Curtin Malaysia celebrates innovation and industry collaboration at Avantpreneur Appreciation Morning Tea

Miri, Sarawak – 31 October 2025 – A spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship filled the air at Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) as students, academics, and industry partners gathered for the Avantpreneur Appreciation Morning Tea, marking a successful first year of the Avantpreneur Business Lab, an experiential learning programme turning classrooms into innovation hubs.

The Avantpreneur Business Lab, a collaboration between Curtin Malaysia and Avantsar Sdn. Bhd., supported by the Curtin Malaysia Teaching Innovation Project Fund, has been widely praised for bridging academic theory with real-world business challenges.

The event celebrated two cohorts of students who completed their year-long rotations in 2025, recognising their creativity, resilience, and growth. Certificates were presented in recognition of their achievements and commitment to hands-on learning.

“The Avantpreneur Business Lab is a testament to how learning transforms when connected with real-world practice,” said Professor Pauline Ho, Dean of the Faculty of Business. “I’m proud of our students who have demonstrated creativity, teamwork, and the courage to take on uncertainty. When academia meets industry with purpose, students don’t just learn, they thrive.”

Designed as a work-integrated learning (WIL) model, the Avantpreneur Business Lab immerses participants in real entrepreneurial projects. Students work directly with industry partners, applying classroom concepts to tackle authentic challenges while honing critical 21st-century skills such as leadership, communication, and problem-solving.

According to a post-project survey, students reported increased motivation, engagement, and confidence, citing significant improvement in critical thinking, curiosity, and collaboration.

Project leads Yip Ka Yii and Dr. Ho Jie Min expressed heartfelt gratitude to students for their dedication and willingness to embrace a new way of learning.

“A year ago, this was just an idea,” said Dr. Ho. “We’re deeply grateful to the students who trusted us before the concept even took shape. Their energy and curiosity turned the Avantpreneur Business Lab into a living example of innovation in action.”

Yip added, “Every milestone achieved was the result of collaboration, between students, academics, and our industry partner. Together, we have shown that learning can be dynamic, entrepreneurial, and deeply human.”

As the inaugural cycle concludes, the Avantpreneur Business Lab stands as a model for Curtin Malaysia’s future industry-engaged learning initiatives, empowering students to learn by doing, lead with curiosity, and build professional connections that extend far beyond the classroom.

For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit curtin.edu.my or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, or TikTok.

Standing (5th right) Yip, Dean of Learning and Teaching Professor Tang Fu Ee, Professor Pauline Ho, and Dr. Ho (standing left) with the Avantpreneur Business Lab students.