Curtin Malaysia students gain real-world insights during visit to SOP’s palm oil operations

Miri, Sarawak – 18 May 2025 – A group of undergraduate students from the Faculty of Business at Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently had the opportunity to go behind the scenes at one of Sarawak’s leading agribusinesses – Sarawak Oil Palms Berhad (SOP) – as part of Curtin Malaysia’s innovative Classroom to Field (C2F) experiential learning initiative.

The educational field visit to the company’s SOP Academy Lambir and SOP Lambir Palm Oil Mill was organised for students enrolled in the Financial Decision-Making (ACCT1002) and Company Law for Business (BLAW2006) units offered under the Faculty of Business’ Department of Accounting and Finance.

Led by Head of Department Dr. Dhanuskodi Rengasamy and law lecturer Dr. Mohammad Belayet Hossain, and supported by fellow lecturers Dr. Mohammad Abdul Matin and Dr. Muhammad Imran, the visit aimed to bridge the gap between academic theory and professional practice in one of Malaysia’s most dynamic industries.

At the mill, the students received comprehensive briefings from SOP’s engineering and management teams, who explained the intricacies of palm oil production, from raw material sourcing and processing workflows to safety protocols, financial oversight, legal compliance, and sustainability practices.

They then toured the mill’s operational areas, where the accounting students explored real-world cost management strategies and financial decision-making processes, while law students observed how regulatory frameworks and corporate governance principles are applied in practice within Malaysia’s palm oil sector.

“This kind of field experience is invaluable,” said Dr. Dhanuskodi. “It gives our students first-hand insights into how accounting tools and concepts come alive in complex industry settings.”
Dr. Belayet added, “For the law students, engaging directly with industry players deepens their understanding of how legal frameworks impact operational decisions.”

The visit is part of Curtin Malaysia’s broader commitment to outcome-based education and active industry collaboration, ensuring graduates are job-ready, globally competent, and confident in applying their knowledge in professional contexts.

Curtin Malaysia offers Curtin’s three-year Bachelor of Commerce degrees in Accounting and Finance as single majors, and double majors in Accounting and Finance, Finance and Management, Finance and Marketing, and Accounting and Audit Analytics. These programmes equip students with both theoretical knowledge and the practical skills necessary to thrive in today’s competitive business environment. For information on undergraduate courses at Curtin Malaysia, visit curtin.edu.my/study/undergraduate.

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

Students and lecturers pose for group photo at SOP Lambir Academy

SOP Lambir Palm Oil Mill management staff join the students in marking the successful conclusion of the visit