WOU kick-started the new academic year by welcoming its on-campus learning (OCL) students in the January 2023 intake to the beautiful seaside main campus in Penang.
Eighteen freshmen attended the half-day orientation event conducted by the Penang Regional Centre (PGRC) on 6 January 2023. They comprised 12 from the business diploma and business degree programmes, three from Bachelor of Digital Business (Honours), and three from the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology programme.
In a video recorded speech, WOU Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive Prof Dr Lily Chan welcomed the new students to the WOU community with the assurance that they are not alone. “All the staff, from the management to the academics and the operational support, are invested in your studies,” she said.
Prof Chan also made an impassioned appeal to the students to be lifelong learners, “The qualification you earn from WOU is your passport to a rewarding career and provides you with the necessary skills for lifelong learning towards an enriching life.”
Reflecting on the university’s current tagline of “Think Tomorrow”, she said that “newly emerging jobs will require new skillsets and to stay relevant in the workforce one must become a lifelong learner”. She added, “At WOU, we are all about promoting a lifelong learning mindset so as to help you thrive in the digital world.”
“Put aside your fears, open up and share your experiences, ideas and perspectives, and dreams with your coursemates. Your time with the university offers you a unique and golden opportunity to learn from one another, form lasting friendships, bonds, and networks,” she elaborated, urging the students to be actively involved in the on-campus student body and its activities.
Dean of the School of Business and Administration (SBA), Prakash V Arumugam, reiterated Prof Chan’s call to the students to stay focused and complete their studies. He reminded the students of the two important stages in their learning journey – orientation and convocation.
“Convocation is the end of the journey when you get your scroll. It’s very important for you to know that is your ultimate goal in a university,” he stressed.
He called on the students to treat the university as a platform to learn to be a better employee and a global citizen, not just a Malaysian citizen.
Assuring the students they are in the good hands of the university, he said they will receive the same support rendered to the entire 4000-strong student population in the whole country.
Earlier, PGRC Assistant Manager Rina Julian Nazrin Julian presented her team members to the students.
The session ended with SBA senior lecturer and OCL coordinator Yap Li Lian introducing the students to their respective academic advisors. Other activities during the orientation included briefings on WOU’s learning support and services, and ice breaking sessions.
