USM PENANG, 22 June 2022 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) via the School of Distance Education (PPPJJ) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU).

The MoU was signed through a virtual ceremony conducted using the Zoom video conferencing platform.

The purpose of signing was to gain a better understanding of UPOU’s expertise and capabilities in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and to seek possible collaboration between UPOU and the USM School of Distance Education.

With the MoU, the collaboration focuses on the importance of innovative initiatives in encouraging strategic collaboration and partnership, facilitating the transfer of skills and expertise, and to explore joint academic activities.

USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic and International, Professor Dato’ Gs. Dr. Narimah Samat signed the MoU on behalf of the university, which stated objectives that include joint research, training and seminar on ODL, paper review and membership in Journal Editorial Boards, guest lectureship in different academic programmes, membership in advisory panel and committee in doctoral degree, visiting Professorship Programme and academic and administrative staff exchange programme, as well as student exchange/joint postgraduate seminars.

According to Narimah, the collaboration between USM and UPOU is seen also as an important means to enrich the capacity of open distance education for both institutions by nurturing the research culture (research acculturation) and establishing a good network of cooperation between higher education institutions in general.

“I hope that this collaboration can evolve so that, not only can our lecturers and those from UPOU benefit from it, but our students can also be more involved and gain more knowledge and experience on ODL and any related know-how from UPOU.

“I am confident that this MoU will further strengthen the partnership between USM and UPOU in moving towards a stronger and sustainable long-term collaboration,” she added.

Meanwhile, UPOU Chancellor, Professor Dr. Melinda dP. Bandalaria said, “I am confident that as we navigate through the dynamics of the new normal, which can be described as living in harmony with the COVID-19 virus, we will be able to plan specific activities under the other areas of collaboration which we had identified, in order to be more innovative in terms of strategies or mechanisms as we implement these activities.”

Melinda added that both universities are adept in maximizing and empowering affordances of the modern Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) network, as there is not much distance separating the Philippines and Malaysia, and both have the required resources to make this partnership work.

Also present were the UPOU Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Professor Dr. Primo G. Garcia; UPOU Vice-Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Professor Dr. Jean A. Saludadez; Dean, UPOU Faculty of Management and Development Studies, Professor Dr. Joane V. Serrano; Dean, School of Distance Education, Associate Professor Dr. Zulnadi Yaacob, and principal officers of USM and UPOU.

Text: Nur Farrah Ezlin Mohd Suhaimi