GRADUATES OF DISTANCE EDUCATION HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVING STANDARDS

UUM ONLINE: A total of 1,042 graduands from the Distance Learning Education programme received their respective degrees during the ninth session of the 35th Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) Convocation Ceremony, held at the Mu’adzam Shah Hall.

These graduands came from various fields of study, including Communication, Business Administration, Islamic Finance and Banking, Public Administration, Tourism Management, and Hospitality Management.

UUM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr Mohd Foad Sakdan, stated that with the degrees they have received, these distance education graduates are capable of assuming better positions than their current ones, either through promotions or by acquiring jobs that commensurate their educational level. This will help them improve their living standards.

"This effort also encourages graduates as parents to be exemplary role models for their children, motivating them to strive for excellence and achieve higher levels of education," he said.

The Distance Education programme, under the aegis of the UUM Professional & Continuing Education Centre (PACE), offers a diverse range of courses that meet the demands of employers in both the public and private sectors. It serves as a method to produce professional and qualified workers.

"With the existence of this distance learning programme, the nation's aspiration to produce professional and qualified workforce can be achieved more easily, while also providing a pathway for working individuals to pursue higher education, taking into account their experiences," he added.

Furthermore, he emphasised that the holistic development of individuals, encompassing scholarly knowledge, personality, ethics, and integrity, is one of the key measures of educational success for any country.

Prof. Dr Mohd Foad stated that quality education can produce a workforce that is relevant to current needs, capable of facing pressing challenges and global competition.

He further explained that in order to make academic programmes more appealing and competitive, UUM will introduce three hybrid and flexible Bachelor's degree programmes, known as HYFLEX, based on a combination of two years at the university and two years at home (2u2h) or three years at the university and one year at home (3u1h).

"The three programmes, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Public Administration, and Bachelor of Event Management will commence in October 2023," he explained.

For those who are working and are unable to attend face-to-face lectures at UUM Sintok or UUMKL campuses, 13 Postgraduate Programmes will be offered through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) starting from September 2024. Interestingly, the learning process will be conducted mostly online.