Curtin Malaysia graduation sees biggest graduating cohort ever

Miri – 2 May 2017 – Curtin University, Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) marked a historical milestone on Saturday as it handed out Curtin University scrolls to a total of 682 graduating students from its graduating classes of 2017 – its largest graduating cohort ever.

The graduates comprised 299 undergraduate and postgraduate students from the Faculty of Business, 37 from the Faculty of Humanities, 338 from the Faculty of Engineering and Science, and eight from other Curtin campuses, who attended two separate graduation ceremonies – a combined ceremony for the Faculty of Business and Faculty of Humanities in the morning, and another for the Faculty of Engineering and Science in the afternoon.

Both ceremonies were held at the university’s 1,500-capacity Recreation and Event Centre and attended by family members and a long list of dignitaries, including Andrew Goledzinowski, the Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, and a high-level delegation from Curtin University in Perth that included Acting Chancellor Sue Smith, University Council member Steve Scudamore, Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry, Deputy Vice-Chancellor – International Professor Seth Kunin, and others.

Representing Curtin Malaysia among the dignitaries were Curtin Malaysia’s Pro-Chancellor Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam, Chairman of Curtin (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. Datu Ose Murang, Chair of the Curtin Malaysia Management Board Datuk (Dr) Lee Kim Shin, and Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Professor Jim Mienczakowski.

293 undergraduate students from the Faculty of Business received Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Commerce degrees, while six postgraduate students received Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Business, Accounting and Management.

A further 13 students of the Faculty of Humanities received undergraduate degrees in Mass Communication and 24 received postgraduate qualifications in Project Management.

Meanwhile, 308 students of the Faculty of Engineering and Science graduated with Bachelor’s degrees in engineering, science and technology, including Chemical Engineering, Civil and Construction Engineering, Electrical Power Engineering, Electronic and Communication Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Applied Geology and Computer Systems and Networking.

Graduating alongside them were 30 postgraduate students graduating with Master’s and doctoral degrees in Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Petroleum Engineering.

This year’s graduation saw one of the highest numbers of postgraduate graduates, 60 in total, and the highest number of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees being conferred at 20. Curtin Malaysia has produced over 5,500 graduates since its establishment in 1999, including over 35 PhD graduates since 2011.

True to Curtin Malaysia’s status as Curtin University’s largest international campus and global hub in Asia, with a strong international focus and students from across the world, the graduating students were from a wide range of countries, including Malaysia, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, The Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, the United States and Vietnam, in addition to five countries in the Middle East, and four in Africa.

Coinciding with the graduation ceremonies was an equally glittering Awards Ceremony at the Miri Marriott Resort & Spa that evening, where high-achieving students of the university were presented university and industry-sponsored awards for academic excellence, outstanding extracurricular activities and community service.

According to Curtin Malaysia’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive, Professor Jim Mienczakowski, the graduation and awards events were also occasions for the university to celebrate some of its latest achievements.

They include new developments in research, renewal of its Tier 5 (Excellent) rating in the SETARA rating system for the fourth consecutive time, introduction of new learning technologies and spaces in line with Curtin’s transformative learning initiatives, and an expanding regional footprint as Curtin’s global hub in Asia through strategic partnerships and collaborations.

Curtin University is now recognised as being among the top one per cent of universities in the world according to the 2017 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), as well as the university which has progressed more rapidly in major international rankings than any other Australian institution in recent years.

Curtin Malaysia offers the same world-ranked and internationally-accredited courses and degrees as its Australian parent. Furthermore, most of the courses are accredited by professional bodies nationally and internationally, including Engineers Australia and the Engineering Accreditation Council of Malaysia for its engineering courses, and the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and other international bodies for its business offerings.

Established in 1999 in partnership with the Sarawak State Government, Curtin Malaysia is one of the largest foreign branch campuses in the world. Occupying a sprawling 1,200 acre campus in Miri, it has the conducive environment and comprehensive facilities for a full university campus experience. Its students come from over 50 different countries, making it a very international and culturally-diverse campus, and academic staff from over 15 countries further strengthen its global focus.

This year’s graduating cohort the largest ever at 682 graduates.

Curtin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry addressing the graduates.

Pomp and grandeur at joint ceremony for Faculty of Business and Faculty of Humanities.

Stage party including Australian High Commissioner and senior leadership of Perth and Malaysia campuses.

Curtin Malaysia has produced over 5,500 graduates since its establishment.

Graduates in a jubilant mood.

This year’s graduation also saw the highest number of graduates receiving postgraduate degrees, including PhDs.