Wawasan Open University

Wawasan Open University
Universiti Terbuka Wawasan  (Malay)
宏愿开放大学 (Chinese)
Type Private
Established 2006
Location Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia
Colours Light Green, and Dark Green
Affiliations AAOU,[1] ICDE[2]
Website www.wou.edu.my
Wawasan Open University Main Campus in Penang, Malaysia

Introduction

Wawasan Open University Main Campus in Penang, Malaysia

Wawasan Open University (WOU; Malay: Universiti Terbuka Wawasan) is a private university in Malaysia that provides working adults with access to higher education via open distance learning (ODL). It was established in 2006 and enrolled its first batch of students in 2007.[3][4] In September 2013, WOU began to also offer full-time degree programmes to STPM school leavers and diploma holders at its Main Campus in Penang.[5]

Academic programmes and accreditation

The university currently offers a large number of part-time programmes at the undergraduate and postgraduate level. The programmes include management, accounting, banking and finance, sales and marketing, psychology, liberal studies, English studies, construction management, electronics, manufacturing management, and education (including early childhood education).[6]

The university also offers six full-time Bachelor's degree programmes at its campus in Penang in the fields of management, accounting, sales and marketing, banking and finance, logistics and supply chain management, and computer systems and networks.[7]

All WOU programmes are accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and approved by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE). WOU achieved a Tier-5 or "Excellent" rating in the SETARA local university ranking exercise conducted by the MOHE in 2011 and 2013.[8]

Campus

The university's main campus is located by the sea in the northeastern part of Penang Island, Malaysia. The main campus consists of two buildings: a heritage mansion called Homestead and the modern 12-storey Al-Bukhary Building. In addition to its main campus in Penang, WOU operates four regional centres in Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Kuching to support its distance learners located in and around those cities. It also has two smaller regional support centres in Bandar Utama and Klang.

Faculties

There are four schools in Wawasan Open University:

  • School of Science and Technology
  • School of Education, Languages and Communications
  • School of Business and Administration
  • School of Humanities and Social Sciences

WOU also has the following centres and institute:

  • Centre for Graduate Studies
  • Centre for Professional Development and Continuing Education (PACE)
  • Institute for Research and Innovation (IRI)

Administration

Vice-chancellor and chief executive officer

Professor Dato’ Dr Ho Sinn Chye was installed as the third vice-chancellor of Wawasan Open University on 1 October 2012.[9] He left the university at the end of 2017. Currently, the acting vice-chancellor of the university is Prof Dr Zoraini Wati Abas.

Chancellor

The former Chief Justice of Malaysia, Tun Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah was formally installed as the third chancellor on 7 December 2013.[10]

Pro-chancellor

The pro-chancellor is Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, who is a former Chief Minister of Penang and former president of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia.[11] He is also presently the chairman of the university's Board of Governors, taking over from Tan Sri Emeritus Prof Gajaraj Dhanarajan in March 2017.

References

  1. ↑ "Full Members of Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU)". Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU). Archived from the original on 6 May 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  2. ↑ "Members of International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE)". International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE). Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  3. ↑ "Wawasan College to start enrolment soon - Nation | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2018-08-13.
  4. ↑ "Wawasan Open U opens doors on Jan 22 - Nation | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2018-08-13.
  5. ↑ "Full-time degrees a milestone for WOU". www.thesundaily.my. Retrieved 2018-08-13.
  6. ↑ "Part-Time Study Programmes". Home. Retrieved 2018-08-13.
  7. ↑ "Full-Time Study Programmes". Home. Retrieved 2018-08-13.
  8. ↑ "Wawasan offering 10th anniversary rebates". BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News. 2017-02-01. Retrieved 2018-08-13.
  9. ↑ "Third Vice Chancellor of Wawasan Open University". Archived from the original on 1 July 2014.
  10. ↑ "3rd Chancellor of Wawasan Open University". Archived from the original on 2 July 2014.
  11. ↑ "WOU proclaims Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon as its first Pro-Chancellor". Home. Retrieved 2018-08-13.
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