Based on the latest circular and moving forward, we’re expected to adopt Open & Distance Learning approach from Monday, 13 April 2020. This means there will be no face-to-face lectures or tutorials from such date. Hence, we are currently, planning particularly carefully and actively considering how teaching and assessment will be delivered in this unusual situation. In this regard, Guidelines to eLearning@UiTMLaw has been issued as our frame of reference in the execution of ODL. Our aim will be to enable teaching and learning to continue throughout this March – July 2020 semester, albeit in a different form than usual.

I understand how challenging transitioning to fully online classes is for most students and staff who rejoice the campus experience. I feel for all staff, whose regular interactions with students and colleagues give a sense of value to your work. I agree that these changes will require tremendous effort on your part. For that, I appreciate in advance your understanding, patience and commitment to our students as we do our best to provide the best legal education possible under these challenging circumstances.

I realise that these decisions have implications and I care, immensely, about your wellbeing. Hence, if you are experiencing any difficulty, do let me know. I hope that we may band together and support each other. Always remember, we are a team. A unique and exceptional team and hopefully we will get through this together. All the best!

Educators and students around the world are feeling the overwhelming ripple effect of the novel COVID-19 outbreak. While we are in the midst of a very uncertain time, UiTMLaw’s commitment to the health and welfare of our members of faculty remains our utmost concern and, surely, for that of our families and friends. Against that background, I advise all students to refer to the circular issued by both the Malaysian Government and UiTM which will be updated time to time.

As we continue to navigate this unprecedented situation, we are steadfast in prioritizing the delivery of teaching and learning at the onset of this agonistic challenge we now face. In this regard, UiTMLaw is now seeing into audio and video lectures, an online collaboration and video-conferencing platforms like Google Meet, Webex, Kaizala, Zoom and others and we are considering how this can best be deployed for teaching and learning purposes. In this regard, Guidelines to eLearning@UiTMLaw and Quick Guide to eLearning have been issued as guidance. We aim to deliver teaching and learning at our fullest capacity albeit in a different form from usual.

We are also mindful of the concerns from students about timing of final assessments, worries over unreliable internet access, and questions around ensuring that facilities and accessibility needs can still be met. Rest assured that we remain driven in supporting our students to complete this term by providing you with the best possible teaching and learning experience that we can. We will continue to provide you with further information about our contingency plans for teaching and learning the soonest possible and you will be constantly updated with UiTMLaw’s ongoing and evolving contingency planning. We appreciate that the global COVID-19 pandemic is increasingly alarming, and that the changes necessitates very significant adjustments on everyone’s part. But, in the name of togetherness as a community and the good will that characterizes its members, we are confident that we will triumph this challenge successfully.

On behalf of the entire UiTMLaw family, thank you for your understanding and support during this trying time. You and your loved ones are in our thoughts.