Curtin Malaysia working globally, providing a new pathway to Curtin University campuses

Miri – 11 September 2017 – Curtin University, Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) has entered into a partnership with The Global Education Group Co. Ltd. (GEGCO) in Thailand to deliver Curtin’s Intensive English Program and other Pathway offerings for Thai and other international students to degree studies at Curtin Malaysia and other Curtin University campuses.

“This partnership between Curtin and GEGCO is a significant one, essentially opening up access to students from the region to any of Curtin’s global campuses,” said Curtin Malaysia’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Professor Jim Mienczakowski at the launch of the programmes in Bangkok recently.

The partnership involves offering Curtin’s 12-month accredited Pre-University Programs in Thailand at GEGCO in Bangkok. Once the students have reached the required academic levels, they will have guaranteed entry into a wide number of Curtin University degree courses offered across its global campuses in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and Dubai.

Witnessing the launch was the Australian ambassador to Thailand, His Excellency Paul Robilliard. Also present were Curtin Malaysia Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Beena Giridharan, and representatives of GEGCO headed by directors Faye Kusolcholada and Ky Cao, and Professor Kevin Fynn, Head of Curtin University’s School of Electrical Engineering and Computing in Perth and member of the university’s Commercialisation Advisory Board.

“Curtin University’s global footprint offers a number of affordable pathways in which students can obtain their quality international degree. There are many pathways in which they can structure their study programmes to gain diverse cultural experiences but also to suit their financial situations,” said Kusolcholada.

She added that there is no difference between the pre- university courses taught by GEGCO and those taught at Curtin Malaysia and their academic quality is tightly controlled and monitored by Curtin Malaysia.

Furthermore, students in Bangkok will be enrolled as Curtin students with Curtin student ID numbers allowing them access to the same Curtin Internet resources available to all Curtin students. Thai students will receive Curtin certificates of completion upon passing their courses.

Adding to Kusolcholada’s comments, Professor Mienczakowski said pursuing a Curtin undergraduate degree at Curtin Malaysia costs roughly a third of what it would cost doing the same degree in Australia.

He said students at Curtin Malaysia also have the option of transferring to Curtin University’s main campus in Perth after a certain period to complete their degrees, and studying at more than one campus will certainly give them that added global experience and perspective.

“For example, an engineering student can do his first two years at Curtin Malaysia, and then the final two years in Perth, which could represent a saving of up to 50,000 US dollars,” Professor Mienczakowski commented.

He said Curtin Malaysia has a firm commitment to providing quality education and research and students are assured of not only a quality Australian education at very affordable fees but a global learning experience in a uniquely Malaysian setting as well.

Curtin Malaysia is Curtin University’s largest international campus and global hub in Asia with students from some 50 nations studying a wide range of courses, at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, in business, humanities, engineering and related sciences. It also provides pre-university courses that feed directly into its undergraduate programmes.

Curtin University is a global university with campuses in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. Its strong global reputation has seen it rise dramatically up the international university rankings in recent years. It is now ranked in the top one percent of universities worldwide in the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2017 and has risen to 262 in the world on the QS World University Ranking 2017-18.

GEGCO offers education pathways, starting from Bangkok, for students who aspire to study undergraduate degree programmes internationally. To enquire about the Curtin programmes offered at GEGCO, visit www.gegco.asia or email admin@gegco.asia.

Prof Mienczakowski (centre) flanked by Prof Fynn and Kusolcholada (2nd and 3rd left), Prof Giridharan (5th left), Cao (far right) and other directors of GEGCO in Bangkok.