Miri community invited to Curtin Malaysia’s International Festival on 27 April

Miri – 18 April 2018 – Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) is staging its International Festival (iFest) at Miri City Fan on 27 April 2018 and members of the public are invited to join the festivities from 4 pm to 9 pm.

Organised by Curtin Malaysia’s International Students Association (ISA) in collaboration with the Curtin Malaysia Student Council and with support from the Miri City Council, Sarawak Tourism Board and local businesses, it is the first time the annual event is being held off campus since the inaugural festival in 2004.

iFest 2018 organising chairman Tapfuma Mujaji said the iFest is one of the university’s biggest annual events, attracting more than a thousand visitors each year. It is hoped that with the event being held in the city this year, thousands more will take advantage of the accessibility and added attractions.

“In the lead up to Curtin Malaysia’s 20th year anniversary next year, the university management and ISA agreed that it would be meaningful to bring the event to the community and make the iFest a community-wide celebration of multiculturalism and international understanding,” he explained.

He said the event serves as a platform for the university’s international students to showcase their cultural diversity, as well as their national pride through performances and promotion of their respective cultures, costumes, cuisine and more.

Curtin Malaysia’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Professor Jim Mienczakowski added that the iFest will be a showcase of Curtin Malaysia as an internationally-focused university and part of a wider global university that is ranked among the top one percent of universities worldwide in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2017.

He said that this international focus at the Curtin Malaysia campus and other Curtin campuses in Australia, Singapore and Dubai has resulted in Curtin University being ranked the 26th most international university in the world, and the second-most international university in Australia, in 2016 by Times Higher Education.

”We are also an institution that is closely connected to the local community here in Miri, as evidenced by our many community outreach activities, industry partnerships, and applied research addressing local issues and challenges,” said Professor Mienczakowski.

According to Tapfuma, this year’s event will feature an eclectic programme of stage performances to showcase the wide variety of cultures and incredible talent of the students.

“There will also be booths promoting individual countries, a fashion show showcasing national costumes, and a gastronomic and visual feast of culinary delights from the different countries.”

He said members of the public can expect displays of culture by students from Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, China, Indonesia, India, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, The Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe and a number of Middle Eastern countries, among others.

The ISA is the representative and support organisation for Curtin Malaysia’s international students who come from over 50 different countries, operating in partnership with the university’s International Division and the Curtin Malaysia Student Council.

It aims to ensure that the welfare of the international students are well taken care of, and that they get the best out of the university’s unique international and cross-cultural learning environment.

To know more about the ISA, visit its Facebook page (internationalsa2018), Instagram (official_isacurtinmy), Snapchat (isa_curtinm) or YouTube channel (Curtin Malaysia ISA).

For more information on the iFest, including participation and sponsorship opportunities, contact Tapfumi Mujaji at 017-623 7292.

iFest 2018 at Miri City Fan on 27 April a celebration of multiculturalism and international understanding.

Visitors to iFest 2018 can expect to see colourful cultural performances from a variety of countries.