Curtin Malaysia chemical engineering students attend international ENTECH Summer Programme in Thailand

Miri, Sarawak – 5 August 2025 – Five undergraduate chemical engineering students from Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently gained valuable international exposure and practical knowledge through their participation in the prestigious Chemical Engineering ENTECH Summer Programme in Thailand.

They were Austin Jason Pui, Ashley Bernadette Simon Augustine August, Resty Anak James, Irfa Safrina Rahmat, and  Nur Amirah Haziqah Ismail.

Hosted by Silpakorn University, the four-day programme brought together students from Curtin Malaysia, Kumamoto University (Japan), and Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), and was supported by academic powerhouses Nagoya University (Japan) and Chulalongkorn University (Thailand). The event combined academic immersion, cultural exploration, and international networking, offering participants a transformative global learning experience.

“The experience deepened my understanding of sustainability and global collaboration,” said Resty Anak James, one of the Curtin Malaysia team members, alongside Irfa Safrina Rahmat and Ashley Bernadette Simon Augustine August, who clinched the programme’s Best Presentation Award for their creative engineering solution focused on enhancing coconut sugar production using sustainable techniques.

The programme opened with a keynote by Assistant Professor Dr. Choowong Chaisuk, Deputy Dean of Silpakorn University’s Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Technology, setting the tone for four days of intensive learning and cultural exchange. Students engaged in hands-on sustainability workshops, field visits, and research presentations by world-renowned academics such as Professor Armando T. Quitain from Kumamoto University and Associate Professor Dr. Worapon Kiatkittipong of Silpakorn University.

Participants also enjoyed an enriching cultural experience, from crafting traditional Thai desserts and tie-dye fabrics at Tara House & Water Sports to exploring the iconic Amphawa Floating Market and the vibrant Maeklong Railway Market. The programme concluded with a visit to the towering Phra Pathommachedi stupa, capping off a meaningful blend of engineering insight and cultural discovery.

Associate Professor Bridgid Chin of Curtin Malaysia’s Department of Chemical and Energy Engineering, who accompanied the Curtin Malaysia students, praised the programme for providing students with valuable global exposure and aligning with the university’s commitment to producing industry-ready graduates. She also expressed gratitude to Silpakorn University and Sarawak’s Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development for their generous support through scholarships and funding.

“This programme exemplifies the kind of high-impact, cross-cultural learning we strive to offer at Curtin Malaysia,” Associate Professor Chin said. “It is an important part of nurturing globally competent engineers equipped to solve real-world problems.”

 With international collaborations like the ENTECH Summer Programme, Curtin Malaysia continues to empower its students with the skills, mindset, and global perspective needed to thrive in the evolving world of engineering and sustainability.

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

Group photo during the opening ceremony of the ENTECH Summer Programme at Silpakorn University.

Curtin Malaysia students proudly display their hand-dyed fabrics after cultural activity at Tara House & Water Sports in Samut Songkhram.

Networking dinner at Saphan Yong Café, set amid lush rice fields, where students bonded over local cuisine and cultural performances.

Participants visit Phra Pathommachedi, the world’s second-tallest stupa, during the final day of the programme in Nakhon Pathom Province.