Chief Minister launches Curtin Malaysia 20th Anniversary Scholarships

Miri – 18 January 2019 – Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) is celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2019, and to commemorate this milestone, the University is offering a special category of scholarships for its foundation programmes and selected undergraduate programmes.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg was given the honour of launching the Curtin Malaysia 20th Anniversary Scholarships worth RM2.5 million when receiving senior leaders of the university on a courtesy call at his office in Kuching on Wednesday.

They comprised Curtin Malaysia pro-chancellor and chairman of the Curtin Malaysia Council Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam; chairman of the Curtin (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. board of directors Datu Ose Murang; chairman of the Curtin Malaysia management board Datuk Lee Kim Shin; board members Tan Sri Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot and Tuan Haji Azmi bin Haji Bujang, and Curtin Malaysia pro vice-chancellor, president and chief executive Professor Jim Mienczakowski.

The Curtin Malaysia 20th Anniversary Scholarships serve as a gesture by Curtin Malaysia to help talented and eligible students from the region fulfil their aspirations for higher studies, to motivate and encourage them to pursue a truly global education with Curtin, as well as recognise and reward the support from the community towards the university since its establishment in 1999.

The scholarships are designed to improve access and equity to academically high achieving students from lower socio-economic backgrounds to high quality tertiary education, and give them the opportunity to study with students from over 50 countries enrolled in a range of courses in engineering and science, business and humanities.

In 2018, Curtin Malaysia offered foundation scholarships worth RM2 million for students in Miri Division which were taken up by more than 110 deserving and high achieving scholars in the area.

Over the years, the University has awarded scholarships amounting to more than RM25 million to deserving students from all walks of life through the Curtin University Malaysia Merit Scholarships. These scholarships have enabled students to graduate successfully from accredited and top-ranked courses and contribute to human capital domestically and internationally.

“The scholarships reflect Curtin Malaysia’s commitment to be the regional leader in higher education and research and our firm commitment to rewarding academic excellence and enabling students from all backgrounds to realise their potential,” said Professor Mienczakowski.

The group also updated the chief minister on the latest developments at the university, including progress of its campus expansion and new courses being offered to meet industry demand this year.

Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari receiving a souvenir from Datuk Patinggi Dr Chan as the others look on.