ChancellorYABhg Datin Paduka Seri Jeanne Abdullah

Pro ChancellorYBhg Tan Sri Dato' Azman Hashim

Group Management CommitteeYBhg Prof Tan Sri Anuwar AliPresident/Vice-Chancellor

YBhg Prof Dr Mansor FadzilSenior Vice President

YBhg Prof Ir Dr Rosli HamirVice President(Learner Management & Campus Development)

Repin IbrahimSenior General Manager(Business Development & Management Services)

Che Omar Ahmat @ AhmadFinancial Controller/Bursar

Kamariah Mohd NoorGeneral Manager/Registrar

Prof Dr Ahmad HashemGeneral Manager (Technology)

Prof Ramli BahroomGeneral Manager (Corporate Planning)

Editorial TeamAdvisorYBhg Prof Tan Sri Anuwar AliPresident/Vice-Chancellor

Chief EditorKamariah Mohd NoorGeneral Manager/Registrar

EditorYBhg Datin Teh Raqamah AbdullahDirector, Corporate Relations Unit

Associate EditorsAssoc Prof Hazidi Abdul HamidFaculty of Education & Languages

Rahmah DaudManager, Corporate Relations Unit

Siti Farina Sheikh MohamedFaculty of Education & Languages

Norfardilawati MusaFaculty of Applied Social Sciences

Azeezah Jameelah Mohd MohideenSenior Executive, Editorial Unit

Fatimah IbrahimSenior Executive (Quality Assurance)

All rights reserved. No part of this pulication may be used or reproduced in any form orby any means, including but not limited to electronic or mechanical photocopying,recording or by any information storage or retrieval system or otherwise, withoutprior agreement and written permission from the publisher.

WriterGowri VenkatesanSenior Executive, Corporate Relations Unit

PhotographerAzizan JamaludinCorporate Relations Unit

Contact Us:OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIAJalan Tun Ismail, 50480 Kuala LumpurTel: 603.2773.2045 Fax: 603.2697.8825E-mail: pro@oum.edu.my

OUM Today is published by Open University Malaysia,a member of METEOR Group of Companies.

www.oum.edu.myThe electronic version is accessible at

Building Capacity Across Nations UM’s motto, University for All, has a special meaning for the University. In simple terms, it means the University’s doors are open to anyone who wants to obtain tertiary qualification.

Thus far, we have been relatively successful in making our programmes available, accessible and affordable for Malaysians, be they in rural or urban areas. We have learning centres in every state except Perlis. We have learners from both the public and private sectors. Our youngest learners are in their twenties while some of our senior learners are way past retirement.

These are all achievements that we are proud of. It thrills us to see the University being accepted as a reputable and credible institution of higher learning by an increasing number of Malaysians. However, our efforts to make OUM a “University for All” do not stop within our borders. We have set our sights even further.

It is with this in mind that we began exploring options of providing education to people in other nations. If they could not come to us, we would go to them. If they have the desire to improve their career prospects and enhance their marketability, OUM wants to play a part in making that desire a reality. Consequently, we now have an outfit called OUM International which focuses specifically on the provision of tertiary education across borders.

This Unit is making its mark through high-quality and need-based programmes. In a short span, it has fostered collaborations with colleges and universities in countries such as France, Japan, Yemen, Bahrain, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia. More strategic alliances and partnerships with foreign universities and colleges, private corporations, and governments are envisioned.

For OUM, this is the right time for us to spread our wings in the international arena. Despite the current economic downturn, the world continues to develop rapidly in terms of technology and communications. In fact, the expansion of Internet is transforming the digital divide into a digital dividend. OUM is cognisant of this and is constantly innovating in terms of technology to bring education to more learners across the globe.

I hope you will enjoy reading this issue of OUM Today, which will give you more insights into the University’s cross-border programmes and projects. To sum it up, OUM aims to really become the “University for All”.

Professor Tan Sri Anuwar Ali

O

02 OUM Today Issue 57 • March 2009

President’s Quill

03OUM Today Issue 57 • March 2009

Chancellor presenting the degree to Dr Ikeda

One for the album

I

OUM Honours Proponent of World Peace and Humanity n a ceremony steeped in tradition of Malaysia and Japan, OUM conferred the Honorary Doctor of Arts (Humanities) to Dr Daisaku Ikeda, President of Soka Gakkai International (SGI), in a Special Convocation held at Soka International Friendship Hall, Japan.

OUM Chancellor YABhg Datin Paduka Seri Jeanne Abdullah conferred the award to Dr Ikeda, who became the first international recipient to receive the Honorary Doctorate from the University. The convocation was attended by His Excellency Dato’ Mohd Radzi bin Abd Rahman, Malaysia’s Ambassador to Japan as well as key officials from both OUM and SGI.

The Honorary Doctor award was given in recognition of Dr Ikeda’s outstanding work in promoting world peace and character development through education and culture. Besides Dr Ikeda, OUM had previously conferred honorary doctorates to three individuals, who are OUM’s founding members and former Vice-Chancellors of Malaysia’s leading universities.

In his acceptance speech, Dr Ikeda, said: “Those who adopt lifelong learning will emerge victorious in their lives. Education is the noblest pursuit that brings greater meaning to our existence. The advantage of education can be realised during trying times, especially now when the world is threatened by adversity. In an age where uncertainty is widespread, humankind should be strongly united and this is made possible by education.”

OUM and SGI have a long standing relation through collaborations aimed at providing learners from both institutions exposure to the best learning experience. In May last year, Datin Paduka Seri Jeanne was conferred the Award of Highest Honor by Soka Women’s College, Soka University.

The recipients of OUM’s Honorary Doctorate were selected based on their profound contribution towards the betterment of the community. Dr Ikeda, has dedicated his life in propagating the culture of peace and harmony through social engagement and lifelong learning.

Speaking at the convocation, Datin Paduka Seri Jeanne said: “Learning institutions shoulder the noble responsibility of creating a society that values education. OUM and SGI share the same sentiments in making education accessible to the masses to help develop human capital.”

President/Vice-Chancellor Prof Tan Sri Anuwar Ali, in his speech, said that OUM is honoured to confer Dr Ikeda with the honorary doctorate. “He is a visionary man who believes that education and world peace are closely linked. Likewise, at OUM we believe that education spurs socio-economic development to elevate the living standard of people.”

More pictures on pages 6 and 7.

07OUM Today Issue 51 • August 2008 07OUM Today Issue 57 • March 2009

Special Convocation: Conferment of Honorary Doctor of Arts (Humanities)24 February 2009, Soka International Friendship Hall, Tokyo

Special Convocation: Conferment of Honorary Doctor of Arts (Humanities)24 February 2009, Soka International Friendship Hall, Tokyo

“The culture of lifelong learning is not new to the Japanese. In Malaysia, we too are beginning to see its values. Working adults in particular are realising the benefits of furthering their studies for personal development and career growth.”

“Those who adopt lifelong learning will emerge victorious in their lives. Education is the noblest pursuit that brings greater meaning to our existence. The advantage of education can be realised during trying times, especially now when the world is threatened by adversity. In an age where uncertainty is widespread, humankind should be strongly united and this is made possible by education.”

Chancellor, YABhg Datin Paduka Seri Jeanne Abdullah

Honorary Doctorate Recipient;President SGI, Dr Daisaku Ikeda

Photos Courtesy of Soka Gakkai International