ESTABLISHED in 2021, the relatively new School of Digital Technology (DiGiT) in Wawasan Open University (WOU) made heads turn during the Top in Tech Innovation Awards 2022.
The school received a Merit award under the ‘Most Impactful Academia-Industry Collaboration (Commercial)’ category. It has since gained traction following the award for its unique work-study model offered to students.
The primary aim of the school is to prepare students to be career ready even before they step out into the real world.
To support the so-called ‘millennium’ or specifically known as Generation Z, WOU, through DiGiT, provides the students with valuable work experience.
Speaking to Buletin Mutiara during an interview session recently, DiGiT senior lecturers Dr Lee Heng Wei and Dr Andrew Tan Kiam Lam said WOU has a conducive learning environment for its students.
While presenting a brief slide show, Lee said many graduates nowadays lack soft skills, especially the ability to think out of the box and thrive in the industry.
“We have introduced two programmes to assist students to stay employed after finishing their studies. The programmes are Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) (Application Development) or BDSE and Bachelor of Digital Business (Honours) or BDBS.
“Those interested can enrol themselves in our faculty three times a year. They will spend their first year studying here and the remaining three years getting hands-on experience.
“On top of that, they need to fulfil their syllabus as well by studying remotely while being attached to their respective multinational corporations.
“This will help them understand more about industry instead of undergoing theory-based learning,” he said when interviewed at the renovated and refurbished new faculty learning centre in China Street Ghaut.
Tan said such an effort would spur the students to have an interactive session rather than a one-way communication in class.
“The knowledge they obtained can be utilised when they are out for their work experience.
“We also monitor their development and assignments given through an internal system designed to facilitate the learning lessons,” he said.
Tan pointed out they have collaborated with various industry players to secure placements for their students.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Law Suun Ting