About Online Learning

 

About Online Learning

In intercepting any potential outbreak of COVID19 within the Swinburne community, Swinburne Sarawak has made the immediate switch to online learning and teaching as it aligns with the university’s priority to protect the health and safety of its community. The university appreciates our students’ support and willingness to adapt to online learning.

About CANVAS

Swinburne Sarawak uses CANVAS, the latest learning management system, since 2019.

What is CANVAS?

CANVAS is Swinburne’s learning management system that you can access online from any PC/desktop, tablet or mobile device. It is the most advanced and contemporary Learning Management System (LMS) available and is also adopted by other renowned universities such as Harvard, Yale and Stanford.

What are the learning modes used by Swinburne for online learning?

Students undergo two different modes of online learning namely Synchronous and Asynchronous modes.

  • Synchronous: learning that takes place in real-time, where a group of people engages in learning simultaneously. Synchronous learning modes involves streaming live lecture sessions, tutorials or forums.
  • Asynchronous: a more learner-centred mode where students learn without having the constraints of being in a certain place at a certain time. Asynchronous learning modes includes sharing a recorded lectures or webinars, sharing learning materials via emails or online forums and discussion boards.

How do I access CANVAS?

You can access Canvas by clicking the link in the right menu bar of the current student tab /current-students/get-started.

You can also access Canvas via this link: /canvas/

Familiarize yourself with CANVAS here.


Semester commencement and campus reopening

Will the semesters still commence as schedule?

Yes. The semesters for 2021 will commence as schedule. Do check the Academic Calendar to confirm the enrolment and commencement dates for each level of study.

When will enrolment start since the campus is closed?

Enrolment will be done online. Please check with the Marketing and Student Recruitment Office at study@swinburne.edu.my for the enrolment dates for programs you’re interested in.

How about Orientation? Will this still be organised?

Orientation will be conducted online. Once you’ve enrolled, Student Engagement will email you with the dates for the Orientation Week, or what we call Online O-Week.

You can also check this link /current-students/get-started/swinburne-sarawak-orientation-program.php for any updates on O-Week.

When will the campus reopen?

We are planning a staged transition for all our students to be back on campus by October 2020. However, this reopening is strictly dependent on the current situation in Malaysia, and with guidelines from relevant authorities and government agencies. For more information, please contact your Program Convenor.


About Online Learning

Will classes be online?

Yes. Online learning and teaching started in April 2020 (semester 1). This was to ensure the safety of our students and staff through the practice of social distancing.

How can I access the online learning and teaching?

You can access online learning and teaching via CANVAS using your Swinburne student email account which you will received once you have completed your enrolment.

Can I still contact my Unit Convener/lecturer/tutor?

Yes. Teaching staff will conduct online delivery of lectures/tutoring as planned. They are also accessible to students.

Your Unit Convener will contact you with information about each of your units and how these will be managed. Please check CANVAS Announcements and your student email regularly. You are encouraged to contact your Unit Convener should you not receive information regarding your units when your semester commences.

I am a current student. If the entire semester is taught online, can I go back to my home country/city and continue with my online learning there?

We believe that online learning will provide the best experience for you without compromising the quality, in the current environment. It will be possible to continue your studies off campus, but please ensure that you have an appropriate laptop/pc and a good internet connection.

What will happen to exams?

There will be no end-of-semester final exams for 2020. Final exams will be replaced by other form of assessments.

For more information, please contact your Program Convenor.

More on Online Learning

  • Online Study

    Studying online doesn’t mean studying alone. For every unit, you’ll be a part of a class and you’ll have regular interactions with your lecturers and tutor, and your classmates too via CANVAS.

  • Virtual Classroom

    Your virtual classroom has been tailored for online learning via CANVAS. Use it to interact with your lecturers, tutors and classmates, and engage with a variety of learning formats including multimedia, interactive activities, podcasts and videos.

  • Online Tutorial

    You’ll have one-to-one contact with your lecturer or tutor to guide your learning in every unit via CANVAS’ communication tools. You will also be encouraged to collaborate on CANVAS discussion boards with other students.

  • Online Discussion

    Your lecturer or tutor will conduct regular discussions and interactive activities via CANVAS communication tools to help you with the unit’s content and assignments. Use these to reflect on each week’s topic and also be guided by insights from your classmates.

  • Online Flexibility

    Online learning provides flexibility for student to learn and engage at any time or place. In comparison, traditional on-campus learning and teaching requires students to attend lectures and tutorials at a venue at a given time. Via CANVAS, students can log in to their online learning environment to access their course, whenever and wherever it is convenient to them.

  • Other benefits of studying online

    Swinburne students continue to have access to the same range of student services and programs that is available on campus. You can take advantage of everything Swinburne has to offer, while enjoying the flexibility of studying online and being fully supported at your convenience.

  • Digital Literacy

    Digital Literacy is one of our Swinburne Graduate Attributes! Studying online demonstrate that Swinburne students can learn, collaborate, and work within the digital world, a vital 21st century work skill!


About Facilities

Can students access the library when the campus reopens?

Yes. You can access the library and other campus facilities when the campus reopens. However, we must continue to observe social distancing and adhere to all safety and health procedures in order to maintain everyone’s safety and health.

Is the library resources sufficient?

Swinburne Sarawak’s library holds:

  • More than 380,000 book titles in which 90% are in digital format. Electronic books (eBooks) are available via several different platforms
  • More than 80 online database covering a majority of disciplines
  • Online newspapers and magazines. Students are encouraged to access PressReaders, a platform that gives more than 7,000 digital newsstands from around the world
  • Full text theses and final year projects

Can we access the library remotely?

Students can access the online resources remotely through the library website /library/search

How do we sign up for remote access?

Students need to register as a member of the library. Once you have signed-up, email our name and Swinburne ID number to library@swinburne.edu.my in order for the librarian to activate your account.

To sign-up : /library/search/search-help.php


About Finance

Will the tuition fees be cheaper now that classes are online?

Swinburne Sarawak is committed to ensure that units/subjects are delivered in the most effective manner without impairing the overall teaching and learning outcomes.

Teaching staff will continue to actively support the students through online learning and delivery arrangement via CANVAS and email.

In addition, the online database and e-books resources will always be available to aid and enhance the student’s learning and research process.

Even though online learning and delivery is the way forward until the RMCO is lifted, students will still be able to access the physical resources and facilities while practising social distancing.

I am a current student. Can I get a refund and defer my semester?

For students intending to apply for Leave of Absence (LOA), the tuition fee paid for the current semester will be automatically brought forward to the following semester.

However, if a student decide to withdraw thereafter, the Refund Policy shall apply (see below).

Application for LOA need to be received by a stipulated date

50%

Submission of-
  1. Withdrawal from program
  2. Withdrawal from unit of study
  3. Leave of Absence

Refund of tuition fee

After the stipulated date

No refund

Fee paid will not be brought forward to the next semester if the student submit the LOA after the stipulated date.

Please do note that during the RMCO period, Finance – Treasure Services requires a minimum of four (4) weeks to make the refund.

For the cut-off date in submitting the LOA, please inquire with Student Engagement –studentHQ at sic@swinburne.edu.my.

How can I make payments using credit card during RMCO period?

Payment via credit card through Internet or Mobile Banking can be made via JomPAY effective from 30 April 2020. The JomPAY payment method also accept payments via Savings or Current accounts.

Do note that the use of credit card payment is limited to cards issued by banks in Malaysia.

JomPAY biller code is as below:



Please present the proof of online transfer immediately after making payment to enable us to identify the transaction and subsequent issuance of official receipts.

What are the bank details for Swinburne Sarawak?

Account Name: Swinburne Sarawak Sdn Bhd
Bank Name: CIMB Bank Berhad
Account Number: 80-0526998-9
Address: Lot 170 & 171, Section 49 KTLD, Jalan Chan Chin Ann, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
SWIFT Code: CIBBMYKL

Account Name: Swinburne Sarawak Sdn Bhd
Bank Name: RHB Bank Berhad
Account Number: 2-11016-00065829
Address: Suite 2 & 3, Ground Floor, Yung Kong Abell, Lot 365, Abell Road, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak
SWIFT Code: RHBBMYKL

Click on the following link /current-students/manage-course/paying-fees/how-i-pay-my-fee.php for full details on “How I Pay My Fee”.

When is the Payment due date?

Please check with Student Engagement – studentHQ at sic@swinburne.edu.my.

What should I do if I need to extend the payment beyond the stipulated due date?

Students are advised to write in to Finance Treasury Services (FTS) at fintu@swinburne.edu.my to request for the necessary extension of payment due date(s).  The usual one-off administration fee of RM100.00 (as per Ancillary Fee) per semester will still apply.

A student who fails to communicate with FTS on their payment status will be deemed as an inactive student and subject to the usual procedures of being dropped from their enrolment, blocked from the learning management system, Canvas and etc., so please ensure that you contact us.

Please also take note that for any student who has been granted the extended payment due date, should you have any outstanding debt for the current semester, these must be settled in full. Failure to do so may result in your final assessment result(s) being withheld and/or you will be blocked from enrolment for the following semester.

Can I still process a refund when the Student HQ is closed during the MCO?

Student can submit their documents through email to sic@swinburne.edu.my or fintu@swinburne.edu.my

Please do take note that during the RMCO period, Finance – Treasury Services will endeavour to meet the refund timeline of 4 weeks.

Click on the following link /current-students/manage-course/paying-fees/how-i-pay-my-fee.php for full details on “How Do I Pay My Fees”.


About Student Development and Support

Are there Counsellors on campus?

Yes. We have a Counselling team on campus whom you can contact online at any time through ecounselling@swinburne.edu.my

Face-to-face appointments with a Counsellor is possible at the end of the RMCO and when the campus reopens.

Online: ecounselling@swinburne.edu.my

Telephone:
+60 82 260 789 – Evelyn Liew
+60 82 260 932- Chloe Liong
+60 82 260 873- Fazlia

In person: Room G106, Building G, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak

As required, everyone is encouraged to practice social distancing when having the face-to-face meeting.

Can we access to counsellors remotely when off campus?

Yes. We have an online counselling service called Swin-eCounsellors. They can be reached via ecounselling@swinburne.edu.my All information shared in the emails will be regarded as confidential.

For more information on Student Development and Support, please click on the link /student-operations/student-administration/student-development-counselling


About Campus Library

Can I visit the library on campus?

Swinburne Sarawak’s library remains closed to all library users until further notice. However, only certain essential services on-site will be made available during this period.

How many students /visitors are allowed?

Only 10 users are allowed access to essential services at any one time and all users who wish to enter the library must make an appointment beforehand.

Making an appointment

Email: library@swinburne.edu.my
By phone: +60 82 260 936 or office extension 7936
Live Chat (8.30am – 5.30pm, Mon – Fri) from library website
Facebook Private Message – Swinburne Sarawak Library

How do I access the library portal off-site?

Access to the Library portal can be made here.

How do I check the library’s collections?

The library’s collections can be accessed here.