The spirit of woman power resonated through the auditorium of WOU’s main campus as over 100 aspiring female entrepreneurs gathered for the inaugural ‘Basic Entrepreneurial Skills Workshop for Women’ on 5 October 2024.
Co-organised by WOU in collaboration with the Penang State Government, Jawatankuasa Pembangunan Wanita & Keluarga (JPWK) KADUN Pantai Jerejak, and Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC), the programme is dedicated to equipping women entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and confidence to thrive as independent business owners.
The initiative aligns with WOU’s objective to promote both economic empowerment and sustainable community prosperity through education. This is underpinned by the commitment to help participants realise their potential and make meaningful contributions to both their personal growth and the wider community.
WOU’s Executive Dean of the School of Business and Administration (SBA), Assoc Prof Dr Gary Tan Peng Liang, led insightful sessions on business planning and financial business management, while School of Digital Technology (DiGiT) Senior Lecturer, Dr Racheal Poh Su Ying, provided participants with practical digital marketing strategies for their businesses.
The workshop was further enhanced with interactive, hands-on group activities expertly facilitated by the team from the Centre for Foundation Studies (CFS).
The one-day event also featured an inspiring session by Puan Nor Faridah Sariff, founder of Rempah Kari Shiffa, an enterprise specialising in curry mixes, who shared her entrepreneurial journey with the participants.
In addition to the business-themed sessions, Head of CFS, Mr Prakash Arumugam, introduced the participants to the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL), highlighting various entry pathways to further their education at WOU through non-traditional routes.
Reaffirming WOU’s commitment to empowering women and advancing their professional growth, WOU’s Chief Executive and Vice Chancellor, Prof Dr Lily Chan said, “By nurturing women’s entrepreneurial skills, we aim to create a ripple effect that drives economic growth and innovation within our communities.
“At WOU, we continuously seek new ways to support women, offering the tools and resources they need to lead with confidence and turn their dreams into reality.”
Prof Chan also shared that WOU will offer partial scholarships to six deserving participants aspiring to become preschool educators. The scholarships provide a 50% rebate on tuition fees for the Diploma in Early Childhood Education programme offered by the School of Education, Humanities, and Social Sciences (SEHS).
WOU plans to make this workshop an annual event as part of its broader community engagement efforts, reaching and uplifting women who aspire to start and grow their own businesses. This in in line with WOU’s commitment to promoting quality education, gender equality, and sustainable economic development, as outlined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
