About 50 students joined the on-campus learning (OCL), full-time study at Wawasan Open University in the September 2016 intake, bringing the total full-time enrolment to date to over 250.
The orientation commenced with Penang Regional Centre (PGRC) Director Teh Kim Kow introducing his team while OCL coordinator and Senior Lecturer from the School of Business & Administration (SBA), Dr Chuah Poh Lean, introduced the Academic Advisors.
SBA SENIOR LECTURER CHONG FOOK SUAN (CENTRE, STANDING) IS ONE OF THE ACADEMIC ADVISORS.
In her welcoming address, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) Prof Madhulika Kaushik commended the students for choosing wisely since WOU is one of the best providers of higher education. She said that out of the six full-time programmes offered, the popular ones were Management, followed by Accounting and Banking & Finance. She advised the students to communicate their problems to the Schools and PGRC so that they can be resolved.
She informed that the first batch of OCL graduates will graduate later this year, and that many have already landed jobs. She said a high number of graduates from Malaysian institutions often cannot find jobs, with employers’ survey citing the reasons as poor communicational skills and unable to write well in English.
PROF MADHULIKA OFFERS WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE NEW STUDENTS.
Prof Madhulika shared that WOU offers remedial English courses and that graduating students should take advantage of them to boost their confidence and employment opportunities. She also called on the new students to participate in the recreational activities organised for their development. “We want our graduates to be well-rounded, competent, so that they can be valuable citizens of the country, with values of tolerance, and so on.”
New student, Mohamad Sanim Mohamad Saad, 19, who enrolled in Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Accounting, led the students in the oath-taking. He had studied matriculation (Accounting) in Perlis Matriculation College.
TAKING THE STUDENTS’ PLEDGE.
Among the attendees at the orientation held in the main campus today were Chief Operating Officer Yeong Sik Keong, Registrar Dr Andy Liew Teik Looi, and Dean of SBA, Associate Prof Dr Intan Osman
WOU enters fourth year of full-time study
New students share their aspiration
Sim Sheng Wei, 20, from George Town, followed in the footsteps of her sister, Sheng Theng, and enrolled at WOU. Armed with a Diploma in Business Studies (Banking & Finance), Sheng Wei is pursuing Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Banking & Finance while her sister will be graduating with a full-time Management degree this November.
“My sister who studied in WOU suggested that I study here too. She told me that the programme is affordable and the University’s degree is good for finding jobs. She is already working in Agilent, Bayan Lepas.
“I enrolled in Banking & Finance because I like to work in banks. I hope to become a bank officer and move up higher in the banking sector,” added Sheng Wei.
The youngest of three daughters, her father is a food hawker in Komtar and her mother a full-time homemaker. She is happy to receive an additional RM500 rebate through her sister under WOU’s Friends and Family Programme.
Tan Rong Kang, 20, from Mak Mandin, Butterworth, enrolled in Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Logistics & Supply Chain Management. He entered with an STPM qualification from Institut Bukit Mertajam (IBM).
“My friend, Teng, from IBM recommended me to come to WOU. At least four of us who studied Form Six in IBM are here. As I was searching for a university, he convinced me that WOU is cheaper. The other private institutions in Penang are more expensive, and I cannot afford them. Also I prefer Penang. I only have ride the ferry and take one bus to come to the campus.
“I chose this programme because I want to learn as much as possible about logistics and supply chain, and start my own business. I hope to become a wholesaler supplying daily necessities to the retail shops,” he elaborated.
Tan is the eldest, having three younger school-going sisters. His father is employed as a crane driver in construction and his mother is a homemaker.
Sheela Saravanan, 19, from Bayan Lepas, enrolled in Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Management. She did her Foundation in Business at a private college in Penang.
“I found out about WOU from my friend, who is studying part-time here. I also checked out the University on the website and flyers, and I felt it is good.
“The first thing my friend told me was that the campus is very big and the teachers very nice. They support and help you throughout all your assignments. And I think this was a key for me to come to WOU to further my studies.
“My mum asked me to take management, because she wants me to continue here in Master’s in Business Administration. My goal is to climb up the corporate ladder in management,” she highlighted.
Sheela is the eldest of two girls. Her father runs a retail shop while her mum is an accountant.
