Curtin Malaysia strengthens environmental partnerships with NREB and DOE to advance sustainability education

Miri, Sarawak – 10 July 2025 – Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) is deepening its collaboration with Sarawak’s key environmental agencies to advance sustainability education and align its engineering programmes with evolving environmental policies and real-world challenges.

A delegation from Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science, led by Senior Lecturer and Head of Engineering First Year (EFY) Ir. Dr. Tan Yee Yong, recently held meetings with officers from the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) and the Department of Environment (DOE) in Miri.

The visit marked a significant step in fostering stronger ties between academia and government to tackle pressing environmental issues such as water resource management, industrial compliance, and sustainable development.

Joining Ir. Dr. Tan on the visit were faculty members Carrie Ho, Dr. Tan Yin Ling, and Ts. Dr. Paran Gani. The delegation engaged with Weety Martin, head of NREB Miri branch and  Sinanawati Martano and Jessica Dubah anak Saga, the NREB officers; as well as head of DOE Miri branch Liew Shuk Huey.

Key discussions centred on the upcoming 2025 Miri Water Forum, a major platform for addressing water resource governance, and proposals for joint workshops on Environmental Law and Regulation tailored for Curtin Malaysia’s Environmental Engineering students.

“These initiatives are designed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world environmental governance,” said Ts. Dr. Paran, Programme Coordinator for Environmental Engineering. “Legal literacy empowers our students to make ethically sound, sustainable design choices.”

The visit also focused on recent legislative reforms that have redefined the roles of both NREB and DOE. Curtin Malaysia is taking steps to embed these policy shifts into its engineering curriculum to ensure students graduate with a clear understanding of regulatory frameworks.

“Future engineers must understand regulatory systems not just to meet compliance, but to fulfil their responsibilities to the environment and society,” said Ir. Dr. Tan, who coordinates Curtin Malaysia’s Integrated Design Project for Environmental Engineering.

Both the NREB and DOE officers expressed enthusiasm for deepening partnerships with Curtin Malaysia through applied research, knowledge exchange, and co-organised forums. These efforts aim to build a pipeline of industry-ready graduates equipped to drive impactful environmental solutions in Sarawak and beyond.

The collaboration reflects Curtin Malaysia’s continued commitment to sustainability, community engagement, and producing graduates who lead with purpose, policy awareness, and technical excellence.

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

Ir. Dr. Tan (fourth from right) and his team in a group photo with NREB officers.

Ts Dr Paran (right) and Ir Dr Tan (left) with DOE’s Liew Shuk Huey.