COVID-19: UUM to conduct online lectures when new semester opens on April 5

ALOR SETAR, 16 Mac -- Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) today announced that all lectures will be conducted online when the new semester opens on April 5 in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Its vice-chancellor (Academic and International) Prof Dr Yusnidah Ibrahim said the move would allow students to follow the lectures online from outside the campus, including from their homes.

“The spread of COVID-19 in Malaysia is showing an increase and UUM is concerned about the welfare of its students, lecturers and other staff of the university.

“Beginning yesterday until March 26, all lectures will be held as usual, but the university does not stop lecturers who want to conduct the lectures online,” she said in a statement today.

She said any communication between students and lecturers, faculties and other departments at UUM would also be conducted online or on social sites.

"All forms of assessment, be for mid-semester examinations, assignments, quiz, project presentations and final examination which will start from May 31 to June 27 will also be done online and other methods to be informed by the university later.

“The mid-semester holidays for undergraduate students from March 27 to April 4 will proceed as usual. Students from Sabah, Sarawak, as well as international students and those with special needs can opt to be on or off campus during and after the semester break, " she added.

However, she said, they are required to register themselves with Inapan Siswa (INASIS).

Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) Academic Committee has also decided to use the online platform for all its teaching and learning activities, as well as assessments, effective today until Friday (March 20).

UTP vice-chancellor of academic Prof Dr Mohamed Ibrahim Abdul Mutalib said lecturers are required to upload their teaching and learning materials onto UTP Virtual Learning Environment (ULearn).

"All communications between lecturers and students are to be done via online platform to support teaching and learning.

"Students are required to take responsibility of their self-learning during this period. We will keep you informed on the latest directive related to teaching and learning for the remaining of January 2020 semester," he said in a statement posted on the UTP Facebook today.

On a related matter,  Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI)  vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Mohammad Shatar Sabran also encouraged lecturers at the university to use the  MyGuru online learning management system for lecture class involving more than 50 students.

He also called for gatherings involving UPSI students and staff in or outside the campus to be postponed until further notice.

“All UPSI  staff and students who are back or returning from overseas, including students who have just returned from industrial and teaching training,  especially from countries affected by COVID-19 are required to report and go for health screening immediately at the University Health Center," he said.

-- BERNAMA