New building marks new chapter for Curtin Malaysia engineering and science faculty

Miri – 16 February 2017 – Staff of the Faculty of Engineering and Science at Curtin University, Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) moved into their new faculty building this week ahead of the start of a new semester later this month.

The occasion was marked by a key handover ceremony between Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive of Curtin Malaysia Professor Jim Mienczakowski and Faculty Dean Professor Lau Hieng Ho, witnessed by over 100 staff of the faculty.

Addressing the staff, Professor Mienczakowski said it marked a new chapter for the campus and, given that faculties are often referred to as the engine rooms of a university, Curtin Malaysia can look forward to an even bolder and more innovative engineering and science faculty.

“With this building, we can look forward to lots of new and exciting possibilities. When you start teaching in the new semester, I am sure you will see a new energy in the students when they start using the facilities,” he remarked enthusiastically.

Professor Mienczakowski added that Curtin University’s magnificent reputation is based first and foremost on the success of its outstanding graduates, but this reputation is also based, in part, on the superb facilities it provides at its campuses in Australia, Malaysia and Singapore – facilities that are essential to innovative education.

“One of our priorities at Curtin Malaysia is to ensure that our students have access to facilities comparable to those at the main campus in Perth. Our students need to learn in the best possible facilities and there should be very little difference in the student learning experience between campuses,” he said.

Professor Mienczakowski said Curtin Malaysia will continue to create innovative learning spaces equipped with the latest technological advances that facilitate the two-way delivery of material between the Curtin campuses as it is the capacity to build bi-directional links in both teaching and research that are the hallmarks of a genuine global university.

He also said that it was extremely significant that there are currently nearly a hundred students from the main campus on a mobility exercise to Curtin Malaysia, which was a significant move in Curtin’s drive towards globalisation of its campuses and curriculum.

“Student mobility, globalisation and being a hub in Asia for Curtin is Curtin Malaysia’s strategic direction and strategic future.

Furthermore, this campus will play a key role in Curtin’s new global positioning strategy that will see a further expansion of Curtin’s global footprint through strategic international alliances, partnerships and well integrated campuses. Therefore, our campuses need to be viewed as of equal importance, and connections and collaborations across locations need to become more embedded in our day-to-day practices,” he stressed.

The four-storey building, built and furnished at a cost of over RM20 million, brings together the administrative and teaching facilities of the Faculty of Engineering and Science which were previously spread across two precincts of the campus. It houses three large lecture halls on the ground floor, classrooms on the first floor, lecturer and meeting rooms on the second floor, and offices and more meeting and discussion rooms on the top floor.

Curtin Malaysia’s current (first semester) intake is now in progress with classes for undergraduate and foundation programmes commencing on 27 February and 27 March respectively. For more information on courses and enrolment, go to http://www1.curtin.edu.my/future/enquiry.htm.

Professor Mienczakowski handing over symbolic key to Professor Lau.

Front section of the building, also known as Skylark 3.

New building a significant addition to Curtin Malaysia’s growing campus.