CONTENTS 2 Board of Governors Chairman's Message 25 Regional Office Directors 3 - 5 Vice Chancellors Message 26 - 42 Academic Profile 6 - 9 The Continuing Years of WOU 43 - 46 Academic Support 10 Vision, Mission & Values 47 - 57 Operational Support 11 Governance 58 - 59 Strategic Partnerships 12 Chancellor 60 - 61 Conferences & Workshops 13 Governance Structure 62 Public Talks 14 - 15 Wawasan Education Foundation 63 Arts Events 16 - 18 The Council 64 Towards A Quality Environment 19 International Advisory Board 65 Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives 20 Organisational Structure 66 Student Enrolment & Graduation 21 - 22 The Senate 67 Study Grants & Scholarships 23 - 24 Management Board 68 - 108 Financial Statements 2 WOU BIENNIAL REPORT 2010 & 2011 BOARD OF GOVERNORS CHAIRMANS MESSAGE Tan Sri Emeritus Prof Dr Gajaraj Dhanarajan Chairman, Board of Governors Wawasan Open University I am pleased to present the biennial report for the years This report records the accomplishments and 2010 and 2011 of the Wawasan Open University on achievements of the University during the last biennium behalf of the Board of Governors of the University. This (2010-2011). It is a proud record of a University that has is in compliance with the expectations of the Wawasan clearly established itself as a provider of quality higher Education Foundation and the Ministry of Higher education using distance education methods suited Education, Malaysia. This is also the third such report of to the work and lifestyle of adult Malaysians. The the University, which was established in 2006 under the accreditation of the Universitys initial offer of 13 Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996 (Act programmes at the undergraduate and postgraduate 555) of the Government of Malaysia. levels by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency, as well as the respect of regional and global peers are testaments The work recorded and reported by the University was to both the quality and dynamism of the Universitys mostly carried out during the governance of the Wawasan leadership and staff. These last two years and the three Open University Council, under the chairmanship of Tun before it have laid the foundations for orderly growth Dr Lim Keng Yaik, the force behind the setting up of and progress of the University in the ever-expanding this University with the noble aims as articulated eloquently higher education sector of Malaysia. While the University by the Vice Chancellor Prof Dato Dr Wong Tat Meng in has come a long way, this report also signals its his report. preparation to meet the challenges of the future with confidence and knowledge that its mission is noble and In compliance with the new constitution mandated by its goals achievable. the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia the Council of the Wawasan Open University ceased to exist as of I commend this report for your reading. 31 July 2011. The Board of Governors of the University of which I have the pleasure of chairing has replaced it. WOU BIENNIAL REPORT 2010 & 2011 3 VICE CHANCELLORS MESSAGE Prof Dato Dr Wong Tat Meng Vice Chancellor & Chief Executive Officer Wawasan Open University The period January 2010 to December 2011 saw the The AAOU is a 25-year-old organisation whose University maturing as an established provider of higher membership includes all the major Open Universities of education for the countrys adult workforce, while Asia as well as many major Open Universities from developing a high reputation nationally and regionally Europe, America, Africa and Oceania. In 2010, total for the quality of the learning experience it provides to students enrolled in this 64 institution-membered students, its quality assurance systems and practices as organisation exceeded 12 million. well as the quality of the programmes it offers. During this period, active student enrolment continued to grow It is thus a great honour for WOU to be leading this at a healthy rate. The year on year growth for the period well-established and highly reputable organisation. As averaged an encouraging 22%. Fee revenue grew at an the lead institution of AAOU, WOUs profile has been annual rate of 24% to reach RM14.07 million for financial considerably enhanced in the eyes of the global ODL year 2011. community. During the second half of 2010, the Universitys reputation The period also saw us increasing our programme for quality received a welcome boost when the Malaysian offerings from 14 in July 2009 to 39 by the end of 2011. Qualifications Agency (MQA), in a nationwide review of These programmes are offered at sub-degree, degree the academic performance of all public and private and postgraduate levels to meet the diverse needs of universities and university colleges using nine (9) standards the Malaysian adult workforce. We have also increased and widely accepted areas of evaluation, awarded the our geographical coverage through the establishment University with 27 commendations, 12 affirmations and of our first Regional Office in Kuching to bring educational identified only two minor items where improvements opportunities to the adults of East Malaysia, and an were recommended. For a young institution that had additional Regional sub-office at Bandar Utama to better not quite produced its first batch of graduates, this was serve the students in the Klang Valley. Meanwhile, the a very commendable achievement indeed. quality of our learner support services has been further enhanced by the introduction of new facilities such as Similarly, the reputation of the University among its ODL the online submission of assignments and online re- peers was boosted by the election of its Vice Chancellor enrolment of courses together with online fee payment as President of the well-established Asian Association of facilities for those with credit cards for continuing students. Open Universities (AAOU). These were all generally well received by our students. 4 WOU BIENNIAL REPORT 2010 & 2011 VICE CHANCELLORS MESSAGE Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaiks appointment as Chancellor was very well received by the wider Malaysian community as it was his great vision and tenacity that led to the establishment and rapid growth of WOU as a quality Higher Education Provider. We look forward to benefitting from his vast experience and visionary leadership for many more years to come. As Chairman of the Universitys Council from 2005 to 2010, Tun LKY was noted for his hands off leadership approach, ensuring that the University was provided with the necessary resource support while never interfering in the institutions academic policies and operational processes. Hopefully, the Universitys governing board will continue with Tun Dr Lims enlightened leadership approaches that has facilitated the institutions rapid development during the early years. Tun Dr Lims formal installation took place on 19 November 2011, which was followed by the 23 October 2010 was a very auspicious day during our Universitys second convocation ceremony that saw the Universitys short history as it marked our inaugural graduation of our pioneer batch of 70 Bachelors degree convocation for the conferment of degrees for graduates holders. of the Commonwealth Executive Master of Business Administration (CeMBA) programme. In a modest but Prior to the convocation, news was received from the dignified and meaningful ceremony held at the Penang MQA regarding the award of accreditation status for Campus, a total of 38 MBA graduates proudly walked the initial suite of 11 Bachelors degree programmes first across the stage to receive their scrolls. Of these, six offered in 2007 and for the CeMPA programme. These were admitted through the Open entry admission programmmes that had earlier undertaken the system. full accreditation exercise were all awarded full accreditation status by the MQA and subsequently The inaugural convocation ceremony signalled our coming accorded recognition by the Public Service Department of age as an institution of higher learning. In our second [Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA)], thereby confirming convocation ceremony, we witnessed the graduation of the quality and recognition of the Universitys academic our four pioneering graduates of the Commonwealth programmes. With both MQA accreditation and JPA Executive Master of Public Administration (CeMPA) recognition secured, there should no longer be programme together with the second batch of 76 CeMBA any concerns by the Malaysian workforce and their graduates. We are proud to add another 80 highly employers as to the quality of the programmes motivated and trained individuals to the countrys talent offered by WOU. Over the next few years, other WOU pool as these talented individuals are not only programmes are expected to follow this course of knowledgeable and highly skilled but they are enriched development as more of our students currently enrolled by many years of workplace experience! into other programmes will complete their studies and graduate. In November 2010, we were saddened by the passing of our founding Chancellor, Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu. He was an extraordinary statesman who was well respected by the community. The University is much indebted to him for his enthusiastic support as well as his wise counsel and guidance. The loss of the late Tun Lim was somewhat ameliorated when Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik accepted the Universitys invitation to serve as its 2nd Chancellor. WOU BIENNIAL REPORT 2010 & 2011 5 VICE CHANCELLORS MESSAGE On 18 November 2011, we also welcomed the formal Through international events and partnerships such as establishment of the WOU Alumni Association with the these, we aim to continuously enhance academic holding of its inaugural Annual General Meeting attended standards, equip ourselves with current knowledge and by some 42 founding members. I congratulate 2010 implement best practices in ODL for the benefit of our CeMBA graduate Harry Ho on his election as the Alumnis students and their employers. founding President. We look forward to working closely with him and his Executive Committee on the future The recognition of our qualifications by the JPA following development of the University.