Diversity rules at the ‘University for All’
THE 26th convocation will be a significant milestone for Open University Malaysia (OUM) in living up to its motto of being a “University for All”.
Meritorious award will be conferred upon two distinguished personalities – one Malaysian and the other, a Sri Lankan.
Former Deputy Inspector-general of Police Tan Sri Mazlan Lazim will receive the meritorious award in Strategic Management while the chief executive officer of the International Institute of Health Sciences (IIHS) Sri Lanka, Dr Kithsiri Edirisinghe, will receive the meritorious award in Health Sciences.
IIHS is the only institute that provides higher education for nursing specialties in Sri Lanka.
Over 4,000 nurses from Sri Lanka have graduated from OUM through a collaboration between OUM and IIHS.
A 71-year-old Terengganu native, Mohamad Ali, will receive a Lifelong Learning Award.
“I was 68 when I registered at OUM. I’m active in a university alumni association, a retiree association, and a few cooperatives in Terengganu so I felt the need to improve my knowledge to motivate those that I meet in daily life.
“Lifelong learning is very important for the elderly like me,” said Mohamad.
Dr Ch’ng Hui Lin, 32, is ecstatic about receiving her Doctor of Philosophy (Arts).
The chief executive officer and co-founder of Micfront Academy of Public Speaking in Selangor said, “I completed my Master of Counselling at OUM in 2015 and got a distinction, so I thought why not try to apply for a PHD and also the scholarship from Mybrain15?
“The scholarship was approved and there
was no turning back.”
Meanwhile, managing director of a travel agency, Kamarun Zaman Ab Rahaman, 63, and maintenance supervisor, Hanzalah Zol Hamidy, 36, are OUM’S pioneer APEL Q graduates.
Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning for Award of Academic Qualifications (APEL Q) provides a pathway for working professionals to convert their working experience into a recognised qualification.
“The formal knowledge that I acquired at OUM has added value to enhance my travel agency business, which I set up 25 years ago,” said Kamarun Zaman, who is graduating with a Bachelor of Tourism Management with Honours degree.
Hanzalah, who studied Bachelor of Manufacturing Management, added, “APEL Q has made a significant impact on my career and life. I highly recommend it to anyone interested out there.”
Five inmates from the Kajang Prison will also be receiving their scrolls at the convocation.
Two of them studied Bachelor of Business Administration while the remaining three pursued Diploma in Management.
One of the Diploma in Management graduates said, “When I found out that prison inmates are given a chance to continue their studies, I told my parents about it.
“They said I should try it since everyone else in my family is educated.
“I decided to study to make them happy and proud and at the same time, not waste my time while in prison.”
A private university with the aim of enabling anyone and everyone to study anytime anywhere, OUM provides higher education through online learning.
Classes, presentations, discussions, and even examinations are conducted online.
This is ideal for working adults as it enables them to work and study at the same time.
All of its programmes are recognised by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency, Public Service Department, and various professional bodies. Support services are provided through 35 learning centres nationwide.
OUM also provides its programmes abroad through strategic partnerships with foreign institutions of higher learning in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Ghana, Somalia, Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates.
With this convocation, OUM will have produced approximately 98,000 local and 7,000 foreign graduates.
“The formal knowledge that I acquired at OUM has added value to enhance my travel agency business, which I set up 25 years ago.”
Kamarun Zaman ab rahaman
For information on OUM programmes, call 03-7801 2000, email enquiries@oum.edu.my or visit www.oum.edu.my