WOU’S LEARNING CENTRE AT PSDC
PROF HO AND MUHAMED ALI (LEFT) SIGN THE MOA AS DR WENDY (RIGHT) LOOKS ON
WOU has set up a Learning Centre at the premisesof the Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC) to support its new Bachelor of Technology (Hons) in Mechatronics (BTME) programme.
This collaboration between WOU and PSDC was sealed with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) at PSDC today by WOU Vice Chancellor Prof Dato’ Dr Ho Sinn Chye and the CEO of PSDC, Muhamed Ali Hajah Mydin. The witnesses were Associate Prof Dr Wendy Bong Chin Wei, Dean, School of Science & Technology (SST), WOU, and Ms Lim Wei Chen, Chief Operating Officer of PSDC.
Prof Ho stated that the smart partnership “marks a significant milestone in our respective roadmaps to make higher education accessible to as many people as possible”. He continued, “We understand that PSDC has invested heavily in its laboratory facilities, and this is greatly appreciated since it allows access to its partners, including WOU, for the purpose of special hands-on training as required by industry.” He said students enrolling for the BTME degree at WOU will therefore have access to the excellent laboratory facilities of PSDC.
He further clarified, “Arising from this strategic partnership is a new study pathway whereby graduates of PSDC’s own diploma programmes can benefit from a smooth integration into the mechatronics degree programme of WOU. They will study at WOU, use the laboratory facilities of PSDC, and ultimately earn a WOU degree. Indeed this joint venture is a win-win situation for both our institutions.”
”The Learning Centre at PSDC is one of several additional centres to be established by WOU this year and the Ministry of Education has been informed of this move,” Prof Ho added. WOU is rolling out the BTME programme in Penang via open distance learning in the July 2015 intake. The programme can be completed in five years through part-time study. Graduates of BTME can work in such fields as electronics, automation, electromechanical design, and robotics.
EXCHANGE OF DOCUMENTS FOLLOWING THE SIGNING
Meanwhile Muhamed Ali said that the programme will greatly benefit the PSDC students as well as the existing workforce in the mechanical and electronics industry. “We believe that through this programme, students will gain the necessary knowledge of mechatronic engineering principles and practical skills that will empower them to design systematic solutions for mechatronic engineering problems.”
MUHAMED ALI HIGHLIGHTS THE BENEFITS OF WOU’S MECHATRONICS PROGRAMME
Speaking to reporters later, Prof Ho and Muhamed Ali reiterated the commitment of WOU and PSDC to maintain their programmes at affordable cost in the interest of prospective learners.
