Curtin Malaysia and SM Pei Min enhance collaboration with signing of MoU

Miri – 12 September 2019 – Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia), Curtin University’s largest international campus and global hub in Asia, and Sekolah Menengah Pei Min (SM Pei Min), a leading Chinese independent school here in Miri, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today for collaboration in providing higher education pathways for SM Pei Min students and training opportunities, particularly in the teaching of English, for its staff.

The MoU includes SM Pei Min promoting Curtin Malaysia as a preferred tertiary institution to its students. The university will in turn provide suitable pathways for the students to pursue its world-ranked Curtin courses, as well as English language courses such as its Intensive English Programme (IEP).

To facilitate this, the two institutions will enhance collaboration to ensure the students and their parents get all the relevant information they need about Curtin Malaysia and the courses it offers, including creating a space at the school where such information will be readily available.

They will also hold academic activities such as talks, workshops, camps and competitions for both staff and students of the school so that they will be able to network with university staff and students and thus build a closer connection with the university.

In addition, staff of Curtin Malaysia will assist the school to provide career and course counselling to the students to help them make informed decisions about career pathways and choice of courses.

Signing on behalf of Curtin Malaysia was Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Beena Giridharan, while Chief Executive Officer Wong Hin Chai signed for SM Pei Min.

In his speech during the signing ceremony at SM Pei Min, Wong said ex-students of the school continue to perform brilliantly at Curtin Malaysia and are doing their alma-mater proud. He said 43 of them are currently enrolled in Foundation Studies, Bachelor of Engineering (Hons.) and Bachelor of Commerce programmes at the campus following their United Examination Certificate (UEC) examinations.

Curtin accepts UEC qualifications, along with SPM, STPM and other international qualifications such as the O-Levels, A-Levels and International Baccalaureate, for entry into its foundation and undergraduate programmes.

Wong added that the school management was proud to see so many of its students getting a world-class global education at Curtin Malaysia over the last 20 years since the campus’ establishment in Miri in 1999.

He mentioned current students like Foundation Studies in Commerce student Gui Kang Yin, Bachelor of Commerce student Christy Lau Weng Weng and Engineering (Hons.) student Chang Yii Shuan. All three are among the top students in their respective programmes.

He was also glad to note that several hundred have been among the over 7,000 graduates Curtin Malaysia has produced since its first degree graduation in 2002. Many have gone on to very successful careers in commerce and industry since their graduation, he said.

 According to Wong, SM Pei Min is keen to enhance the prestige of its students with more intensive teaching of English and other subjects, to ensure they have the best chances of entering universities of their choice where English is the language of instruction, including Curtin Malaysia. In order to do so, appropriate training would have to be given to teachers, thus the collaboration with Curtin Malaysia.

Professor Giridharan commented that Curtin Malaysia is well positioned to deliver the support SM Pei Min needs, given its strengths in the teaching of English through its long-running Intensive English Programme (IEP) and delivery of English short courses for select groups.

She said the courses at its Department of Culture and Language Studies help students build practical English skills for general, academic and professional purposes, as well as prepare them for university study in English. Its teaching staff recruited internationally specialise in improving proficiency in listening, reading, writing and speaking in English, and training students to interact with English speakers in everyday and professional situations.

Professor Giridharan added that the teaching staff are also dedicated to establishing supportive lecturer-student relationships and fostering an atmosphere of openness among cultures. In addition, Curtin Malaysia is also the only IELTS testing centre in northern Sarawak in cooperation with the British Council.

“We laud SM Pei Min for its efforts to improve the English proficiency of its students and teachers and its foresight in preparing students for tertiary study. We have had many very bright students of the school studying with us and look forward to receiving many more,” Professor Giridharan said.

Professor Giridharan (left) and Mr Wong exchanging the MoU documents.