UMS, first in M’sia supported by Commonwealth of Learning

KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) became the first public university in Malaysia to be supported by Commonwealth of Learning (COL) with regard to Policy Development on Technology Enabled Learning.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr D Kamarudin D Mudin said UMS had signed an agreement with the COL which was endorsed on January 29 this year and this had opened the way forward for the process of development and implementation of UMS Technology Enabled Learning Policy.

“The COL is an intergovernmental organization of the Commonwealth of Nations, which was founded in 1988 with the objective of developing standards for enhancing Teaching & Learning with Technology and we at UMS are privileged to have been granted access to their vast expertise,” he said in his speech while officiating at the UMS Policy Development for Technology - Enable Workshop here on Monday.

He said the establishment of the UMS Teaching Enabled Learning policy was in line with the Ministry of Higher Education’s DEPAN 2.0, the 10 shifts in the Malaysian Education Blueprint for Higher Education (2015-2025) which highlights the relevance of globalized online education, life-long learning and graduates who are futureproof.

“As we view the world from the perspective of the current Industrial Revolution 4.0 which is sweeping across every aspect of our lives, we need to respond to the increasing need for knowledge and skills that are pertinent; and knowledge that evolves to meet the needs of UMS students who must constantly redefine their cognitive skills to meet the challenges of an increasingly competitive future,”Kamarudin added.

Speaking before 50 participants from among educators, administrator and technical experts who represent the leading edge of UMS, he encouraged them together with him to mutually strive to enhance the quality of teaching and learning among students.

“I call upon all my fellow colleagues to contribute wholeheartedly to the process of policy development in this workshop,” he said.

The two-day workshop was facilitated by Education Specialist for E-learning COL from Vancouver, Canada, Dr Sanjaya Mishra.

It was organised by a joint collaboration between the Centre for e-Learning with the Centre for Teaching Excellence & Academic Quality and the Department of Information Technology & Communication of UMS.

Also present was Deputy ViceChancellor of Student Affairs and Alumni, Professor Dr Ismail Ali.