NILAI, September 21, 2016-Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) has become one of the pioneers among public universities offering courses via Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platform with Arabic language as its medium of instruction. MOOC is an Open Courses Online Collection provided by public universities on a large scale, with either free or at minimal cost.
USIM has been offering three Arabic Language and Islamic Studies – based courses; Fiqh Ibadah and Munakahat, Arabic Language, and Pengajian Halaqah (Halaqah Studies) for the National MOOC since 2015. This year, another four new courses are introduced and they are MUET Oasis, Professional Arabic Language and Technology; Obstetrics Care, and Introduction to Counselling.
USIM efforts in offering quality National MOOC courses with Arabic language as medium of instruction has been manifested through the signing of memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the platform provider of National MOOC; Open Learning Global of which a company is based in Australia, yesterday (Tuesday).
The agreement means that USIMwill provide educational courses at par with international standard and the integration of Naqli and Aqli as the ground of knowledge. USIM was represented by the Vice Chancellor Prof Dato’ Dr Musa Ahmad while Open Learning Global was represented by its Chief Executive Officer, Mr Adam Brimo.
“This agreement issigned for a period of five years whereby Open Learning Global (M) Sdn Bhd will act as a platform for USIM’s MOOC courses, available for access at anywhere and anytime. Meanwhile, USIM will provide the courses to students across the globe with the rights to content and data remain under the copyright of USIM.”
“The offered MOOC courses have been getting good demand. According to the current data as of June 2016, 968 students from eight countries have registered  in the first three courses initially offered by USIM in 2015. Those who are interested may visit the website https://www.openlearning.com/usimmooc to register,” said USIM Vice Chancellor.
The agreement-signing ceremony also involved another five public universities; Universiti Teknikal Malaysia, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, in conjunction with 2016 International University Carnival on e-Learning (IUCEL) which took place there.

 

Prepared by:

Zaini Othman

Strategic Communication Center (StraComm)

Level 1, Canselori Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)

71800 Nilai, Negeri Sembilan

Tel : 06-798 8026/8027/6284 Fax : 06-798 8204