PENANG, August 2014 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has received a total of 1,530 new students for the 2014/2015 intake of the Distance Education Programme (DEP).

Of the total, students majoring in Management have the highest number of 516; this was followed by Social Sciences (404), Science (386), and Literature (224).

Among the Distance Education Programme enrolment for this academic session are two students with special needs (OKU) from Perak and Johor respectively.

“We have changed the new distance education programmes curriculum system in accordance with the current development as required by the university, that is a total of 120 units for graduation as full-time students,” said Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman during the Welcoming Ceremony and the Swearing-in of New Students of USM School of Distance Education here recently.

He also said the number of students who show an interest in the fields of Science and Management is increasing as indicated by the increase in the number of applications received by USM.

“If you look at those changes in trend, teachers once formed the bulk of Distance Education students but now there were more from the industry or government departments and agencies.

“USM does not intend to increase the number of students offered here in the future because we are more concerned with quality than quantity,” he said.

Speaking on the results of the full-time First Degree which is scheduled to be out at noon today, Omar said that a total of 5,300 people received offer from USM out of a total of 21,000 applications.

Omar advised and hoped that the students are able to make wise choices to determine their own future.

For those who did not receive an offer from USM, they can make an appeal on the application but it is subject to availability of places at USM.

For those with special cases that require referrals, they may contact USM Student Admissions for details. - Translation: Yong Check Yoon/Text: Suhaili Mohd Zaini and Nur Atiqah Dalbadalsa Merican/Photo: Mohd Fairus Md Isa