into the units. Cross cultural tips for effective communication will also be discussed.
3. Course Code/Name of Course: WUC131/03 Learning Skills for University Studies
The main aim of the course is to develop and enhance a set of attitudes that will lead to successful and independent lifelong learning in an open distance learning environment. The course contents include how to learn effectively, manage stress and time, prepare for tutorial sessions, write assignments, make oral presentations, prepare for various types of assessments, manage the LMS/OAS in WOU, use the electronic library, search for information via various sources, resources and use evaluation criteria to select the most accurate, relevant and credible data.
4. Course Code/Name of Course: WUC203/03 Writing Skills for University Studies
This course introduces the students to concepts that will help them to understand what writing is and how to produce a piece of written text that is appropriate for university studies such as writing texts that classify, describe a process, narrate, persuade, compare, contrast, discuss, evaluate, define, give solutions to problems, and describe cause and effect. It also touches on writing skills needed for professional writing such as writing technical documents, reports and proposals.
5. Course Code/Name of Course: WUC001/03 Communication Skills for Business
This a three-credit, one-semester first level course designed for learners who are enrolled in full time diploma programmes at WOU. This course contains units on communication for career success, writing business letters, memos, emails, SMSes and instant messages (IM), oral presentations, meetings and negotiations. This course emphasises content areas, language and applications. It aims at developing English language proficiency and communication skills at the workplace. It also provides various workplace-related exercises for you to select suitable registers of the English language and employ appropriate strategies when communicating in the workplace. Relevant areas in grammar and vocabulary development will be integrated into the units. Cross-cultural tips for effective communication will also be discussed.
6. Course Code/Name of Course: WUC002/03 Study Skills for open distance learning
This a three-credit, one-semester first level course designed for learners who are enrolled in the Diploma for Early Childhood programme. The main aim of the course is to equip students with a set of skills and attitudes that will lead to successful and independent lifelong learning in an open distance learning environment. The course contents include how to learn effectively, manage stress and time, prepare for tutorial sessions, write assignments and examinations, make oral presentations, prepare for various types of assessments, manage the LMS/OAS in WOU, use the electronic library, search for information via various sources, resources and use evaluation criteria to select the most accurate, relevant and credible data.
Undergraduate Courses
All of the University’s courses are classified into three categories, i.e., lower level, middle level or higher level. Lower-level courses are basic, introductory or foundation courses designed for freshmen. Middle-level courses may require some knowledge of previous study or a certain amount of intellectual maturity. Higher level courses are specialised courses usually designed for those majoring in a particular discipline. The level of a course is indicated by the first digit of the course code, i.e., lower level courses are indicated by the code 1XX/XX, middle level courses by 2XX/XX and higher level courses by 3XX/XX or 4XX/XX. The 2 digits after the slash indicate the credit value of the course. i.e., WLA101/03 is a lower level course of 3 credits while BBM203/05 is a middle level course of 5 credits and TEC305/10 is a higher level course of 10 credits.
Click HERE to download the courses.
Meet your
ACADEMIC PROFESSIONALS
Ms. Jasmine Selvarani Emmanuel
Head of Centre / Senior Lecturer
Ms. Rabikha Hasni bt. Suparman
Lecturer
Nazirah Binti Md Yusof
Lecturer