Curtin graduates should be proud of graduating from a top university, says vice-chancellor

Miri – 28 April 2016 – All graduates of Curtin University should take pride in graduating from a university that is recognised as being among the top two percent in the world, having progressed more rapidly in major international rankings than any other Australian institution in recent years.

This was highlighted by Vice-Chancellor of Curtin University, Professor Deborah Terry, when addressing the graduating classes of 2015 from the Faculty of Business and Humanities and Faculty of Engineering and Science of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) here recently.

Curtin Sarawak is Curtin University’s largest international campus offering Curtin courses and degrees identical to those of its Australian parent. It further provides an undifferentiated student learning experience and Curtin’s strong student learning support mechanisms.

Professor Terry added that Curtin University’s recent achievements have been many, including Australian federal government approval of the Curtin Medical School; launch of Cisco’s Internet of Everything Innovation Centre, only the eighth such centre in the world; membership of edX, the prestigious global consortium of universities established by Harvard and MIT to deliver online courses to students all over the world; and major new partnerships to enhance students and research opportunities with Hockey Malaysia and Jimmy Choo.

She also commended Curtin Sarawak for some of its recent achievements, such as the establishment of the Curtin Sarawak Graduate School to advance postgraduate education; being the first foreign branch campus to host the National Engineering Symposium and the first institution in Malaysia to host the Global Communication Project involving 15 universities worldwide; and the establishment if strategic partnerships with the National Sports Institute, Sarawak Energy and the Sarawak Agriculture Department.

She went on to say that Curtin’s reputation benefits hugely not only from the reputation and profile of Curtin Sarawak but also from the achievements of its graduates, citing the examples of graduates mass communication graduates Keeshaanan Sundaresan and Renee Loretta Foong, and mechanical engineering graduate Chukuwuma Menakaya and chemical engineering graduates Lee Ren Jie, Lim Shih Chiang, Sam Tze Mun and Loo Ying Ting.

Keeshaanan has been active in the world of sports writing since 2011 and is now Chief Editor of the sports news website FourthOfficial.com while Foong is a newscaster for Radio Television Malaysia.

Chukuwuma now works in New York where he is a global affairs researcher for the Peace Island Institute and the United Nations, while Lee, Lim, Sam and Loo were winners of the international Honeywell UniSim Design Challenge, a first for a Malaysian team.

Commenting on Curtin’s role in Malaysia, Professor Terry said she was very proud that the university’s mission to produce graduates of global calibre aligns closely with the country’s aspirations to build a skilled and educated workforce in order to support economic growth.

She added that in Sarawak, its courses, research and campus community work help to build the social and economic fabric of the state, including helping to meet the manpower and technical requirements of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Professor Terry also said that as the graduates make their way out of university life, they are in esteemed company, joining nearly 210,000 Curtin graduates from more 165 different countries in Curtin’s diverse alumni network.

Separate graduation ceremonies were held for the two faculties. The ceremony for the Faculty of Business and Humanities saw the graduation of 249 undergraduate students of with degrees in arts, business administration and commerce, and 31 postgraduate students with degrees in policy sciences, project management and Internet communications.

A further 228 undergraduate students of the Faculty of Engineering and Science graduated with degrees in engineering, science and technology, and six postgraduate students with MPhil and PhD degrees in chemical, electrical and computer, and mechanical engineering.

Others present at both graduation ceremonies were Curtin University Acting Chancellor Sue Wilson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International) Professor Seth Kunin and Curtin Sarawak Pro-Chancellor Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan and Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Professor Jim Mienczakowski.

Also present were Sarawak Assistant Minister of Communications and Sports and Chair of the Curtin Sarawak Management Board, Datuk Dr. Lee Kim Shin; Datu Dr. Hatta bin Solhi, Chairman of Curtin (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.; and members of the Curtin Sarawak Council, Board of Directors and Management Board.

The graduation stage party.

Faculty of Business and Humanities graduates.

Curtin Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry.

Graduates celebrating their achievement.

Faculty of Engineering and Science graduates.

The Faculty of Engineering and Science graduation ceremony.