Pak Timbul Pardede dari SEAMOLEC dalam kunjungan sehari ke OUM Perak

SMS yang dihantar oleh Pak Timbul pada saya setibanya di Kuala Lumpur selepas kunjungan sehari ke OUM Perak pada 8 Julai 2010 adalah seperti di bawah:

"Yang Terhormat Pak Richard,

Kami sudah tiba di KL dengan selamat. Kami ucapkan terima kasih atas sambutan yang hangat dan penuh kekeluargaan dalam kunjynagn kami ke Ipoh. Semoga Tuhan memberikan kurnia dan berkat bagi Bapak dan keluarga. Salam kami juga untuk teman-teman di learning center."

Bapak Timbul sedang menandatangani buku pelawat di PP Greenhill dan disaksikan oleh Richard Ng, Pengarah OUM Perak

Begitulah kepuasan yang dinyatakan oleh Pak Timbul yang melawat OUM Perak bersama keluarganya bagi melihat dengan lebih dekat bagaimana sebuah pusat pembelajaran PJJ di luar kota KL beroperasi.

Pembentangan slaid oleh Pengarah OUM Perak untuk pengetahuan Pak Timbul.

Pak Timbul sedang melihat jadual waktu peperiksaan pertengahan semester

Kami sempat berkongsi pendapat bagaimana tahap pendidikan agak berlainan di negara-negara yang berlainan. Rata-rata Pak Timbul merasakan pelajar Malaysia amat bernasib baik kerana disediakan dengan berbagai kemudahan yang jauh lebih baik dari negara lain seperti Indonesia.

Sedikit cenderahati untuk pelawat OUM Perak


Pak Timbul amat kagum dengan sistem operasi OUM yang begitu mantap dan matang dalam mengendalikan program jarak jauh untuk warga kerja. Banyak yang dapat dipelajari dalam lawatannya ini yang akan dibawanya pulang ke negaranya untuk SEAMOLEC memikirkan strategi seterusnya bagi menggalakkan lebih ramai lagi pelajar Indonesia dan negara Asia Tenggara meningkatkan ilmu pengetahuan melalui pendidikan. Sebagai Pengurus Pemasaran dan Perhubungan Awam SEAMOLEC, sebuah pertubuhan di bawah SEAMEO, memang menjadi tanggung jawab beliau dalam memasarkan idea kepada negara-negara anggota SEAMEO agar dapat meningkatkan tahap pendidikan penduduk mereka.

Gambar kenangan. Dari kiri: Sharizal, Fahmi, Pak Timbul, Richard, Zura

Gambar kenangan di luar premis PP Greenhill

Beginilah suasana mesra layanan kami terhadap tetamu kita

Gambar kenangan di premis PP Perak, Jln Lim Bo Seng

Semasa lawatannya ke OUM Perak, pihak kami juga sempat membawa Pak Timbul dan keluarganya berkunjung ke berbagai lokasi bandaraya Ipoh dan melihat lebih dekat berbagai budaya dan kaum yang dapat hidup dengan harmoni di bawah payung 1Malaysia.

Bapak Timbul Pardede dari SEAMOLEC melawat OUM Perak

SELAMAT DATANG BAPAK TIMBUL PARDEDE DARI SEAMOLEC

Bapak Timbul Pardede, Pengurus Pemasaran dan Perhubungan Awam, SEAMOLEC

OUM Perak sekali lagi telah dipilih menjadi destinasi kunjungan pelawat antarabangsa. Baru seminggu yang lepas, OUM Perak telah melayan tetamu dari Zimbabwe Open University iaitu Mr. Daniel Ndudzo (Pendaftar) serta delegasi dari Sukhothai Thammatirat Open University yang diketuai oleh Prof. Dr. Sumalee Sungsri.

Pelawat minggu ini adalah dari Indonesia iaiatu Bapak Timbul Pardede, Pengurus Pemasaran dan Perhubungan Awam SEAMOLEC. Bapak Timbul juga merupakan pelajar OUM dalam kursus Master of Instructional Design.

Bapak Timbul akan melawat operasi OUM Perak serta beberapa tempat menarik di Perak pada 8 Julai 2010.

About SEAMOLEC:



Since its establishment on 27 February 1997, SEAMOLEC has not only prioritized on the preparation of legal documents as a new SEAMEO center but also on conducting activities corresponding to its objectives and functions.

During the pre-establishment of SEAMOLEC, an Indonesian Task Force (ITF) representing related institutions was formed. The members of the Indonesian Task Force are representatives of the Center for Communication and Information Technology for Education (Pustekkom), the Indonesian Open Learning University (UT), the International Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Education and Culture (Biro KLN), and the Indonesian Association of Educational Technologists (IPTPI).

Then, the ITF was extended to be a SEAMOLEC Feasibility Study Team consisting of the representatives of SEAMEO Member Countries and SEAMEO Secretariat. This team is to prepare and conduct the feasibility study for the establishment of SEAMOLEC. The team had worked very hard through two SEAMEO workshops (conducted in Jakarta and Yogyakarta) and finally it could successfully accomplish its task by submitting the feasibility study report to SEAMEO High Officials Meeting (HOM) in Bangkok, Thailand and SEAMEO Council Conference in Manila, Philippines.

The rationale for the establishment of SEAMOLEC, among others was the conviction that conventional schools alone will not be able to meet the education for all. Furthermore, several SEAMEO member countries have implemented open and distance learning programs as alternative ways for increasing the opportunities and access for learners to participate in educational/training programs.

There are still some SEAMEO member countries that have not yet implemented any open and distance learning programs even though the need for education and training cannot be provided by existing conventional institutions. In order to promote the implementation of open and distance learning and foster the growth of existing open and distance learning programs to meet the demand of "education for all", the SEAMOLEC project proposal was developed.

Prof. Dr. Sumalee Sungsri and Delegates from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University visits OUM Perak

Prof. Dr. Sumalee Sungsri and delegates from STOU arriving at Greenhill Learning Center

Dr. Sungsri signing the Guest Book

We are proud to host Prof. Dr. Sumalee Sungsri and delegates from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University who are on their 1-day visit to OUM Perak on 29 June 2010.

Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) was officially established by Royal Charter on 5 September 1978 as Thailand’s eleventh state university. His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, King Rama IX, graciously bestowed the university its name in honor of King Prajadhipok, King Rama VII, who, prior to his accession to the throne held the title “Prince Sukhothai Thammaracha”. STOU was the first university in Southeast Asia to use the distance learning system. Todate, more than 350,000 students have enrolled at STOU.

Delegates from STOU during the discussion session at Greenhill Learning Center


Tour of the Greenhill Learning Center

A quick tour of Perak Learning Center (Jln Lim Bo Seng)

Prof. Dr. Sumalee Sungri and heads of department of STOU are here to get a better picture of how a regional center of OUM operates. Dr. Sumalee's research interest is in the area of students retention. Thus our discussion centered mostly on students attrition and how best we could help reduce it. The meeting which began at 9.00am ended at 11.00am. The delegates were then shown around the premise of Greenhill Learning Center.

Richard Ng, Director of OUM Perak was briefing delegates from STOU on Registration and Module collection.

Richard Ng presenting souvenir to Dr. Sungsri


Richard Ng putting an OUM pin on Mr. Pradip's jacket for being outstanding in singing

The delegates were then taken to OUM Perak (Jln Lim Bo Seng) which is located about 10 minutes away from Greenhill Learning Center. They were impressed with our set up and the way we managed retention.

Group photo as remembrance, From Left: Shah, Fahmi, Mr. Vorachat Ampai, Ms. Panita Duangmaneemorakot, Prof. Dr. Sumalee Sungsri, Richard Ng, Mr. Pradit Tavornlertrat, Mr. Amnat Wongsaming, Mr. Chatree Wongmasa, Zura and Siti Norjalilah.

Another one for the album. Outside Greenhill Learning Center

We then took a quick visit at the State Museum. The delegates were then treated to a lunch at the Koh Samui Restaurant. We had a mixture of local and Thai food. By 1pm they have to depart to KL to catch their 8pm flight.

At the Koh Samui Restaurant

At the Syuen Hotel before departure to KL. Mr. Pradip (left) and Mr. Chatree Wongmasa(right)

We are extremely proud and honored to be given this opportunity to host them. The discussion we had will be very useful for both OUM and STOU to further enhance and improve our systems so that we can find ways to reduce retention. Basically it was a learning experience trip for them and for us too.





The night before, the delegates were treated to a dinner at the Pondok Panas Restaurant. We had good nasi padang there. Also present was Prof. Ramli Bahroom, OUM's Financial Controller.

Registrar of Zimbabwe Open University visits OUM Perak

On June 26 2010, OUM Perak was given the privilege to host Mr. Daniel Ndudzo, the Registrar of Zimbabwe Open University. He was on a mission to learn more about how OUM operates in Malaysia and in International markets. Prior to this visit Mr. Daniel was briefed by the respective heads of department from OUM main campus.

Mr. Daniel signing the guest book under the watchful eyes of Richard Ng

Briefing and discussion with Mr. Daniel Ndudzo

His visit to Ipoh is to find out how a regional center provides support to its students and how we cope with various issues such as plagiarism, tutors commitment to learners, exam management, registration of students, marketing, faculty support, learning modules and student access to Internet.


The Republic of Zimbabwe (formerly known as Rhodesia) is located north of South Africa where the world cup soccer tournament is being held, also bordered by Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique. Distance between Zimbabwe and Malaysia is about 10,000km. It has a population of about 12 million in 2009. It has the highest adult literacy rate in Africa at 90%.

Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) was established in 1999 and is the only distance education university in Zimbabwe. It has 11 regional learning centers with more than 30,000 students currently. It is also using blended learning pedagogy with some face-to-face contact and internet support.

One for the album

The most common problems found in ZOU as with other distance education universities is attrition. Factors contributing to such attrition include transportation and Internet.

Tour of Greenhill Learning Center

Arriving at Perak Learning Center (Lim Bo Seng)

The half day discussion held between Mr. Daniel Ndudzo and Richard Ng, Director of OUM Perak was very fruitful. The discussion has led to more follow up on exchange of information and knowledge between ZOU and OUM especially on student retention strategies. He was given a tour of our premise at Greenhill Learning Center as well as Perak Learning Center at Jln Lim Bo Seng.

Mr. Daniel was also treated with some local dishes and had a good taste of our local fruit, durian. He was also taken to visit to city of Ipoh and had a chance to visit one of Ipoh's highest cave temple located near the Lost World of Tambun.

Welcome Mr. D. Ndudzo, Registrar of Zimbabwe Open University to OUM Perak

On behalf of OUM Perak, I wish to welcome Mr. D. Ndudzo, Registrar of Zimbabwe Open University to OUM Perak on June 26, 2010.

Welcome Prof. Dr. Sumalee Sungsri and Delegates from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University to OUM Perak

On behalf of OUM Perak, I wish to welcome delegates from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University to OUM Perak on June 28 & 29, 2010.