USM To Offer Distance Learning Courses For Students In Medan, Indonesia

GEORGE TOWN (Penang, Malaysia), June 12 (Bernama) -- In its effort to increase the number of international students, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM or Science University of Malaysia) is offering part-time first degree programmes in various fields through a distance-learning programme in Medan, Indonesia. Its vice-chancellor, Prof Dr Omar Osman said the university recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Universitas Pembangunan Panca Budi in Medan which would be the centre for distance learning students from Indonesia. He said in the early stages, 100 students will be offered Social Science Degree Programme which is expected to start in September. "We have just been given the approval by the Education Ministry to offer three programmes in the future - Degree in Science, Degree in Arts and Degree in Management. "We expect the market in Medan and North Sumatera to be good for us to expand our programmes. They will be able to attend classes via distance learning classes just like Malaysian students in USM," he said in a press conference here Thursday. Omar said students would also be required to undergo an intensive three-week course in a year at USM while the USM alumni in Medan would form the teaching force there. "The learning is similar to other distance learning courses, but we transmit to Medan. This is an outstanding effort by the Distance Learning Centre which has applied technology to aid lifelong learning," he said. Earlier, USM signed an MoU with the Islamic University of Madinah, Saudi Arabia to promote expertise in Islamic studies, technology and science. The MoU was signed by Omar for USM and the acting rector of IUM, Prof Dr Ibrahim Ali Alobaid. "This MoU will immediately take effect after the endorsement of both universities and the validity of the MoU will be for five years. I look forward to a fruitful collaboration," said Omar. --BERNAMA