Curtin Malaysia senior executives attend Curtin alumni dinner in Kuala Lumpur

Miri – 26 February 2018 – Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia), Professor Jim Mienczakowski and Chief Operating Officer Kingsley Francis Charles were amongst guests attending a Curtin alumni dinner organised by the Curtin Alumni Association of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur recently.

According to Professor Mienczakowski, who was invited to speak at the event, it was an honour for senior executives of Curtin Malaysia, Curtin University’s largest international campus and global hub in Asia, to attend the gathering of Curtin alumni in Malaysia in conjunction with Curtin University’s 50th year anniversary and the Chinese New Year.

Other notable guests included Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, HE Andrew Goledzinowski and his wife Lyn Allan, Curtin University Deputy Vice-Chancellor International Professor Seth Kunin, and Director of Alumni and Advancement Services Erika Beazley.

Also present were founding Curtin Alumni Association President L.A. Lim; current president Saran Baskaran and vice-president Michelle Chia; Vice President for Education and Welfare of Malaysian Australian Alumni Council (MAAC) and Curtin alumnus Jane Teh; winner of MAAC Community Achievement Award Angelia Chin Sharpe; and Curtin Alumni committee members Ryann Yeap, Kendrick Chee, Jesslyn Wong and Professor Muhammad Sadruddin Mohd. Saidfudin.

Professor Mienczakowski said he was delighted to see so many Curtin alumni at the dinner who were there because they each had a connection to Curtin University and are proud to be part of a diverse alumni network of some 215,000 Curtin graduates from 155 different countries.

“Curtin University has just celebrated its 50 Years of Innovation in education, research, collaboration and engagement, and indeed our graduates should carry this legacy with great pride.

“They should also be proud to be graduates of a university that is recognised as being among the top one percent in the world, and as the university which has progressed more rapidly in major international rankings than any other Australian institution in recent years,” he remarked

Professor Mienczakowski said Curtin Malaysia itself has produced over 5,500 graduates in various disciplines since its establishment in 1999 and is set to graduate about 670 more at its graduation ceremony this April. Curtin University Chancellor Colin Beckett, Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry and other senior executives will be attending, and the Australian high commissioner and other Australian High Commission officials are also expected to attend.

“We hope that with the attendance of members of the university’s senior executive and the Australian high commissioner, it will be an occasion to not only to celebrate the achievement of our graduates, but also the enduring friendship between Australia and Malaysia that brought our campus into being,” said Professor Mienczakowski.

On Curtin’s alumni, Professor Mienczakowski hopes the synergising of Curtin’s campuses in Perth, Malaysia, Singapore and Dubai under the mantle of its ‘One University’ approach will be extended to its alumni across the world as well, particularly in Malaysia.

“A lot can be done to bring Curtin alumni in Malaysia together, and we look forward to greater synergy between our alumni in East and West Malaysia, and between the alumni offices in the Perth and Malaysia campuses.

“Being an alumnus is more than just a definition. It’s not only a part of a graduate’s history, but who they are today. Their relationship with Curtin shouldn’t end with their graduation. We value their continued interest, interaction, and involvement in the life of their university,” he said.

Established in 1993, the Curtin University Alumni Association (Malaysia) aims to connect Curtin alumni in Malaysia with their alma-mater in Perth. It organises regular events, mainly in the Klang Valley, for its members. Every Curtin alumnus, regardless of which Curtin campus they graduated from, is granted free membership for life.

Curtin University has international campuses and partner campuses all over the world, and as such, has built a strong international reputation as a leading university with global reach. Its alumni are a critical part of the university community, regarded as valued stakeholders who, by their continued participation, help the rest of the students in the Curtin community fulfil their educational mission, help shape the university’s character, and further its global reputation.

Professor Mienczakowski seated (far left) with HE Andrew Goledzinowski and his wife, Lyn Allan, and Erika Beazley (far right) while Kingsley stands (third left) with (from left) Curtin Alumni Vice-President Michelle Chia, Angelia Chin Sharpe, Jane Teh and President Saran Baskaran.