Curtin Sarawak enhances relationship with Institute of Materials Malaysia with MoU

Miri – 15 June 2015 – A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) just signed between the Institute of Materials Malaysia (IMM) and the Faculty of Engineering and Science of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) will see a significant enhancement of their ongoing relationship, including the establishment of an IMM student chapter at the campus.
Signing the MoU on behalf of the university and IMM respectively were Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Professor Jim Mienczakowski and IMM President Professor Mohd. Kamal Harun.

On hand to witness the signing in the university’s council room were Dean of Curtin Sarawak’s Faculty of Engineering and Science Professor Michael Cloke and IMM Vice President Ir. Mohd. Azmi Mohd. Noor.

Also present were Chairman of the IMM Student Chapter Eur. Ir. Nigel Brewitt and Curtin Sarawak’s Dean of Teaching and Learning, who is also the training and education officer for IMM – Miri chapter, Associate Professor Beena Giridharan.

The MoU and the establishment of an IMM student chapter at Curtin Sarawak will facilitate a number of mutually beneficial activities such as joint conferences and seminars, as well as internships opportunities for students. It will also enable industrialists, researchers and governmental organisations to interact with academic staff and students of Curtin Sarawak.

In conjunction with the MoU signing, IMM conducted the first seminar series at the university. The seminars were conducted by senior representatives of PETRONAS, CorrTrol Group of Companies and AMW Technology Sdn. Bhd. and attended by 75 students and staff.

Ir. Mohd. Azmi, who is also the Head of Asset Integrity, Upstream HSE at PETRONAS, spoke about career opportunities in the oil and gas industry and provided valuable insights into the latest technological advances employed in the Malaysian oil and gas sector where graduate engineers from various disciplines can play vital roles.

Meanwhile, Managing Director of CorrTrol Group of Companies Kang Kim Ang enlightened the attendees on the importance of corrosion technology in the Malaysian oil and gas industry. His seminar helped them understand some of the theoretical applications of chemical engineering concepts.

The final seminar delivered by Ir. Dr. Edwin Jong, General Manager of AMW Technology and adjunct professor at Curtin Sarawak, touched on welding technology as well as its growth and advancements in Malaysia.

IMM is a non-profit professional society that promotes ethical practice, professional conduct and encourages education in materials science, technology and engineering. It has a large membership of engineers, academics, technicians, skilled workers and professionals and champions collaborations between industry and academia to advance material sciences technology.

Curtin Sarawak’s Faculty of Engineering and Science offers a wide range of engineering programmes that are fully accredited by Engineers Australia and Board of Engineers Malaysia. It presently has enrolments of about 2,000 students in chemical, mechanical, petroleum, civil and construction, electronic and communications, electrical power, computer system and environmental engineering.

As one of the pioneers of quality engineering education in Malaysia, it has a good pool of researchers and staff who strive to provide industry-related opportunities to students through close collaborations with relevant industries and partnerships.

Professor Mienczakowski and Professor Mohd. Kamal exchanging MoU documents.

Group photo of participants attending the seminar series.