The University is committed to lifelong learning and continuous professional development. The aim is to produce future-ready talents for improved workplace productivity and to stimulate the nation’s economic growth. For this reason, it is important for the workforce to have the right mix of technical know-how and soft skills to stay competitive at the marketplace.

In recogniszing the need to be relevant to students, WOU constantly updates its programs and course contents, adopts new learning platforms, and integrates knowledge from different disciplines so as to develop an education curriculum that prepares them for the future of work.

The University was established in 2006 to deliver quality higher education via open distance learning (ODL) to working adults. WOU welcomed its first intake of students in January 2007. It has since expanded to also offer on-campus degree programs to school leavers and diploma holders at its main campus in Penang.

All WOU programmes are approved by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and the Ministry of Higher Education.