PROF HO GIVES A FEW POINTERS
Wawasan Open University welcomed its sixth intake of full-time students with a simple orientation ceremony held at the main campus today.
In his welcoming address, Vice Chancellor Prof Dato’ Dr Ho Sinn Chye offered a few words of advice to the new students, encouraging them to “come out of the cocoon” of their school days and adapt to university life.
CHEW LEADS THE NEW STUDENTS IN THEIR PLEDGE
“University life is not just about learning but is about developing your individual self. Form study groups and participate in co-curriculum activities to groom yourselves. Make sure you graduate not only with exceptional knowledge, but with a mastery of soft skills as well,” he stated, advising them to get to know their academic advisors and WOU’s learning management system, Wawasan2u.
New student Chew Lay Yean, 21, who had enrolled in the Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Management (BBMG) programme, then led the freshmen in the oath-taking. WOU currently offers full-time business degree programmes in management, accounting, sales & marketing, logistics & supply chain management, and banking & finance. We look at what four new students in the May 2015 semester had to say:
• Siti Eliza Shamas, 20, from Gelugor, Penang, enrolled in the Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Management course at WOU. She had studied the UNITAR Foundation in Management programme at Sentral College Penang, and SPM at SMK Datuk Haji Mohd Nor Ahmad.
“I like the environment and the facilities here. The environment is peaceful and I find the facilities, particularly the library, to be good,” she said. She was introduced to WOU by her brother, Ardy Zulkarnain, who had enrolled in management during the inaugural full-time intake in 2013.
“My father works in human resources in one of the factories in Prai, and so I too developed an interest in management. I was inspired after watching my father as he really loves his job. With my degree, I hope to go into administration and become an HR officer, following in my father’s footsteps. I like dealing with people,” she stated. Siti Eliza is the third of four children. “My brother Ardy is working as an HR assistant in the corporate sector. Both of us were influenced by our father.”
• Ng Xin Pei, 19, from Bukit Mertajam, enrolled in the Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Accounting programme. For achieving 7As in UEC, she was rewarded with the WOU Bursary Award that offered her a 40% rebate on her total tuition fees.
Ng became interested in Accounting while at Jit Sin Independent High School, Bukit Mertajam. Her mother, a teacher at SMJK Jit Sin, and her sister, Ng Xin Rou, 26, who is currently pursuing part-time studies for the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Liberal Studies at WOU, encouraged her to enrol.
“I want to become accountant,” said Ng, the youngest of four kids, adding that the Bursary Award “will help relieve some of my parents’ financial burden regarding my studies”. Her father works as an assistant marketing manager with an automobile company in Butterworth.
• Chong Jun Sheng, 20, from Lengkok Erskine, Penang, registered for the Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (BBLC) course. He did his STPM in SMK Heng Ee.
“My tuition centre teacher told me that WOU is a good local university to study at if I do not want to go far away, and that it helps to hold a WOU degree. I would like to stay in Penang for my tertiary education.
“My uncle and aunty suggested that I take up this programme. They said that the degree will provide good job prospects and an attractive salary, and so I would not need to worry about my future. I want to work in logistics in the private sector once I graduate.”
Chong’s father is a sub-contractor in a furniture company, while his mother works as a sales promoter in a mall. He is the first to go to university as his sister is younger than him.
• Yeap Mun Keat, 22, from Mount Erskine, enrolled in the Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Banking & Finance course. He did his Diploma in Technology (Electronic Engineering) at Tunku Abdul Rahman University College and his SPM at SMJK Chung Ling, Penang. “I found out about WOU from my mother. She did some internet research and discovered that WOU offers full-time degree programmes that are quite affordable. Obviously price is a factor, and the place is also quite conducive to learning. My mother asked me to consider WOU and I agreed with her views.”
“I chose this programme because I like dealing with figures. My grandfather used to work in a bank and I find that I like the work environment of a bank,” explained Yeap, the elder of two kids.
His mother is a homemaker while his father works as chef in a hotel.
