Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science welcomes new Foundation students

Miri – 5 April 2018 – New students enrolled in the Foundation in Engineering and Science programme at Curtin University, Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) embarked on their year-long foundation studies recently after a faculty orientation session at its Faculty of Engineering and Science.

Similar sessions were conducted by the Faculty of Business and Faculty of Humanities. These sessions were part of a wider Orientation Week or ‘O-Week’ for all new foundation students conducted by the Department of University Life in collaboration with other student support areas and the faculties.

The students constituted the initial batch of new foundation students for the current semester as more are expected to be enrolled in the coming weeks due to an extended intake until 20 April 2018 following the recent release of SPM results.

The orientation session was facilitated by staff of the Faculty of Engineering and Science’s Foundation Department, with support from the Department of University Life, including its officers, orientation leaders and student volunteers.

Such orientation sessions are held at faculty level to help new students get acquainted with teaching staff, faculty facilities and services, methods of learning, policies and procedures, and the Faculty’s expectations of its students.

The students were welcomed by Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Science, Ir. Professor Lau Hieng Ho, followed by an introduction to the Foundation in Engineering and Science programme by Kamaroizan Mohamad, Head of the Foundation Department.

“A day-long session bringing new students and academic staff together at the start of the semester allows the students to get acquainted with their lecturers and find out all they need to know for a smooth transition into their learning environment,” said Kamaroizan.

The session included a briefing on laboratory safety by Senior Laboratory Technician Tab Sura Kanang, and on the on-campus and online learning facilities, as well as regulations relating to students, by associate lecturers Natallee Faith Kwan and Jameson Malang.

“It can be quite daunting for students entering university to experience a distinct change in learning environment, level and style of education, so we give them as much guidance as we can,” said Kwan.

“We’re happy all the students are eagerly embracing the change, particularly the concept of collaborative learning and acquiring critical-thinking skills, which will help them not only in their foundation year, but also in their degree studies later.”

Jameson, meanwhile, said learning and teaching at Curtin Malaysia also involved the use of innovative learning spaces, teaching technologies and pedagogies, as well as a range of online learning portals and resources, that the new students need to get accustomed to.

“We help the students adapt to these things as quickly as possible as they are crucial to their effective learning and getting the best student experience,” said Jameson.

Other highlights of the session included a ‘FUN Session’ where the students worked in groups to complete 20 tasks such as drafting class timetables, accessing the Open Educational Resources portal (Moodle), identifying their lecturers, and taking part in a Facebook photo contest.

Dheeraj Chhabra A/L Krishan, one of the student volunteers, said the new students did very well in the FUN Session, taking the opportunity to learn all they could in the activities and having a lot of fun at the same time. Prizes were awarded to the top teams.

SPM, O-Level and UEC leavers keen to join the current Foundation intake, or the next one in May, can contact marketing officer Stevenson Tan at 019-885 6076, or by email to stevenson.tan@curtin.edu.my or enquiries@curtin.edu.my. Alternatively, they can express interest and make enquiries at www1.curtin.edu.my/future/enquiry.htm.

Though classes officially commenced on 26 March 2018, newly-enrolled students will be able to get up to speed through special mini-orientation sessions and special learning sessions for missed classes conducted at all three faculties.

Students successfully completing their one-year Foundation programmes are guaranteed places in undergraduate programmes of their choice in the Faculties.

School-leavers with outstanding results are also encouraged to take advantage of the Curtin Foundation Scholarships and Curtin Malaysia Merit Scholarships offered by the university. Applicants can also enquire about study loans and other forms of financial aid available to them.

New students and Faculty staff at the start of the orientation session.