Students should ideally use their time at university to acquire knowledge, cultivate ethical behaviour and learn good communication skills.
This was the message from the Chief Operating Officer cum Registrar, Yeong Sik Kheong, to the new students of Wawasan Open University from the February 2020 intake for on-campus learning (OCL). He was speaking to 36 freshmen who attended the orientation at the seaside campus on 7 February 2020.
YEONG DELIVERS HIS OPENING SPEECH.
In his opening remarks, he offered three pieces of advice while reinforcing WOU’s new tagline, ‘Think Tomorrow’ as he asked the students to think about the future.
“Acquire your knowledge. Think about your future employability in the market. Or if you want to be an entrepreneur, think about how to acquire knowledge to be self-employed, start your own business, start your own venture,” he remarked.
He said they can acquire knowledge through the lecturers, courseware and the Internet, and suggested they also discover their aptitude, what they are good at. “Prepare for your employability or your entrepreneurship in three or four years’ time,” stressed Yeong.
ACADEMICS AND THE FRESHMEN AT THE OPENING SESSION OF THE ORIENTATION.
He mentioned the importance of cultivating good behaviour at university so that this becomes their guardrail in life. “Honesty, accountability, responsibility. Cultivate your behaviour so that you will take this with you. University is just not about getting a degree. It is about acquiring knowledge, building up your behaviour and character.”
YEONG ADVISES THE NEW STUDENTS TO MAKE BEST USE OF THEIR TIME AT WOU TO BUILD THEMSELVES UP FOR FUTURE EMPLOYABILITY.
His final advice was regarding communication. “You can be very technically competent but if you are unable to communicate or express yourself, or you live in isolation, that is a drawback.” He elaborated that the university environment is like a community where they can expand their social interactions and build up leadership skills.
Yeong concluded: “Acquire your knowledge here, cultivate your behavior. Communicate, learn to express yourself. Grab every opportunity in the classroom to speak.” He assured them of the university’s support to ensure that they succeed.
YEONG AND RINA JULIAN (2ND FROM LEFT) GIVE THE THUMBS-UP TO THE DEAN’S LIST AWARD RECIPIENTS.
There was a presentation of certificates by Yeong to recipients of the Dean’s List award for the May 2019 semester. A total of 40 students were named to the Dean’s List for their excellent academic results.
Earlier, Penang Regional Centre Assistant Manager Rina Julian Nazrin Julian welcomed the freshmen and introduced her team. The orientation also saw Boonvanraj Jegathesan, 21, from the Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Management programme, leading the new students in the oath-taking.
BOONVANRAJ LEAD THE NEW STUDENTS IN THE OATH-TAKING.
Also present were School of Business & Administration Acting Dean Prakash Arumugam, School of Humanities & Socials Sciences Deputy Dean Jasmine Emmanuel, and the various course coordinators.
