Latest news with #OUM
The Star
12-08-2025
- General
- The Star
OUM CELEBRATES 25 YEARS WITH GLOBAL THOUGHT LEADERS
(Clockwise from left) Prof Emeritus Paul Prinsloo, Prof Olaf Zawacki-Richter, Prof Emeritus Junhong Xiao, Prof Insung Jung and Prof Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria were part of OUM's public lecture series on Aug 6. EDUCATION is being reshaped by artificial intelligence in ways that do not always affirm the human at the heart of teaching and learning. In response, Open University Malaysia (OUM) offered a timely intervention through a public lecture series titled 'Visionary Leadership: Charting the Futures of Digital Education'. The event, held on Aug 6 at the Seri Pacific Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, was officiated by Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, bringing together five OUM Global Fellows to reimagine digital education as a technology-mediated practice. Prof Emeritus Paul Prinsloo opened with '(Re)discovering the Human in Algorithmic-Informed Open, Distance, and Digital Learning', urging educators to examine algorithmic threats to care and connection while reclaiming open education's core values of access and inclusion. Prof Emeritus Junhong Xiao followed with 'Humanising Digital Education or Digitalising Human Education: That is the Question', cautioning against overvaluing automation over relational and instructional core. In 'Rethinking Institutional Leadership Through the Lens of the University of the Future', Prof Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria reflected on how universities can remain adaptive and inclusive while grounded in their traditional roles, emphasising leadership capable of navigating volatility and disruption. Prof Olaf Zawacki-Richter's lecture, 'What Can Open, Distance, and Digital Education (ODDE) Contribute to a Sustainable Future?' highlighted ODDE's potential to support environmental, social and financial sustainability while cautioning that unchecked technological growth threatens equity and the planet. He called for the use of sustainable technology and 'digital sufficiency' to keep the human element at the centre of education. The public lecture series concluded with Prof Insung Jung's 'Education for All or for the Few? The Promise and Perils of Going Digital', which addressed how unequal access and design bias can entrench disparities, calling for strategies to ensure that technology broadens opportunity rather than narrows it. The closing roundtable affirmed that the future of digital education depends on leadership that is both institutional and radically distributed. This requires university leaders, educators, academics, learners and communities to actively co-shape education, rather than wait for solutions to be handed down. Such leadership must ensure that digital education remains anchored in its human core amid competing futures. OUM president and vice-chancellor Prof Ahmad Izanee Awang described the public lecture series as a milestone, reinforcing OUM's leadership in open, distance and digital education. He highlighted that the Centre for Digital Education Futures (CENDEF), OUM's newly established think tank, plays a key role in guiding the university into the future of digital education. Since 2000, OUM has enrolled over 250,000 learners and produced more than 100,000 alumni. Its innovations, including the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning, demonstrate its commitment to inclusion, flexibility and lifelong learning. OUM's 25th anniversary event further affirms that digital education, when critically guided, can remain expansive, ethical and deeply human. For more information, visit or e-mail enquiries@
The Star
08-06-2025
- The Star
From jail to a PhD
History was made at the Open University Malaysia (OUM) 29th Convocation when a former inmate received his doctorate from the varsity's pro chancellor Tan Sri Azman Hashim. The first graduate to complete his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) studies behind bars, his journey was nothing short of remarkable. Detained at Kajang Prison in 2001 when he was just 14, M.Y.* walked proudly across the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur stage to receive his hard-earned PhD in Business Administration scroll on May 3. The 38-year-old, who was held under Tahanan Limpah Sultan, was illiterate when he first arrived in prison. Undeterred, he taught himself the basics, sat for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) exams, and began his higher education with OUM in 2009. Over 16 years, he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration, followed by a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), and eventually completed his PhD – all while behind bars. He was granted a royal pardon by the Sultan of Selangor last December. During the convocation, two senior learners were honoured with the Lifelong Learning Award. Yusof Haron, 73, from Perak, earned a Master of Islamic Studies, while Tang Tung Khing, 79, from Sibu, completed a Bachelor of Communication with honours – proving that the pursuit of knowledge knows no age limit. Another standout graduate, Gomathy Sankaran – a Science teacher at SJK(T) Kangkar Pulai in Johor Baru – received her Doctor of Education. With 87 inventions to her name, including herbal hair oil, soap, serum, candles, coffee, as well as organic fertiliser and pesticides, she has won over 220 local and international awards from countries like Canada, Iran, India, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong. Held from May 3 to 7, the 29th Convocation of OUM – a university known for its online programmes tailored for working adults – saw a total of 7,915 graduates receive their scrolls across 10 sessions. Among them were three Kajang Prison inmates, who earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) and Diplomas in Management – a powerful reminder of education's reach beyond bars. *Note: Pseudonym used to protect the privacy of the graduate
New Straits Times
04-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Three Kajang Prison inmates receive degree, diploma scrolls
KUALA LUMPUR: Three Open University Malaysia (OUM) students who received their degree and diploma scrolls today proved that incarceration is not an excuse for abandoning one's education. Siva, Shankar and Suresh (not their real names), inmates at Kajang Prison, were among the graduates celebrated at OUM's 29th Convocation Ceremony at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre, here. Suresh, 31, who has been serving a life sentence since 2011 at the age of 17 as a Tahanan Limpah Sultan (LTS), began his educational journey in prison in 2014 with the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, which he passed with flying colours. "I thought my future was over. But after sitting for the SPM at Sekolah Integriti Kajang, I was one of the top students… and was offered to pursue a Diploma in Business Management at OUM, fully sponsored by the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra)," he told reporters after the convocation ceremony. Pursuing a bachelor's degree in business administration, Suresh hopes this achievement will inspire other inmates to continue seeking knowledge. Meanwhile, Shankar, 34, who earned a Diploma in Business Management, said prison's strict rules and unique learning environment did not deter him from achieving academic success. "Suresh and I began our studies in 2019, but the Covid-19 pandemic forced us to postpone them for a year and a half. When classes resumed, everything was conducted online. "There were many challenges, but the (prison) officers and lecturers were extremely helpful. They provided various things to facilitate our studies, such as computers, internet access, and learning materials," he said, adding that he is also pursuing a bachelor's degree in business administration. Shankar, who has been in prison since 2018, aspires to start a business once he completes the remaining eight months of his sentence. Meanwhile, Siva, 36, who has been serving an 18-year prison sentence since 2010, said that his achievement of graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours is due to continuous support from his family, prison officers, and lecturers. "I was pursuing diploma studies outside, but didn't complete them. After coming here, I found out that there was an opportunity to continue studying. My family encouraged me, so I resumed my studies. "Once I completed that, I went on to finish my degree and that motivated me to pursue a master's degree in Business Administration," he added.
The Sun
04-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
3 Kajang inmates achieve academic success
KUALA LUMPUR: Three Open University Malaysia (OUM) students who received their degree and diploma scrolls today proved that incarceration is not an excuse for abandoning one's education. Siva, Shankar and Suresh (not their real names), inmates at Kajang Prison, were among the graduates celebrated at OUM's 29th Convocation Ceremony at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre, here. Suresh, 31, who has been serving a life sentence since 2011 at the age of 17 as a Tahanan Limpah Sultan (LTS), began his educational journey in prison in 2014 with the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, which he passed with flying colours. 'I thought my future was over. But after sitting for the SPM at Sekolah Integriti Kajang, I was one of the top students... and was offered to pursue a Diploma in Business Management at OUM, fully sponsored by the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (MITRA),' he told reporters after the convocation ceremony. Pursuing a bachelor's degree in business administration, Suresh hopes this achievement will inspire other inmates to continue seeking knowledge. Meanwhile, Shankar, 34, who earned a Diploma in Business Management, said prison's strict rules and unique learning environment did not deter him from achieving academic success. 'Suresh and I began our studies in 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to postpone them for a year and a half. When classes resumed, everything was conducted online. 'There were many challenges, but the (prison) officers and lecturers were extremely helpful. They provided various things to facilitate our studies such as computers, internet access, and learning materials,' he said, adding that he is also pursuing a bachelor's degree in business administration. Shankar, who has been in prison since 2018, aspires to start a business once he completes the remaining eight months of his sentence. Meanwhile, Siva, 36, who has been serving an 18-year prison sentence since 2010, said that his achievement of graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours is due to continuous support from his family, prison officers, and lecturers. 'I was pursuing diploma studies outside, but didn't complete them. After coming here, I found out that there was an opportunity to continue studying. My family encouraged me to take it up, so I resumed my studies. 'Once I completed that, I went on to finish my degree and that motivated me to pursue a master's degree in Business Administration,' he added. He also expressed his gratitude to all the officers for helping him find materials to finish his assignments on time.
The Sun
04-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Three Kajang inmates achieve academic success
KUALA LUMPUR: Three Open University Malaysia (OUM) students who received their degree and diploma scrolls today proved that incarceration is not an excuse for abandoning one's education. Siva, Shankar and Suresh (not their real names), inmates at Kajang Prison, were among the graduates celebrated at OUM's 29th Convocation Ceremony at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre, here. Suresh, 31, who has been serving a life sentence since 2011 at the age of 17 as a Tahanan Limpah Sultan (LTS), began his educational journey in prison in 2014 with the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, which he passed with flying colours. 'I thought my future was over. But after sitting for the SPM at Sekolah Integriti Kajang, I was one of the top students... and was offered to pursue a Diploma in Business Management at OUM, fully sponsored by the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (MITRA),' he told reporters after the convocation ceremony. Pursuing a bachelor's degree in business administration, Suresh hopes this achievement will inspire other inmates to continue seeking knowledge. Meanwhile, Shankar, 34, who earned a Diploma in Business Management, said prison's strict rules and unique learning environment did not deter him from achieving academic success. 'Suresh and I began our studies in 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to postpone them for a year and a half. When classes resumed, everything was conducted online. 'There were many challenges, but the (prison) officers and lecturers were extremely helpful. They provided various things to facilitate our studies such as computers, internet access, and learning materials,' he said, adding that he is also pursuing a bachelor's degree in business administration. Shankar, who has been in prison since 2018, aspires to start a business once he completes the remaining eight months of his sentence. Meanwhile, Siva, 36, who has been serving an 18-year prison sentence since 2010, said that his achievement of graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours is due to continuous support from his family, prison officers, and lecturers. 'I was pursuing diploma studies outside, but didn't complete them. After coming here, I found out that there was an opportunity to continue studying. My family encouraged me to take it up, so I resumed my studies. 'Once I completed that, I went on to finish my degree and that motivated me to pursue a master's degree in Business Administration,' he added. He also expressed his gratitude to all the officers for helping him find materials to finish his assignments on time.
