Over Two Decades of Block Teaching and Still Going Strong

Sunway College, one of the pioneering twinning programmes providers in Malaysia has built a flourishing partnership with Victoria University (VU) Melbourne, Australia for over two decades. This partnership enables Sunway College to offer a curriculum which is identical to VU Melbourne, an association which has grown stronger with time.

Sunway College provides a true Australian learning experience via its innovative Burst Mode or Block Teaching. Academic staff from VU Australia visit and teach our students, while exchanging ideas on their teaching experience with the academic team in the VU Bachelor of Business programme each semester.

David Parker, Senior Lecture, College of Law and Justice, Victoria University, Melbourne

David Parker, Senior Lecture of Victoria University’s College of Law and Justice, is one of the pioneers of the VU Block Teaching. He has been part of the team visiting Sunway College as long as the partnership first started. “I teach two subjects, namely Corporate Law and Taxation Law. But in every visit, I will also provide Sunway students with consultation time, and conduct post weekend briefs to chat with the teachers here,” explained David who has close to three decades of teaching experience. “We will communicate with the staff here (Sunway College) about our expectations and update them about changes, issues or problems on the latest assessments, assignments and teaching content development in Melbourne. Basically tour visits are to keep up communication and the very positive relationship we have established between Sunway and VU.”

“Block teaching enhances communication and collaboration between VU and Sunway. For example, I met a new (Sunway) lecturer on one of my previous visits and I encouraged the lecturer to publish a paper in Australia, and he is now over at Melbourne presenting a paper while I am here at Sunway,” added David.

L-R Irene Teoh, Assistant Director of Australian University Programme, Sunway College; David Parker, Senior Lecture, College of Law and Justice, Victoria University, Melbourne; Greeja Hemalata De Silva, Head of Australian University Programme, Sunway College

Parker has a very tight schedule visiting Malaysia. He will also travel to Sunway College Johor Bahru for the same purpose. He enjoys the programme very much as it not only provides him with positive insights into the needs of different cohorts of students, but also allows him to appreciate the differences between different student groups.

Now that VU Australia is celebrating a Centenary of Opportunity, David said “I think it is great as it is definitely a tribute to the university. It shows how the institution has evolved over time. Same as many other universities, VU has become much more entrepreneurial, not only reaching out to teach courses, but also to many students from other countries and diverse backgrounds.”

The block teaching visits have been proven to be effective in assuring that the syllabi, assignments, tests and examinations are identical to that of VU Melbourne. By studying locally, Malaysians can also enjoy a substantial cost savings in acquiring a reputable Australian degree, without having to leave home.

Victoria University, established in 1916, it is a highly respected, multi-disciplinary university based in Melbourne, Australia. VU Melbourne’s partnership with Sunway College is the longest, largest and most stable amongst all its international partnerships.

The undergraduate degree offered under the partnership is Bachelor of Business with various majors: Accounting, Banking and Finance, Financial Risk management, International Trade and Marketing, Management and Innovation, Supply Chain and Logistics Management.

This Business degree is recognised by the Education Ministry and accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency. It is also recognised by professional bodies, such as ACCA, MICPA and CPA. In addition, the Bachelor of Business (Marketing) is accredited by the Australian Marketing Institute.