Curtin Malaysia scholars feted to tea at Western Australia Parliament House

Miri – 11 January 2018 – Curtin University, Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) students Jessica Gan Pei Heng, Chin Zi Han and Kevin Yeo Shu Jiun had the rare honour of being feted to afternoon tea at the Western Australia Parliament House in Perth by The Honourable Sue Ellery, Minister for Education and Training of Western Australia, recently.

The three students, who transferred in Perth early last year, are recipients of the Western Australia Premier’s Scholarship awarded annually to outstanding undergraduate students of the Malaysian campus to complete their final year at Curtin University’s main campus there.

All three have successfully completed their courses and are looking forward to family members from Malaysia joining them at their graduation ceremonies in Perth next month.

They found the visit to Parliament House, which included an unscheduled tour of the Lowe and Upper Houses, most memorable and thanked the minister for hosting them.

They also expressed their gratitude to the Western Australia Government for recognising their academic merit through the awarding of the scholarships, and to Curtin University for the wonderful student experience at both its Australian and Malaysian campuses.

Accompanying the students at the event were Curtin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry, Provost Professor John Cordery and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, International Professor Seth Kunin.

Gan, who hails from Tawau, Sabah and completed a Bachelor of Commerce double-major in accounting and finance, said she was overjoyed at being offered the scholarship and fulfilling her dream of studying in Australia.

Fellow accounting and finance student Chin remarked that the opportunity to study at the main campus allowed her to broaden her perspectives and realise her full potential. An outstanding student and recipient of multiple scholarships, she hopes to be an auditor with one of the Big Four accounting firms.

Meanwhile, petroleum engineering student Yeo hopes to work in the oil and gas industry in Malaysia. He believes the knowledge and experience he has gained in Australia will set him in good stead in his future career.

The Western Australia Premier’s Scholarships were first introduced in 2003 following a visit by Premier of Western Australia Dr. Geoff Gallop to Curtin Malaysia that year. They are aimed at giving outstanding final year students the opportunity to gain a different perspective on their fields of study and experience a different lifestyle and culture in Western Australia. The Western Australia Government subsidises their airfares and on-campus accommodation while Curtin University provides full fee waivers for their one year of study.

A new batch of scholars for 2018 are scheduled to depart for Perth next month. They are electronic and communication engineering student Loo Wei Chuan, mechanical engineering student Ng Chee Siong, mechanical engineering student Khor See Joo, and banking and finance students Saw Yi Heng and Lim Yu Xuan.

Curtin University is Western Australia’s largest and most multicultural university with Australia’s third largest international student population. With an expanding global presence, including locations in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and Dubai, the university boasts a rich diversity of cultures in its students and staff, and a firm commitment to international engagement.

Its strong global reputation has seen it rise up the international university rankings in recent years. It is now ranked in the top one per cent 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.

This worldwide focus has also resulted in Curtin being ranked one of the world’s most international universities, and the second-most international university in Australia, in 2016 by Times Higher Education.

Information on scholarships and study loans at Curtin Malaysia can be obtained by contacting Loans and Scholarships Officer Jeremy Edison George at +60 85 44 3925/3035 or by e-mail to loans.scholarships@curtin.edu.my.

The students being greeted by The Honourable Sue Ellery at Parliament House.

(L-R) Professor Cordery, Yeo, Chin, Professor Terry, Gan, Professor Kunin.

Chin, Yeo and Gan at the steps of Parliament House.

Gan, Yeo and Chin have throughly enjoyed their year in Perth.