Curtin Malaysia a great study destination for international students

Miri – 30 October 2018 – For many students, the appeal of learning in a different country, or even continent is rooted in their love for challenge and excitement. Studying abroad can be a way to revitalise their minds, stimulating creativity and wonder, while simultaneously gaining a world-class degree.

Not only does studying abroad fulfil their wanderlust-needs by deepening their appreciation for new countries and cultures, but they also become richer in knowledge and interpersonal expertise that will benefit them for a lifetime.

Studying abroad can also be a fantastic opportunity to establish a strong, global professional network, allowing students to forge friendships with classmates from all around the world.

On top of this, it can be an excellent chance for them to improve their language skills; be it through studying a course taught in another language, or simply improving their foreign language skills through immersion in the student community or the larger local community.

Studying overseas also works in their favour when it comes to employability, according to Professor Mienczakowski, Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia).

He said reports show that employers worldwide place increasing value on international experience when assessing graduate job applications. According to the biggest-ever survey on the subject, the QS Global Employer Survey Report, six out of 10 global employers claim to give extra credit for international student experience, and more than 80 per cent said they actively sought graduates who had studied overseas.

Another study carried out by IES Abroad revealed that around 49 per cent of the general population of recent graduates find jobs within 12 months of graduating, compared to 90 per cent of international students.

“As so many companies are operating across international boundaries these days, the more languages and experience with different cultures one can bring to a company, the more you can help expand its global footprint. Embracing the culture also reflects your ability to adopt a whole new outlook, which proves invaluable in the fast-paced business world,” said Professor Mienczakowski.

He added that Curtin Malaysia, the world’s largest Australian international campus as well Curtin University’s largest international campus and global hub in Asia located in Miri, Sarawak, is a perfect study destination for international students looking to pursue a world-class degree in an exotic locale and itching for a bit of adventure while at it.

“For many international students, leaving for a foreign university is likely to be the first time they will have spent a significant period away from their home country. Here, you will be faced with a new way of life and unique cultural perspectives, improving your understanding of the world and the people residing within it,” he said

Professor Mienczakowski added that Curtin Malaysia’s location in Borneo, one of the world’s most heart-stirring locations, is surrounded by five national parks including the world-renowned Gunung Mulu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Miri-Sibuti Coral Reefs National Park, Sarawak’s first marine national park offering world-class diving.

Miri, recognised as the birthplace of Malaysia’s petroleum industry dating back to the early 1900s, is a thriving city with a population of about 350,000. It is Sarawak’s second-largest city, characterised by a warm, tropical climate all year round, a safe, relaxed outdoor lifestyle, bustling eateries and colourful entertainment scene. It has all the advantages of a modern city, yet retains the friendliness and charm of a small, regional town.

Curtin Malaysia’s 1,200-acre campus is beautifully set in Miri’s northern suburb of Desa Senadin, about 17 kilometres from downtown Miri. Landscaped grounds, unique architecture reminiscent of Curtin buildings in Perth, man-made lakes and surrounding wetlands teeming with indigenous and migratory birds accentuate the natural beauty of this breathtaking campus.

Curtin Malaysia hosts a student population of over 4,000, with roughly one in every six hailing from global roots, building a warm and culturally-rich academic environment. It prides itself on the pastoral and academic support given to students, both from staff in its international office and other student support areas. Its tight-knit community also includes a very active international students association that offers an even greater sense of community to those far from home.

As for academic quality, Professor Mienczakowski said Curtin Malaysia prides itself in offering identical courses and degrees and an undifferentiated learning experience as its Australian parent. Curtin University is ranked in the top one percent of universities worldwide in the highly acclaimed Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2017 and is widely recognised for its world-ranked, industry-connected courses.

Curtin Malaysia offers bachelor’s degrees in popular majors such as accounting and finance, marketing and public relations, electrical and electronic engineering, petroleum engineering, environmental engineering, applied geology, construction management, software engineering, cyber security and media studies. It also offers master’s and doctoral degrees in various fields, as well as foundation courses that feed directly into its undergraduate programmes.

Professor Mienczakowski also remarked that, due to its global standing and reputation for producing quality, job-ready graduates, international graduates of Curtin Malaysia have been able to secure internship opportunities during their studies and employment within Malaysia upon graduation.

“Our graduates are so highly sought-after by multinational companies operating in Malaysia that many of our international students have been offered employment even before they graduate. So, you not only get a global education with us, your global experience extends to well-paying jobs here as well,” he said.

He cited several examples, such as Iranian civil and construction engineering graduate Seyed Omid Lame’ who is now a technical specialist with oil and gas supply and engineering services company Amserve Engineering, Indonesian chemical engineering graduate Mulyani Basri who is a petrophysicist with Shell Malaysia, Sakinah Maharani also from Indonesia who is working as a content review analyst with Accenture in Malaysia, and Indians Maulik Upala and Umika Battacharyya, both computer systems and networking graduates who are platform application engineers with Intel Malaysia.

Bangladeshi accounting graduate Araf Bin Tarek, who is now part of an international team working for Kuala Lumpur-based Samurai Internet Sdn. Bhd., is another example of an international graduate who has secured lucrative employment in Malaysia.

As an assistant sales manager with the Japanese real estate digital marketing firm, Araf is responsible for inbound and outbound sales. He interned with the company in his final year at Curtin Malaysia and found he really enjoyed doing sales, so he applied for a permanent position and was offered a job immediately upon graduation.

“I didn’t think it would be possible for an international student to get full-time employment right after graduating but I tried my luck anyway. I guess they were really impressed with the qualification and skills I had acquired at Curtin Malaysia,” said Araf.

Echoing Professor Mienczakowski’s sentiments about Malaysia, Araf said the country is amazing and he has fallen in love with the place, having gotten so used to its culture and lifestyle as a student.

“Malaysia is fairly well developed and the cost of living is relatively low. In addition, it offers lots of opportunities for international graduates and expatriate workers. A lot of companies offer very attractive expatriate employment packages that are very attractive and worth considering,” he said.

Curtin Malaysia, a perfect study destination for international students.

Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Professor Jim Mienczakowski says studying overseas works in international students’ favour.

Graduate Araf Bin Tarek, who has embarked on a career in property sales in Malaysia following graduation.

Miri City surrounded by lush tropical forests and the South China Sea.