3rd John Curtin Leadership Camp a huge success

Miri – 23 August 2012 – The recent 3rd John Curtin Leadership Camp (JCLC) organised by the John Curtin Leadership Academy (JCLA) of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) was a huge success. 80 students from seven Miri secondary schools took part in the 2-day camp held at the university’s campus in Senadin.

The camp was co-organised by the university’s Department of University Life and the AIESEC Curtin Sarawak Chapter with student volunteer support from the Curtin Young Associates (CYA).

In line with Curtin University’s vision of building leaders for the future, the camp inculcated critical skills such as self-management, character-building and teamwork. It also aimed to nurture leadership from within as well as develop young minds with a global outlook.

The participating students were from SMK Lutong, Kolej Tun Datu Tuanku Haji Bujang, SMK Merbau, SMK Luak, SM Sains, SMK St. Columba and SMK Chung Hua. They were nominated by their schools based on their interest in developing their self-potential and demonstrated leadership skills as leaders and members of clubs or societies in their respective schools.

Present at the camp were Curtin Sarawak Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Alistair Inglis; JCLC Advisor and University Life Officer Ansovinus Bonus Chai; representatives from AIESEC Malaysia comprising Tan Wei Jun (Vice President for Outgoing Exchange), Lim Boon Ken (Vice President for Talent Management) and Ashilla Sabin (Vice President for Alumni Engagement); as well as representatives from AIESEC Curtin Sarawak Chapter.
The first day of the camp with the theme ‘Youth to Leadership’ commenced with an opening ceremony, ice-breaking session and a session entitled ‘Understanding me and the essence of leadership’ conducted by Tan.

This was followed by a team-building activity facilitated by Ashilla called ‘Team Spirit Showcase’; sessions entitled ‘So you think you can communicate well?’ and ‘Build that machine!’ facilitated by Lim; and a session on getting to know the cultures of others called ‘Global village’.

The second day themed ‘Youth to Global Issues’ was aimed at creating global citizens aligned with Curtin’s Graduate Attributes. It involved a session with AIESEC entitled ‘AIESEC as a social enterprise’ which highlighted the concept of social enterprise, and another entitled ‘LEAD a change!’ which exposed them to project management and the impact it has on the community or schools.

According to JCLC Advisor Ansovinus, the students thoroughly enjoyed themselves and many of them suggested having longer camps of up to 4 days.

“As leaders, we are always building people. In the JCLC, we guide each participant towards becoming leaders because we believe that in the future, they will be able to build leaders as well. That’s the people-building-people effect,” commented Ansovinus.

The JCLA is Curtin’s student leadership programme developed in honour of John Curtin, the fourteenth Prime Minister of Australia and after whom the university is named, with the objectives of instilling his three core values of Vision, Leadership and Community Service.

AIESEC, meanwhile, is a global non-profit organisation run by students and recent graduates of institutions of higher learning. With a vision of peace and fulfilment of humankind’s potential, it is focused on providing a platform for youth leadership development and enabling its members to participate in international internships, experience leadership and interact with a global networkto support their development.

Participants of the JCLC posing for a group photo.