On 23 and 25 September, we went on a collaborative benchmarking visit to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to strengthen our postgraduate programmes. This initiative, facilitated by the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions, involved academic leaders and programme directors from the Faculty of Technology and Applied Sciences (FTAS).
The visit focused on sharing best practices and exploring opportunities for collaboration between OUM’s Master of Project Management, Master of Occupational Safety and Health Risk Management, and Master of Facility Management programmes and their corresponding counterparts at UTM. Key discussions centred around curriculum development, assessment strategies, student support, and potential joint initiatives.
Leading our delegation was Dr Raziana Che Aziz (Dean, FTAS). Key participants included myself as Programme Director for Master of Project Management as well as Ts Sharifah Rosfashida Abd Latif (Programme Director for Master of Facility Management), and Dr Suhaila Abdul Hamid (Programme Director for Master of Occupational Safety and Health Risk Management). The visit was coordinated by Gowri M. Ramanathan and Zazilia Mohd Rawi from the Vice President/Deputy Vice Chancellor (Business Development)’s Office.
During the visit, we engaged in in-depth discussions on:
- Course and programme learning outcomes and programme educational objectives: How to effectively measure and assess student learning.
- Assessment Strategies: Exploring diverse methods to evaluate student performance and understanding.
- Graduate On Time (GOT) and Student Retention: Strategies to ensure timely completion and reduce dropout rates.
- Student and Alumni Activities: Building a strong community and providing support for students.
- Best Practices and Challenges in Programme Management: Sharing experiences and insights for continuous improvement.
The benchmarking visit opened doors to potential collaboration opportunities with UTM. Discussions explored joint projects, research initiatives, and faculty exchanges to further strengthen the relationship between the two institutions.
This collaborative effort is a significant step towards enhancing the quality of postgraduate studies at OUM. By enhancing our knowledge of best practices, we aim to provide students with a more enriching and impactful learning experience.
* Ts Dr Mariatul Liza Meor Gheda is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Technology and Applied Sciences. She can be contacted at mariatul_liza@oum.edu.my.
