Open University Malaysia (OUM) was established on August 10, 2000 as the seventh private university in Malaysia. Although incorporated as a private university and established under the Private Higher Education Institutions Act 1996, OUM leverages on the quality, prestige and capabilities of its owners - a consortium of the 11 Malaysian public universities. Today, there are more than 24,000 students enrolled in OUM programs.
OUM�s vision is to be a leader and innovator in open learning.
Mission:
- To be the leading contributor in democratising education
- To develop quality education through multi mode learning technologies
- To develop and enhance learning experiences toward the development of a knowledge-based society
Their learning methodology consists of self-managed learning, online learning, and face-to-face interaction.
In this review we will focus on three (3) key areas of OUM:
- Learning Management System (myLMS, myMail, myProfile, myLibrary, and Learner Conexxions)
- Open & Distance Learning Pedagogy Centre
- Centre for Quality Management and Research & Innovation
Other key areas not discussed in this review include Centre for Instructional Design & Technology and Learner Services Centre.
Let's first look briefly at OUMs Learning Management System (LMS). In general, the LMS is reasonably user-friendly, has a pleasant interface, and is integrated (single-login). If we decompose the LMS, it is divided into five (5) main components, which are briefly explained below:
- MyLMS
Consist of myCourse, myUniversity, myCommunity, and myMail. myUniversity module has features such as user directory, task, student online progress, calendar, personal address book, and polls. It serves as the first point of contact between the university and the student. Here announcements are posted, university-wide polls are taken and personal calendars updated. As for the myCourse module, it includes features such as course summary, announcement, course content, support materials, references, staff info, coursemate, forum, chat, quiz, digital drop-box, etc. Their course content comes mostly in the form of PDF files. - myMail
Is the student/staff e-mail component. - myProfile
Includes my profile, credit transfer, courses undertaken, performance (course results), and payments (invoice/financial status). - myLibrary
Includes digital collections such as OPAC, e-Library, 24 x 7, Infotrac, Proquest, EBSCO, Emerald, Engineering Village, Springer, IOP, NSTP e-Media, ACM, ERIC, InfoSecurity, IT Knowledge, and Tailor & Francis. The digital library has access to more than 36,000 titles from e-books and 50,000 titles from e-journal databases. The available databases cover all courses offered by OUM. Physically, They have more than 7,500 volumes of books located at the Central Library and Learning Centres. - Learner Connexxions
Includes learning issues, tips and pointers, facts on learning, LMS FAQs, Bookmarks, Netiquette, Abbreviations and Smileys, My Stories, Creative corner, Snapshots (of new students at OUM), etc. An excellent component, which provides useful guidelines and tips on education and life in OUM.
Overall, OUM's LMS single-login (integrated-system) and ease-of-use strategy is good.