Omani Online Students Arrive to Meet Their Lecturers Mask to Mask

The Centre for English Language Studies (CELS) and International Office hosted an afternoon tea on 9 April 2021, to welcome eight of nine Omani students who were part of the online Intensive English Programme (IEP), January 2021 cohort. It was a lively mask to mask event. Distinguished guests included Mr Amjad Esmaiel, Academic Advisor from the Cultural Attaché Office, KL Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman, and his wife Ms Hanan Allil, Professor Sibrandes Poppema, President of Sunway University, Ms Lim Shui Chin, Director of International Office & Special Projects, Professor Stephen Hall who is Dean of School of Interdisciplinary Studies and Head of CELS, and Ms Jeanette Lim, Head of IEP.

Professor Sibrandes Poppema commended the students for their diligence and perseverance, as their online classes were as early as 4.30am (Oman time) as IEP classes begin 8.30am (local time). Professor Stephen Hall expressed great pleasure over the continued partnership between Sunway University and the Omani Cultural Attaché Office. He invited students to make full use of Sunway Education Group’s robust IT infrastructure and facilities, as they settle into campus life.

The nine Omani scholarship holders swept four out of the seven High Achiever Awards for exemplary academic performance and one Best Progress Award. Four students are now continuing their studies full-time with the Canadian International Matriculation Programme (CIMP), while remaining students are in a joint programme arrangement between IEP and CIMP. Mr Amjad Esmaiel congratulated the scholars on their achievements while their teachers encouraged them to press on in their academic journey. It was a memorable afternoon as teachers and students met in-person for the first time after ten weeks of online classes.