Curtin Malaysia graduate wins prestigious IEM Gold Medal for top engineering student

Miri, Sarawak – 5 May 2026 – Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) marked a significant academic milestone as its recent graduate, James Tai Chun Ket, was awarded the prestigious IEM Gold Medal Award 2025, recognising him as one of the Best Final Year Engineering Students in Malaysia.

The national-level accolade honours Tai’s outstanding academic achievement in the Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) (Honours) programme, placing him among the country’s top-performing engineering graduates.

Tai received the award at the 67th Annual Dinner & Awards Night organised by the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), held on 18 April at the Sunway Resort Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. The event, themed ‘Connecting Engineering Practitioners,’ brought together leading professionals and emerging talents in the engineering field to celebrate excellence and innovation.

The award is presented annually to the most outstanding engineering graduate based on final semester examination results. Eligible candidates are selected from programmes accredited by the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) and must be registered as Graduate Members of IEM, making the recognition both competitive and highly prestigious within the engineering community.

Curtin Malaysia’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive, Professor Vincent Lee Chieng Chen, who attended the ceremony alongside faculty members, described the achievement as a proud moment for the university. “The IEM Gold Medal Award represents the pinnacle of academic excellence for engineering students. James’ accomplishment reflects not only his dedication and perseverance, but also the strength of Curtin Malaysia’s engineering education in producing industry-ready graduates,” he said.

Also present at the event were the IEM Miri branch chairman, Professor Ir. Stephanie Chan Yen San, Head of Curtin Malaysia’s Chemical & Energy Engineering Department, and the IEM Miri branch’s immediate past chairman, Ir. Meheron Selowara Joo, Senior Lecturer in the Civil & Construction Engineering Department, who joined in celebrating Tai’s success.

Tai’s achievement underscores Curtin Malaysia’s continued commitment to nurturing high-calibre graduates equipped to excel in Malaysia’s engineering landscape and beyond.

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

Prof Vincent Lee (2nd left), Ir. Meheron Selowara Joo (right), and Prof. Ir. Stephanie Chan congratulating James Tai on winning the IEM Gold Medal Award 2025 for Best Final Year Engineering Student.