Sunway College JB Launches the VU Block Model

There’s a NEW WAY TO DO UNI! All students enrolled in the Victoria University, Melbourne Australia (VU) Bachelor of Business conducted off-shore at Sunway College Johor Bahru will soon follow the university’s Block Model of learning.

The innovative Block Model was introduced at VU Melbourne in 2018, a first for any Australian university. This revolutionary approach to teaching and learning is an internationally proven method, mirroring that which has been operating successfully at select universities across the US, Canada and Europe. In the short period of its implementation, The Block Model at VU has garnered multiple awards and recognition including

• Australian Financial Review Higher Education Awards 2021 - Teaching and Learning Excellence category
• 2018 International Education Association of Australia’s Excellence Awards – Innovation category

What is the Block Model? Unlike the conventional university model where students complete multiple subjects at once over a semester, the Block Model allows students to focus on one unit (subject) at a time. Each block comprises one unit (subject) and is only four weeks long, including assessments and students receive their results before progressing on to the next block.

“Since VU introduced the learning model in 2018, they have reported better performance by students than was previously achieved. In 2019, pass rates for first year students were at 87% while for second year students, pass rates were at 90%” said Ong Mei Mei, Deputy Principal and Head of the VU Business Degree programme conducted at Sunway College JB. Beyond academic results, the immersive Block Model’s learning environment develops confidence and independence in students by active learning and problem-solving, preparing them for success in their future careers.

Following its successful implementation at the VU campuses in Australia, off-shore providers of VU undergraduate programmes such as Sunway College Johor Bahru are now taking the lead in rolling out this ‘new way to do uni’ which will take effect from the July 2022 semester for newly enrolled as well as current students alike.

“We have decided to roll-out VU’s Block Model concurrently for everyone, across the first to third year students as the university has been running this teaching model for over three years now in the Australian campus, with proven success. We want to offer all our students the opportunity to experience this innovative and revolutionary approach to university learning!” concluded Ong.

Sunway College JB launched the VU Block Model via a series of activities to create awareness and a better understanding among current students who would transition from conventional to the block semester. The series, called ‘Exploring VU Block Model’ allowed students to learn through a variety of resources which included podcasts, videos, audio recordings and online articles. Quizzes were organised each week where winning students scored cash prizes via eWallet reloads.

A launching ceremony was also held for prospective students, school principals, guidance counsellors and the public on 19 June at the Mount Austin campus, in conjunction with celebrating 15 years of the VU business degree being offered at Sunway College Johor Bahru. Visitors and guests received door gifts comprising VU premiums, in addition to chances at a lucky draw which was held at the end of the launching ceremony where happy winners walked away with eWallet cash reloads, wireless earbuds, Grab and KFC vouchers among other prizes.

Most importantly, everyone who attended the launch left with a better appreciation of the VU Block Model and agreed unanimously that students would benefit from this excellent change in the way university learning would be conducted. With Block Model, students can be confident to start well, and finish brilliantly!

Photos and story by Roger Han, rogerh@sunway.edu.my and Gennie Ching, shching@sunway.edu.my