Curtin Malaysia business students gain real-world insights during educational visit to Miri Hospital

Miri, Sarawak – 22 September 2025 – Students from the Faculty of Business at Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently had the rare opportunity to step into the world of public healthcare during an educational visit to Miri Hospital.

Organised by lecturer Dr. Muhammad Usman and Head of the Department of Management and Marketing Associate Professor Lew Yew Tek, the visit supported a student assignment exploring topical issues affecting medical doctors in Malaysia.

The visit offered the students first-hand insights into the realities of working in public healthcare, including challenges such as long hours, heavy workloads, uncompensated extra duties, limited career progression, and salary concerns.

“These are complex, real-world issues that go beyond textbooks,” said Dr. Usman. “By engaging directly with professionals in the field, our students were able to link theoretical concepts of organisational behaviour with the practical challenges faced by doctors today.”

The one-hour programme included interactive discussions with hospital representatives, where the students actively questioned and reflected on how organisational structures, workplace culture, and systemic constraints influence medical practice in Malaysia’s public sector.

In addition to enhancing academic learning, the visit also introduced the students to internship and career pathways within the healthcare sector, broadening their professional perspectives beyond traditional business fields.

The collaboration between Curtin Malaysia and Miri Hospital reflects a shared commitment to experiential learning and equipping students with skills relevant to real-world challenges. It also underscores the importance of cross-sector engagement, where insights from healthcare can inform wider business and management studies.

The students left the visit with not only a deeper appreciation of the pressures faced by medical practitioners but also a stronger sense of how business graduates can contribute to solving complex organisational and workforce issues in the healthcare industry.

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Curtin Malaysia academics and students in a group photo with Miri Hospital staff during the educational visit.