WOU provided a glimpse of its rigorous standard processes covering quality assurance, timetabling management, development of MOOCs and implementation of APEL (C) for credit transfer/course exemptions to the seven-member delegation from Al-Madinah International University (MEDIU) recently.
PROF HO WELCOMES THE DELEGATION FROM AL-MADINAH INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY.
The visit to the WOU main campus today was led by Deputy CEO for Research and Development, Assoc Prof Dr Abdul Rahim Ismail, and comprised Assistant Prof Dr Bakare Kazeem Kayode, Dean of University Development and Quality; Assoc Prof Norhayati Ahmad, Head of Quality Assurance Unit (QAU) and two QAU staff; Jafar Batiha from Academic Administrative Department; and Syazwan Khalis from Examination and Record Department.
Vice Chancellor Prof Dato’ Dr Ho Sinn Chye, Registrar cum Director of QA & External Relations Dr Andy Liew Teik Kooi and a few senior management staff met with the delegation to talk on specified areas of interest.
PROF HO TALKS ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY’S OPEN DISTANCE LEARNING MODEL FOR ITS PART-TIME STUDENTS.
Prof Ho briefed them about the QA protocols in WOU’s new programme and course development, delivery, assessment as well as learning support services, adding that QA is infused into all its planning and operations.
He spoke about the QA roles of the internal and external stakeholders involved in programme development, and also of the course development team in the development of every single course of the university. He stated that beside the statutory external auditors, WOU also appoints another team of external professional auditors to audit its internal operations and financial transactions on a regular basis.
On a different front, Prof Ho also informed the delegation that WOU is a leading advocate of OERs in Southeast Asia, and that all new courses are developed with OER in mind to enhance quality of the course materials, besides saving cost and time.
DR LIEW (FACING CAMERA, 2ND FROM RIGHT) ELABORATES ON APEL (C).
Dr Liew shared on the implementation of APEL (C) for credit transfer at WOU and mentioned the training provided by MQA on the submission of relevant documents and evidence. Senior Assistant Registrar Lim Swee Choo elaborated on issues related to teaching timetabling management.
The ensuing discussion further talked about WOU’s learner support services, tutorials and tutors, and digital bandwidth availability and stability for online delivery.
(FROM RIGHT) DR BAKARE, NORHAYATI AND HER TWO QAU STAFF, ALONG WITH JAFAR AND SYAZWAN.
The delegation highlighted challenges confronting MEDIU, which has become a dual-mode institution this year to facilitate both full-time, on-campus learning and part-time, online learning. It has 500-600 online students, mostly international from 90 nationalities across Middle-East, Africa and Europe, and some 1,000 on-campus students, half of them locals. It has to manage different time zones for its proctored, computer-based exams at the selected examination centres while making sure the correct person takes the exam.
MEDIU has invested in facilities as it prepares to move from Shah Alam to Desa Petaling. Despite enjoying a dual-mode status, the PTPTN loan is only allowed for the online learning students. However one advantage seems to be that they can design new face-to-face programmes and courses, even though the new subjects have not been offered online.
PROF HO (RIGHT) PRESENTS THE UNIVERSITY’S COFFEE TABLE BOOK, DEPICTING THE HOMESTEAD BUILDING AND THE MAIN CAMPUS, TO DR ABDUL RAHIM,
The meeting concluded with a suggestion of signing a MoU to facilitate areas of collaboration between both institutions.
