NEWS: Online education: Empowering students

NST

By : J. THEEBAN

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Abdul Halim (left) and Noh at the launch.

STAMFORD College, Malaysia’s pioneer of distance education, recently launched StamfordOnline — Education Beyond Borders.

The educational portal is aimed at creating autonomous learners in line with building a smart nation.

"It is a move that we had to make or we would be left behind," says Stamford College executive chairman Datuk Abdul Halim at the launch.

For three decades since the 60s, Stamford correspondence courses have helped thousands of students complete their public examinations such as Senior Cambridge, HSC, SPM, STPM and enabled many adult learners to complete their studies to advance in their careers.

"Stamford’s new online venture may be seen as a continuation of the role it has played in taking education to the far reaches of our country and to students of all ages," says Education Deputy Minister Datuk Noh Omar who launched StamfordOnline.
Abdul Halim says it is imperative for Stamford to incorporate the Internet into its delivery system as it has become indispensable to education.

The new educational portal is set to bring about important and beneficial changes to the way courses will be offered, taught and learnt. The portal makes available everything from online registrations to timetables, course planners, lecture notes and interactive avenues to Stamford students and staff. It is also positioned to attract a new class of learners whose access to higher education has been restricted by work, place and time.

Stamford academic director U.K. Menon says that online courses for staff and lecturers ensure their continuous self-development. "The portal should ultimately serve as a platform for research, innovation and publications."

The portal will also engage students and teachers in primary and secondary schools across the nation.

"Apart from providing curriculum-based information in science, mathematics and the English language, the move is for Stamford College to establish connection with schools, teachers, students and parents," says Menon.

Currently, some 10,000 schools in the country which are connected to the Internet have already begun to go online to enhance education.

"It is only a matter of time before its five million pupils and 300,000 teachers rely on the Internet as their primary source of information."

Perhaps what is particularly significant to the idea behind the portal is the empowerment of students.

As Abdul Halim aptly puts it: "The launch will go a long way towards creating a community of autonomous learners. We will guide students towards this ideal not only to enrich them but the nation as a whole."