When learning becomes living: The story behind Curtin Malaysia’s Avantpreneur Business Lab
By Yip Ka Yii and Dr. Ho Jie Min
It began, as most great ideas do, with a simple question – and a spark of curiosity.
“What if our students could run a business instead of just studying how one works?”
“What if the campus became a place where ideas and action meet?”
A year later, that “what if” became something extraordinary.
Today, it’s called the Avantpreneur Business Lab, a living, breathing experiment in education where learning and doing are no longer separate worlds, and where students do not just study innovation; they become innovators.
From Concept to Campus Reality
The Avantpreneur Business Lab was born from a powerful partnership between Curtin University Malaysia and Avantsar Sdn. Bhd., a subsidiary of Sarawak Oil Palms Berhad (SOPB).
Led by Accounting and Finance Lecturer Yip Ka Yii and Management and Marketing Lecturer Dr. Ho Jie Min from Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Business, and supported by Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Lim Chye Ing and Dr. Ivy Hii, Associate Deans of External Engagement from the Faculty of Engineering and Science and Faculty of Business respectively, the project set out to reimagine what work-integrated learning (WIL) could truly mean.
Instead of case studies, students were handed real challenges. They ran a campus-based business marketing Avant Health products, managing everything from daily operations and marketing strategies to sustainability initiatives like recycling and waste reduction.
For many, it was their first step into the real world of business, and a moment of awakening.
“It felt meaningful to work on something real,” one student shared. “It made me realise I could actually see my ideas make a difference.”
A Living Laboratory of Learning
Soon, the Curtin Malaysia campus transformed into what the team fondly calls a living laboratory. Lecture notes gave way to brainstorming sessions. Whiteboards filled with marketing pitches and cost analyses. Classrooms buzzed with creativity, teamwork, and the occasional burst of laughter.
Students debated branding, experimented with pricing, and navigated the uncertainties of entrepreneurship, learning that failure was not an endpoint, but a catalyst for growth.
Industry mentors from SOPB brought authenticity to the experience, sharing stories and insights that connected textbook theory to market reality.
“Generation Z students want to see how what they learn applies to real life,” said Yip. “The Avantpreneur Lab gives them that, It is a space to test ideas, collaborate, and build confidence in a safe but challenging environment.”
Dr. Ho added, “This partnership bridges university and industry. It helps students not just gain employability skills, but truly understand what it takes to create, sustain, and lead in the real world.”
Learning Beyond the Classroom
By the end of the programme, the transformation was unmistakable.
Students reported higher motivation, stronger teamwork, and renewed confidence in their abilities. They learned how to communicate effectively, think critically, and adapt creatively – skills no textbook can teach alone.
“The project connected me more closely to my peers and the university community,” said another student. “Seeing our product on display made me proud. It was proof that our hard work mattered.”
For many, sustainability also took on new meaning – not as a buzzword, but as a guiding principle that shaped every business decision they made.
The Framework Behind the Magic
Behind the energy and experimentation was a solid foundation – the Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Engagement Cycle Framework.
The Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Engagement Cycle Framework developed from the Avantpreneur Business Lab project.
This five-phase model – covering planning, partnership, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement – ensured every stage of learning was intentional, reflective, and impactful.
It not only gave structure to the Avantpreneur Lab but also laid the groundwork for future WIL initiatives at Curtin Malaysia. The project team now plans to formalise it into a practical guide for educators and introduce digital credentials and sustainability badges to recognise student achievement.
A Step Toward the Future
What began as an experimental idea has evolved into a defining symbol of transformative, student-centred education at Curtin Malaysia.
Through the Avantpreneur Business Lab, students discovered that learning does not just happen in lectures – it happens in conversations, experiments, setbacks, and shared victories.
“This project shows what can happen when academia and industry work together,” said Dr. Ho. “Students become active learners – confident, creative, and ready to make a difference.”
As Curtin Malaysia continues to push the boundaries of learning innovation, the Avantpreneur Business Lab stands as a shining example of what’s possible when imagination meets courage – and when learning truly becomes living.
Avantpreneur Business Lab booth, where students marketed Avant Health products and experienced the realities of running a business on campus.
Yip Ka Yii is a lecturer in the Department of Accounting and Finance, Faculty of Business at Curtin Malaysia, where she teaches Accounting and Taxation. She can be contacted at kayiiyip@curtin.edu.my.
Dr Ho Jie Min is a lecturer in the Department of Management and Marketing, Faculty of Business at Curtin Malaysia, where she teaches Marketing and Tourism. She can be contacted at jiemin.ho@curtin.edu.my.
