Veteran academician and seasoned researcher Prof Dato’ Ho Sinn Chye has been appointed the new WOU Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic).
Down-to-earth, humble and approachable, Prof Ho is determined for WOU to reach out to people from all walks of life as he firmly believes that “education is the great equaliser” in society.
As to his new duties and the challenges ahead on assuming this appointment, Prof Ho said, “I’ll continue to do my utmost, working closely with colleagues and other members of the WOU community as well as with strategic partners of WOU, to propel the University forward, as has been done by my predecessor and mentor, towards fulfilling WOU’s vision and mission as a trusted provider of quality tertiary education in Malaysia.”
Prof Ho was WOU Assistant Vice Chancellor (Academic Support) since 1 November 2009 before his promotion. He will continue to oversee the responsibilities of the Assistant Vice Chancellor till the position is filled in April 2011.
He joined WOU in 2007 as Director of the Centre for Graduate Studies, before assuming position as Dean of the School of Science and Technology from September 2007 to October 2009.
Prior to his association with WOU, Prof Ho, 65, had served as the founding Director of the National Oceanography Directorate, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) from 2000 to 2006. He was a faculty member at Universiti Sains Malaysia for 29 years from 1973 to 2002, and a former Dean of USM’s School of Biological Sciences.
He obtained his PhD from the University of Kiel, Germany in 1979, and conducted his doctorate research in the field of limnology at the Max-Planck Institute for Limnology in Ploen.
At various stages of his professional career, Prof Ho has represented Malaysia in the Executive Council of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO, Paris. He represented the east Asia region in the Scientific and Technical Review Panel of Ramsar Wetlands Convention, Switzerland. He has served as National Vice-President of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS); Council member of the Malaysian Society of Marine Science (MSMS); and a member of the Board of Directors of Wetland International Malaysia.
Born in Ipoh, he grew up and received his early education in his hometown of Johor Bahru. He was bestowed the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri award, which carries the title of Dato’, by the State Government of Penang in 2006.
During his leisure, Prof Ho likes to play the acoustic guitar, a hobby he took up since his secondary schooling days. He tries to keep himself fit these days by taking walks up hill roads/slopes on weekends. He is often viewed by colleagues as a techie who surfs the Internet frequently to keep abreast with IT and multimedia development and tools.
