5 students from Curtin Sarawak awarded the Western Australian Premier Scholarship

Monday, 11 February 2008 – Five final year students, Tan Kim Yong, Belinda Yeo Pei Yee, Bay Yeo Yang Sheng, Alexander Bong Ng Heng Zu and Roger Chai Koh Yek of Curtin University of Technology Sarawak have departed to Perth to finish their final year of study at the Curtin University Bentley Campus under the Western Australian (WA) Premier Scholarship that was awarded to them recently.

To demonstrate the Government’s commitment to building a stronger relationship with the Malaysian Government, the WA Premier Scholarship aims to give some of the best and brightest student from Curtin Sarawak the opportunity to gain a different perspective on their field of study and to experience life in a different country.

The WA Government will provide AUD$5,000 for each scholarship towards airfares, visas, health insurance and accommodation and Curtin will pay for tuition fees for the one year of study.

“I’m really excited that I get to see the main campus in person after hearing so much about it,” exclaimed Bay Yeo Yang Sheng, final year student in the Civil and Construction Engineering degree.

Bay Yeo was the Student Council President at Curtin Sarawak in 2006 and has contributed a great deal for the students including setting up a common room on the Sarawak campus.

“When I was with the Student Council, one of our targets was to create the link especially with the Student Guild in Bentley so that we can share ideas and see how we can further improve our student welfare. With this opportunity to study in Bentley, I’ll be able to liaise directly with the Curtin Student Guild and create a vital link with the Student Council in Miri.”

“Seeing programs like Megastructures and other construction programs in the Discovery Channel inspired me to be part of a construction team in building prominent landmarks that are recognised all over the world, such as the Twin Towers. I plan to return to Miri when I graduate to contribute to the development of Miri and possibly pursue my postgraduate studies in Civil and Construction Engineering in Curtin Sarawak,” he added further.

While Bay is interested in the megastructures, Roger Chai likes things that cannot be seen with the naked eye.

“Living things especially microscopic living things like the deepwater insects and marine life intrigue me more which eventually led me to pursue my degree in Chemical Engineering,” said Roger Chai.

“Although the oil and gas industry is booming and the career opportunities in this industry is increasing, being a graduate from Chemical Engineering will also open up opportunities for me to venture into other industries such as in palm oil, food processing, water treatment and other natural resources processes,” he said.

“With this degree, it will give me options of working in different countries. One day I would like to return to my own hometown to work and contribute to my own country,”

Roger has always been a very active student in Curtin Sarawak was the President of Curtin Volunteers (CV!) in 2007. Curtin Volunteers is a non-for-profit organisation that gives Curtin students, staff and the general community an opportunity to be involved in various community projects. One of the biggest community event conducted by CV! is the John Curtin Weekend where the annual project is run concurrently across the world reaching out to those who are in need of help.

“I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with the Curtin Volunteers in the Bentley campus and see the different community projects run by them. I can share my experiences with the new Committee of Curtin Volunteers in Curtin Sarawak,” he added.

“It will be very interesting to see how I can juggle between my studies, extra-curricular activities and adapting to living in Perth. I am committed to gaining the most out of this once in a lifetime experience,” he added. Roger also plans to stay longer in Perth after his degree to pursue his postgraduate studies.

“We are all grateful to the WA government and Curtin for giving us this opportunity and an experience that we know we will never forget,” expressed Bay and Roger.

[From left to right] Roger Chai & Bay Yeo celebrating Chinese New Year with friends and family before leaving for Perth.