Wawasan Open University, Almacrest sign pact
Published on: Friday, September 27, 2019
By: Kan Yaw Chong
KOTA KINABALU: In a smart partnership move to Sabah, Wawasan Open University (WOU) signed a collaboration agreement with Almacrest International College, Thursday, to set up its first regional learning centre in the State.
Professor Lily Chan, Chief Executive and Vice Chancellor, signed for WOU while CEO Stephanie Yen Chung Wai, signed for Almacrest International College, witnessed by Jimmy Chai, WOU’s Kuching Regional Centre Director and Dudi Pan Yen Far, AIC’s Deputy CEO.
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The agreement will enable the students of AIC and adult learners from Sabah to pursue university education via open distance learning (ODL) with WOU at Almacrest, noted Prof Chan.
“The move will strengthen WOU’s reach to the communities of Sabah and offer them relevant tertiary qualifications for career advancement,” she added.
Jimmy said that the initial offers in Sabah will be university standard management courses but the spectrum of courses at WOU go right up to Masters and PhD level qualifications encompassing science like electronics and computer where demand for such expertise are strong in industrial areas like Klang.
Chai said the barrier for entry can be as low as a Form 3 graduates who has a wealth of working experience where the necessary assessment deem them as good as A level candidates.
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As such, the arrival of WOU‘s regional learning centre at Almacrest makes every opportunity more possible for a lot more people in East Malaysia to pursue higher education to advance themselves, Chai said.
Prof Chan, who had spent years at the National University of Singapore in the field of immunology said that she took the plunge to join WOU when the opportunity arose.
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“Our partnership with Almacrest International College supports the University’s objective of breaking barriers to build stronger relationships with the people of East Malaysia and globalising its programmes,” she said.
Stressing that this is an online delivery of tertiary education across geographical areas recognised by the Ministry of Education, she said “ the strong partnership with Alamacrest will inspire many more Sabahans to invest in education to better their future.”
“I hope the collaboration at the local level will motivate employers and companies in Sabah to upskill and reskill their workforce for greater productivity.”
Citing the University’s strategic move to offer micro-credentials which enable students and professionals to take up particular courses to develop specific skills in different fields, Prof Chan explained:
“Micro-credentials provide competency-based recognition for the skills that students or professionals learn, regardless of how and where they learn them, “ she said.
“Learners can acquire broad employability skills and become technologically-minded workers who are flexible, organised and resourceful. ”
Meanwhile, Stephanie said a higher education with WOU benefits Sabahans.
“This collaboration goes in tandem with our vision of becoming an education hub here in Sabah, providing innovative courses to our potential students.”
“We are grateful for this opportunity to work with WOU in providing flexible learning modes for degrees and master’s qualifications,” she noted.
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