Armed Forces personnel get 'professional' update at OUM

New Straits Times
07-03-2011
Armed Forces personnel get 'professional' update at OUM
Edition: New Sunday Times
Section: Learning Curve
Memo: Excellence in education

OPEN University Malaysia (OUM) achieved another milestone with the recent launch of an executive diploma programme for the Royal Intelligence Corps of the Malaysian Armed Forces.

The first batch of officers begun attending tutorials for the Executive Diploma in Safety and Security Management on June 13.
The 12-month programme is being offered on a part-time basis, where participants attend night classes twice a week. The classes are conducted at the OUM main campus in Jalan Tun Ismail and Defence Ministry in Jalan Padang Tembak, Kuala Lumpur.

The course is being conducted by experienced industry professionals and qualified senior officers from the Armed Forces. Participants are required to complete 10 modules and a project paper in order to graduate.

Among the modules are crisis management and control methodology, Malaysian legal system and acts, loss-prevention methodology, fraud investigation and prevention methodology as well as security and safety audit.

The programme was officially launched by OUM president and vice- chancellor Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Anuwar Ali on June 21.

Present were Defence Intelligence director-general Lt-Gen Datuk Abdul Hadi Hussin, director of training Col Md Rahim Mohamad, senior officers of the corps and programme participants.

The guests were later taken on a tour of the university's digital library, Internet radio station (iRadio) and Centre for Instructional Design and Technology, which is responsible for the production of modules and other online and printed learning materials used by learners.

According to Anuwar, the university began collaborating with the ministry in 2002. On May 12, the university signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Perhebat (Ex-Armed Forces Affairs Corporation) to offer various programmes for its members. Perhebat trains about 3,000 retiring army personnel every year. Under the MoU, the university is tasked with providing training for three categories of personnel - serving officers, those who are about to retire and retirees.

For serving officers, they can pursue undergraduate or postgraduate programmes to upgrade their professional qualifications. They can also opt for tailor-made executive diploma or professional courses.

The second and third groups are trained for a second career as many of them usually opt to retire in their 40s. They will be able to undertake basic competency training, executive diplomas and short- term courses in order to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to become salaried workers in other professions or operate a small business.

The programmes are aimed at helping Armed Forces personnel to engage in capacity building while in service and retirement, so that they are in a better position to face future challenges.

OUM also offers graduate and postgraduate programmes for teachers, nurses, engineers, business people and various professions.

For instance, the university is involved in the training of teachers to complement the government's move to ensure that teachers in primary and secondary schools have tertiary qualifications. The latest batch of more than 5,000 teachers enrolled in the university's bachelor's degree programmes last March.

For enquires, call 03-2773 2002, email enquiries@oum.edu.my or visit www.oum. edu.my

(Copyright 2011)
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