Flexible education - Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC)

The ASEM MOOC Stakeholders’ Forum 2019 successfully gathered the expertise from the ASEM MOOC network focusing on the content development of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) involving universities and ASEM strategic partners in the region.

More than 130 participants from the local and international academics including Japan, Korea, Thailand and the Philippines shared experiences in applying the concept of technology and innovation in teaching and learning via the use of information technology in line with the latest development of online learning.

The forum was officiated by the Director General of Higher Education, Department of Higher Education, the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE), Datuk Ir. Dr. Siti Hamisah Tapsir.

Also present were the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar Wan Yusoff, the Director of K-MOOC Centre, National Institute of Lifelong Education (NILE), Ministry of Education Korea, Jaedong Cho, the Director of Academic Excellence Department MOE, Associate Professor Dr. Wan Zuhainis Saad who is also a member of Board of Directors UMP and the Director of Centre for Instructional Resources & e-Learning (CIReL), Ts. Dr. Adzhar Kamaludin.

According to Datuk Ir. Dr. Sit Hamisah, distance and special learning has become a current learning trend in the Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) in Asia and Europe.

“Students need to prepare themselves to develop skills and capabilities in gaining knowledge and adapting data in the learning process.

“The forum organised by MOE and UMP focuses on the development of UMP MOOC and Global Classroom among the educators around the world in line with the latest advancement of the education system,” she said at the opening of the ASEM MOOC Stakeholders’ Forum 2019 held in the Zenith Hotel Putrajaya on 7 November 2019.

She supports the efforts by UMP and Malaysian Technological University Network (MTUN) to implement MOOC by focusing on knowledge and hands-on skills to meet the requirements of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in this country.

Meanwhile, Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar said UMP had initiated a collaboration in this MOOC programme since 2017 with Tan Chong Education (Tan Chong Group) which enables the mechanics to participate in the Tan Chong Automotive Technology (TCAT) programme. 

A total of 30 students enrolled in the Energy Efficient Vehicles (EEV) Hybrid System programme under MOOC handled by CIReL, and this year 13 students have participated in a 5-module training programme in Kota Bharu Training Centre for three months.

This flexible education provides an opportunity to the students to participate in the hands-on MOOC programme by applying the knowledge of internet of things (IoT), robotic technology, data analytics, Arduino application and manufacturing integration related to the needs of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0)

Among the presenters in this forum were the representative of KMOOC, Professor Dr. Eunsil Hong and Dr. Wonsook Hyun form the Sungkyunkwan University, Korea, Associate Professor Dr. Jintavee Khiasang from the Chulalongkorn University, Thailand and Professor Natthakan Iam-on, Mae Fah Luang University representing ThaiMOOC.
Dr. Gan Leong Ming (UMP) also shared about the MalaysiaMOOC, while JMOOC was represented by Professor Yasushi Kodama from the Hosei University Jepun and PhilippineMOOC was represented by Dr. Ria Mae H. Borromeo from the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU).