Vice-Chancellor urges Curtin Malaysia graduates to rise to the occasion

Miri – 4 May 2017 – Curtin graduates, as leaders of the future, should rise to the occasion and never underestimate their capacity to make a difference.

This was emphasised by Vice-Chancellor of Curtin University, Professor Deborah Terry, when addressing 682 graduates of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) at their graduation ceremonies here last Saturday.

The graduates from the Faculty of Business, Faculty of Humanities and Faculty of Engineering and Science represented Curtin Malaysia’s largest graduating cohort ever in its 19-year history.

Professor Terry said Curtin University’s fiftieth anniversary last year was an opportunity for the university to reflect on its evolution from a teaching-focused institute to the highly ranked and sophisticated global university it is today, with four overseas campuses in Malaysia, Singapore, Dubai and Mauritius and a rapidly growing research reputation.

She said the graduates should be proud to be graduating from a university that is increasingly making its mark on the global stage, including rising rapidly in the major international rankings of universities to now being ranked in the top one percent of universities worldwide, and being named as the fastest-rising and most collaborative university in Australia.

She also mentioned the impact Curtin has been making in Malaysia and how Curtin Malaysia has assumed a key role in helping develop Sarawak’s bioeconomy through its newly-completed Pilot Plant Facility, and Curtin marine research being undertaken in the Miri-Sibuti Coral Reefs National Park being made part of the regional Research for Intensified Management of Bio-rich Areas (RIMBA).

The creation of innovative learning technologies and spaces at Curtin Malaysia, including Sarawak’s first MyDigitalMaker Hub created in collaboration with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) was also a notable achievement, she said.

“Enjoy and feel proud of your achievement, and as you make your way out of university life, know that you are esteemed company, joining over 215,000 Curtin graduates from 155 different countries, and never forget that Curtin, your alma mater, will always be here for you,” Professor Terry said in her closing remarks.

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 dignitaries including Andrew Goledzinowski, the Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, and a 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 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.

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. 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, 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.

Curtin Malaysia offers the same world-ranked and internationally-accredited courses and degrees as its Australian parent. Almost all 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.

Curtin Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry addressing the graduates.

Family members revel in the joy and sense of achievement of graduates.

This latest graduating cohort was Curtin Malaysia’s largest ever.

Curtin Malaysia graduates join Curtin’s global network of over 215,000 alumni from 155 countries.