Curtin Malaysia enters partnership with Indonesian varsity

Miri – 22 June 2021 – Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last Tuesday for long-term collaboration with Parahyangan Catholic University, also known as Universitas Katolik Parahyangan (UNPAR), in Bandung, Indonesia.

A virtual signing ceremony was held where Curtin Malaysia’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive, Professor Leunig, and Rector of UNPAR, Bapak Mangadar Situmorang, PhD, signed on behalf of their respective universities.

The MoU sets the framework for collaboration in a wide range of areas, including joint education and research activities, staff and student exchange, exchange of academic materials and publications, and joint organisation of academic and scientific conferences.

In his speech during the ceremony, Professor Leunig said Curtin Malaysia was pleased to partner with UNPAR as it was apparent that UNPAR’s strengths in academia and research, being one of the oldest private universities in Indonesia, could be leveraged with Curtin Malaysia’s strengths as Curtin University’s largest global campus and education and research hub in Southeast Asia.

Professor Leunig noted that the partnership would commence with academic collaboration between Curtin Malaysia’s Department of Chemical Engineering and the Chemical Engineering Department at UNPAR, saying that it was a good first step in the partnership.

“I am sure this collaboration will gradually be extended to other areas and programmes, seeing as UNPAR has similar programs in business, social sciences, engineering, science and technology as us,” he said.

Professor Leunig assured Bapak Mangadar that it would be a quality partnership as Curtin Malaysia offers a wide range of accredited and internationally-recognised courses in study areas where Curtin ranks highly in the global subject rankings, including 2nd in the world for Mineral and Mining Engineering, 43rd for Geology, and 44th for Petroleum Engineering in the QS Subject Rankings. Curtin is also within the top 150 in the world for Chemical Engineering.

Professor Leunig added that Curtin just recently achieved two significant milestones – entering the world’s top 200 in the QS World University Rankings 2022 and becoming one of only three Australian universities to achieve a QS Five Stars Plus rating. All these achievements are clear indicators of the university’s ability to harness its strengths as a global and innovative institution, he said.

He said that, to help Curtin University expand its global footprint, and enhance the quality of its scholarship, teaching and research, Curtin Malaysia actively seeks opportunities to foster partnerships with reputable institutions, industry, business and government. Currently, it has active MoUs with universities in South Korea, India and Indonesia, and recently signed a major agreement with the government of Cambodia to upskill and capacity-build staff at the Institute of Technology Cambodia.

He also said Curtin Malaysia’s leading-edge research in bioprocessing, digital futures and rural entrepreneurship has been strengthened with the addition of aquaculture and strategic studies around the South China Sea.

Bapak Mangadar, meanwhile, said the MoU showed the commitment of the two institutions to establishing a longlasting and productive partnership.

He added that with over 11,000 students, about 1,000 academic staff and 31 study programmes ranging from business, social sciences and law to engineering, industrial technology, philosophy, and soon medical and health studies and education as well, UNPAR had much to contribute to the partnership. He said academics of UNPAR have visited Curtin Malaysia in the past, and are looking forward to more meaningful exchanges with their Curtin counterparts in the coming years.

Also present at the signing were Dr. Thedy Yogasara, UNPAR’s Dean of Faculty of Industrial Technology; Bapak Faisal Wahab, Vice Dean of Faculty of Industrial Technology for Students and Alumni Affairs; Dr. Sylvia Yazid, Head of International Office; Dr. Tedi Hudaya, Head of Department of Chemical Engineering; Dr. Ir. Asaf Kleopas Sugih, Head of Graduate Programme; and Dr. Jenny Novianti Muliarahayu Soetedjo, Head of Chemical Engineering Study Programme.

Besides Professor Leunig, also representing Curtin Malaysia were Professor Beena Giridharan, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor; Professor Tuong Thuy Vu, Dean of Faculty of Engineering and Science; Associate Professor Agus Saptoro, Deputy Dean of R&D and Chair of Curtin Malaysia Graduate Studies Committee; Associate Professor Stephanie Chan Yen San, Head of Department of Chemical Engineering; and Dr. Lim Chye Ing, Chair of Industrial and External Relations Committee, Faculty of Engineering and Science.

Representatives of Curtin Malaysia and UNPAR during the signing ceremony. Bapak Mangadar Situmorang PhD and Professor Simon Leunig are at top left and far right, second row respectively.