Wawasan Open University was happy to receive a five-member delegation from the China consulate-general office in Penang and eager to explore cooperation in the area of higher education with academic institutions in the People’s Republic of China.
This visit to the WOU main campus today was led by China consul-general for Penang, Mr Wu Jun. On hand to greet the visitors were Vice Chancellor Prof Dato’ Dr Ho Sinn Chye, WOU Sdn Bhd (WOUSB) Chairman Dato’ Seri Stephen Yeap and Wawasan Education Foundation (WEF) Chairman Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.
MR WU JUN (WHITE SHIRT, CENTRE) BEING GREETED UPON ARRIVAL AT THE UNIVERSITY.
Joining the meeting with the delegation were WOU Board of Governors Chairman Tan Sri Emeritus Prof Gajaraj Dhanarajan, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) Prof Madhulika Kaushik, Chief Operating Officer Yeong Sik Kheong, Registrar Dr Andy Liew and senior academics, along with DISTED College President Dr Seah Soo Aun and also Dato’ Yeap Beow Chong.
Wu Jun was appointed as China consul-general for Penang last July. The consulate-general office officially opened at 28-P Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman in December last year with its consular district covering the four states of Perlis, Perak, Kedah and Penang.
WU JUN (FACING CAMERA, CENTRE) IN DISCUSSION WITH WOU MANAGEMENT.
In his briefing titled ‘WOU and its Higher Education Delivery System’, Prof Ho offered insights into how WEF, WOUSB, and the two institutions are linked. He also talked about the postgraduate and undergraduate programmes offered and the University’s overseas academic collaborative initiatives. He also shared about previous visits from China hosted by WOU in recent years and their outcome, in particular the proposed offering of a Mandarin course in collaboration with Kong Zi Institute and University of Malaya.
Dr Seah spoke about DISTED College programmes, highlighting the holiday camps, English courses and cultural exchange programmes ranging from a few days to a few months that are conducted by the college. He mentioned a few camps that have been held for locals and for students from Japan, Indonesia, Thailand and Papua New Guinea.
DR SEAH (SEATED, RIGHT) ELABORATES ON THE ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY DISTED.
In closing, Dr Seah requested the consul-general’s support in getting more Chinese students to come to Penang, especially to DISTED, for study, exchange programmes and for fun English learning holiday camps.
Mr Wu Jun stated that China has an open university as well, The Open University of China (OUC), located in Beijing. He is supportive of mutual cooperation between institutions of higher learning in China with recognised institutions like WOU and DISTED.
