Jomo to get WOU award

> Economist recognised for scholastic skills, leadership in his field

GEORGE TOWN: Penang-born economist Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram ( pix) will be conferred the Honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Wawasan Open University (WOU) during its eighth convocation ceremony from Nov 23 to 25.

WOU chairman Datuk Seri Stephen Yeap said the 65-year-old is being recognised for his outstanding scholastic skills and his exceptional leadership on the economics front.

He said the sought after speaker was also an active contributor to the academic community in and outside Malaysia.

Jomo now holds the Tun Hussein Onn chair in International Studies at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies, a visiting senior fellow at Khazanah Research Institute, a visiting fellow at the Initiative for Policy Dialogue, Columbia University and also an adjunct professor at the International Islamic University Malaysia.

Jomo’s impressive resume stretches to the international arena where he has held the position of assistant directorgeneral and coordinator for Economic and Social Development, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations in Rome from 2012 to 2015 and also assistant secretary general for Economic Development, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, New York from 2005 to 2012.

“He has authored and edited over a hundred books and translated 12 volumes besides writing many academic papers and media articles,” Yeap told a press conference.

Also present was WOU vicechancellor Prof Datuk Ho Sinn Chye.

The eighth convocation this year will see a total of 668 graduates, the highest number to date, and the ceremony will be conducted in seven sessions – spread over the next three days.

Out of the 688 graduates, 40 will come from on-campus learning undergraduate programmes while the remaining 648 from the part-time, open distance learning programme of which 202 are from postgraduate level, and 446 from the undergraduate level with ages ranging from 23 to 76.

WOU has so far produced 2,409 graduates since its first convocation in 2010.