Affordability, accreditation and high standards attract students to Curtin Sarawak

Miri – 2 October, 2009 – As the first foreign university campus in East Malaysia, Curtin University of Technology, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) provides an exciting opportunity for students to pursue a tertiary education at a fraction of the cost of studying in a foreign country like Australia.

All degree programmes at Curtin Sarawak, including course materials and examinations, are identical to those offered at Curtin University of Technology’s main campus in Perth, Western Australia.

“The relatively lower cost of studying and living in Miri compared to Perth and other cities in Australia, coupled with the fact that our academic programmes are identical to those offered at our main campus, are a huge draw for students in the region. We have seen a healthy growth in student numbers over the last few years, and the projection for the next five years is very promising indeed,” says Curtin Sarawak’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dr. John Evans.

Curtin Sarawak currently has about 2,700 students from over 40 different countries, offering a unique international and cross-cultural learning environment. Its sprawling state-of-the-art garden campus in Senadin about 20 kilometres from the city centre is designed to eventually accommodate up to 10,000 students.

“Furthermore, degrees from Curtin are awarded under the Australian Qualifications Framework, a single nationwide system designed to ensure qualifications are recognised and accepted throughout the world.       Thus, a Curtin qualification enables graduates to operate as professionals anywhere in the world, in line with international best practice and the highest ethical standards,” adds Dr. Evans.

According to Dr. Evans, studying at Curtin Sarawak not only ensures graduates a world-class degree and the practical experience required to further their careers, but through accreditation of its programmes, immediate recognition by government and professional bodies as well.

They include engineering programmes accredited by the Institution of Engineers Malaysia and the Institution of Engineers Australia, such as its Bachelor degree programmes in Civil and Construction Engineering, Computer System Engineering, Electrical Power Engineering, Electronic and Communication Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Systems and Networking, and Chemical Engineering. The Chemical Engineering programme is also accredited by the Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), United Kingdom, while its Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) programme is accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

Dean of the School of Engineering and Science, Professor Dr. Yudi Samyudia, says accreditation by professional bodies such as the Board of Engineers Malaysia is important as it is compulsory for graduates, in order to work as engineers in Malaysia, to be registered by the board.

He says the accreditation status of Curtin Sarawak’s engineering programmes have also helped attract highly-qualified academic staff to the university, including PhD degree holders from leading universities such as Oxford University, Imperial College London, University of Queensland and Australian National University.

Accreditation also gives Curtin Sarawak’s students the opportunity to benchmark their performance with other universities throughout the world.

He adds that accreditation status is renewed regularly, and the university continuously improves its teaching and learning practices and research and development, as well as its learning resources, laboratories and other facilities, to meet the stringent requirements of accreditation.

Similarly, the key factor attracting students to Curtin Sarawak’s School of Business is its internationally-recognised qualifications accredited by professional bodies such as the Chartered Public Accountants Australia (CPA Australia). They include the Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Commerce programmes, as well as its Master of Accounting programme.

Dean Shamsul Kamariah Abdullah says other attractions are the school’s teaching and learning environment, the reputation of its academics, and the application of up-to-date teaching and learning methodologies and technologies. “They give our students an exceptional learning experience and prepares them for immediate employment upon graduation,” says Shamsul.

To ensure consistent quality, courses offered by Curtin are developed in consultation with advisory boards comprising relevant academic staff and representatives from the university, community, industry, and professional bodies. They guide the development of award courses or groups of courses and provide productive links with Curtin’s quality teaching and research programmes.

The courses also undergo an annual review, which monitors courses in regard to student profile, teaching and learning quality, resources and market responsiveness, to identify and implement initiatives for enhancement. Once every five years, courses undergo a comprehensive course review, a broad, in-depth review conducted to ensure continuing high quality, viability and compatibility with Curtin’s strategic direction and priorities.

Curtin Sarawak’s lecturers are frequently recognised for their teaching excellence, often at international level. They also keep up with the latest developments in subject areas and integrate the newest advancements in educational technology into their classes.

Furthermore, the university emphasises the need for students to remain at the forefront of technological and educational progress so that when they step out into the world, they are equipped with the most up-to-date information and skills relevant to their new careers.

Its state-of-the-art campus is equipped with the latest computers, software, laboratory equipment, and reference materials in addition to free Internet access and e-mail facilities for students. In addition, students have access to learning resources at the Curtin campus in Perth and other resources via the Internet.

For more information on Curtin Sarawak, log onto its website at www.curtin.edu.my or call its Marketing Department at 085-443 939.