Conferment of Honorary Doctorate of Technology to YAB Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi by Curtin University of Technology, Australia

MIRI, 22 February 2006 – Curtin University of Technology, Perth Western Australia (Curtin Australia) today conferred the Honorary Doctorate of Technology to YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the Honourable Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Held at Curtin Australia in Perth, Western Australia, the conferment was presented by Dr Eric Tan, Chancellor and Professor Lance Twomey, Vice–Chancellor, Curtin University of Technology, Perth Western Australia.

Dr Eric Tan, Chancellor and Professor Lance Twomey, Vice–Chancellor, Curtin University of Technology, Perth Western Australia said, “The award of Honorary Doctorate of Technology is the highest form of recognition offered by Curtin Australia. We are delighted that today the YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the Honourable Prime Minister of Malaysia has accepted this award. Past recipients include renowned Australian author Elizabeth Jolley, Australia’s current Governor–General, His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery, and eminent scientist Emeritus Professor John de Laeter.”

Professor Dr Ruth Marquis, Acting Pro Vice–Chancellor and Dean, Curtin Sarawak said, “We at Curtin Sarawak share this delightful and memorable moment where we are extremely happy that Malaysia’s Prime Minister, the YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is conferred with this highest form of recognition by Curtin Australia.”

The conferral of an Honorary Doctorate of Technology upon the YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Honourable Prime Minister of Malaysia, recognises his commitment to education, his personal attributes and Curtin’s long–standing and highly valued relationship with Malaysia.

The Honorary Doctorate of Technology especially recognises the YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s much admired personal attributes and actions, particularly as they relate to social justice, religious tolerance, environmental conservation and good governance. These attributes reflect the values contained in Curtin’s Guiding Ethical Principles, which, in turn, uphold those of the University’s namesake, former Prime Minister of Australia, John Curtin.

Since becoming Prime Minister in 2003, and previously as Education Minister, the YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has worked tirelessly to promote higher education in Malaysia, with a particular focus on regional education. His commitment to nurturing and developing education has given Malaysians greatly increased educational opportunities and enhanced Malaysia’s standing in higher education in the region. The Prime Minister seeks to position Malaysia positively in an increasingly competitive knowledge based global economy, a far–sighted policy that will benefit the country into the future.

Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s support for the development of Malaysia’s relationship with Australia, and for Curtin’s campus in Sarawak, means the University can look forward to a long–term, mutually beneficial partnership with Malaysia.

The establishment of Curtin’s campus in Sarawak in 1999, further strengthened the University’s relationship with Malaysia by making it both an Australian and a Malaysian university. The relationships between the University, the State Government of Sarawak, the Malaysian national education authorities and the city of Miri represent an outstanding example of international collaboration.

In 2002, Curtin Australia officially opened a campus in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia, in partnership with the Government of Sarawak. it is the first offshore campus of Curtin Australia and also the first foreign university campus to be set up in East Malaysia. The purpose–built campus accommodates students from around the world, opening up a host of new educational opportunities for both local and international students. It offers identical degrees to the main campus in Curtin Australia where every aspect of the academic programme including course materials, curricula and examinations is similar to those offered in Curtin Australia.

Curtin Australia, a world–class, internationally focused institution is Western Australia’s largest university with over 39,000 students, nearly 18,000 of those international students with its name taken from the Prime Minister of Australia from 1941–1945, John Curtin.

With students drawn from various countries, Curtin Sarawak offers a unique international and cross–cultural learning experience and brings to the Asia Pacific region quality tertiary educational opportunities to acquire prestigious internationally acclaimed Curtin degrees.

Curtin Sarawak’s next intake will be in July 2006 and recruitment sessions are currently ongoing throughout the region. Parents and students may meet academicians for personal counseling from Monday until Saturday commencing from 4 February 2006 – 4 March 2006 from 8.30am to 5.00 pm (Monday until Friday) and 9.00 am – 1.00 pm (Saturday).

For further enquiries, kindly call the Student Recruitment Hotline at 085–443 893 and application for admission for Curtin Sarawak programs can also be made online at www.curtin.edu.my/prospective/index.htm