Curtin Malaysia initiates public dialogue on free tertiary education in Sarawak

Miri, Sarawak – 23 April 2025 – As Sarawak moves closer to launching its Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) in 2026, Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) has taken a bold step in leading public discourse through a thought-provoking community talk titled ‘Towards a Sustainable Free Education Initiative (FET) in Sarawak 2026’.

Held recently at Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri, the event brought together students, academics, policymakers, and members of the public to engage in an open dialogue on the structure, challenges, and long-term sustainability of the proposed FTES.

Organised in collaboration with Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri, the talk was spearheaded by Dr. Samuel Adeyinka-Ojo, academic lead of the MGMT6010 Corporate Strategy module under Curtin’s Master of International Business (MIB) programme. He was joined by Associate Professor Lew Tek Yew, Head of the Department of Management and Marketing, and Dr. Ting Qian Hui, Discipline Lead for the MIB programme.

“The transition to free tertiary education is not just a policy shift – it’s a societal transformation,” said Dr. Adeyinka-Ojo. “This platform enabled students and the community to voice their aspirations and concerns about the future of higher education in Sarawak.”

The discussion explored key elements of the FTES, including its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education), eligibility criteria, academic offerings, and implementation roadmap. The speakers highlighted how the scheme could drive inclusive development, empower underprivileged groups, and cultivate a future-ready workforce.

Curtin Malaysia’s MIB students played an active role in the session, facilitating meaningful exchanges with attendees and contributing valuable perspectives to the conversation.

The event concluded with a lively Q&A session, where audience members posed questions and shared recommendations. Appreciation tokens were presented to the speakers by officials from Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, underscoring the importance of academic–community collaboration.

“Public forums like this are vital in shaping informed, transparent policies that reflect the needs of all stakeholders,” said Associate Professor Lew. “As we look toward 2026, we’re proud to help lead these critical conversations.”

The talk marks a significant milestone in Curtin Malaysia’s ongoing commitment to community engagement and inclusive education policy development.

For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit its website at curtin.edu.my or follow Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok.

(Seated 2nd from right) Dr. Ting, Dr. Adeyinka-Ojo, and Associate Professor Lew with MIB students and representatives from Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri