Universiti Terbuka Malaysia offers 4,500 places

SEREMBAN Aug 2 - Universiti Terbuka Malaysia (Unitem) is offering 4,500 places on a wide range of programmes delivered through the Open & Distance Learning (ODL) mode at diploma and degree levels for the August 2003 semester intake.

According to Unitem President/Vice-Chancellor Tan Sri Dr Abdullah Sanusi Ahmad, Unitem, the seventh private university in Malaysia, caters to the demands of an emerging market and employs the latest approaches in the teaching-learning process.

"Since its establishment in August 2000, Unitem has contributed significantly to the development of higher education in the country through its ODL approach," he said at the registration and orientation ceremony for new students of the August 2003 semester at the Unitem Negeri Sembilan Regional Centre here Saturday.

He said the university had adopted a learner-centric approach and successfully practises a policy of openness and flexibility in terms of entry requirements and delivery of courses.

To date Unitem has enrolled 13,000 students throughout the country.

He said the university had set up five Regional Learning Centres (RLCs) to cope with its increasing student population.

The RLCs are located in Seremban (Negeri Sembilan), Serdang Raya (Selangor), Seberang Jaya (Penang), Kota Bharu (Kelantan) and Johor Bahru (Johor).

With this move, Unitem hopes to upgrade its service quality and enhance its presence and visibility.

With 13 programmes in its stable, ranging from ICT, Education to Business at diploma and degree levels, Unitem is now expanding its range of programmes with the introduction of three new postgraduate courses - Master of Management, Master of Business Administration and Master of Information Technology.

"The first postgraduate intake will be held next month. During the preview session throughout the major cities in Malaysia, the public has responded positively to these programmes," he added.

In his speech, he said Unitem had a mission to help mould a k-society through distance learning programmes using the latest multimedia technology.

Unitem aspires to be the leading distance learning institution in the region, he said.