In an effort to equip the new generation of learners with digital competency, WOU welcomed its first batch of students for the new Bachelor of Digital Business (Honours) [BDBS] programme in the May 2021 intake.
Speaking at the virtual orientation today, School of Digital Technology (DiGiT) senior lecturer Dr Lee Heng Wei shared WOU’s aspiration to build technologically-savvy talents and nurture tech start-ups from amongst the students, including developing the first unicorn for Penang and Malaysia.
DR LEE HENG WEI IS THE PROGRAMME LEAD FOR BDBS.
He cited Grab, Airbnb and Udemy as examples of unicorns which are essentially“startup companies with a 1 billion market value”, are customer-focused and have a new innovative way of doing things. He said Malaysia has no unicorn yet as Grab is Singapore’s first unicorn.
He assured the students of the School’s support and guidance to enable them to start their own business from the second year of study or alternatively get industry placement to gain related work experience.
AN INSIGHT INTO HOW THE PROGRAMME IS CONDUCTED.
He said the programme frontloads digital skills in the first year through intensive, on-campus learning, after which students work full-time while they study part-time. The 120-credit programme takes 4 years 4 months for completion, with three semesters per year and each11 weeks long. Students are guided by WOU mentors and external industry experts to ensure what they learn are applicable to real-work environment.
He informed, “The School will give you all the assistance, i.e. the funding, mentoring and industrial connections. We will help turn your digital business dream into a realityand offer co-working space at our new DiGiT campus on China Street Ghaut if you need office space for your start-up.”
THE NEW STUDENTS POSE WITH THE UNIVERSITY FACULTY AND STAFF.
Dr Lee explained that after receiving the technical skills in the first year, the students can opt to start their own business, with the University providing funding support and connecting them with an industry provider.
In return for WOU’s support, he urged the students to demonstrate a correct attitude and maintain a good discipline if they are to succeed in the corporate world.
He also shared the good news of WOU offering two free courses to students of BDBS to further equip them, and they are ‘Writing Skills for University Studies’ and a bridging course titled ‘Be Your Own Boss: Improve your digital fluency’. The bridging course is a 6-week lesson – with 9 hours per week – that commences on June 14th and is also available to other learners for RM1000 only.
THIS DIGITAL FLUENCY LESSON IS OFFERED FREE TO BDBS STUDENTS AND ALSO AVAILABLE TO OTHER LEARNERS FOR RM1,000.
The bridging course aims to impart three important skills – programming foundation, digital business venture, and front-end development. Learners will be taught the fundamentals, with no pre-technical knowledge required, nor is there any final exam or assignment, added Dr Lee.
He summed up that the BDBS is a unique programme because its graduates will not only obtain a degree from a recognised university but will accumulate industrial experience as well to make them stand out from their peers.
