Curtin Malaysia’s significant number of Advance HE Fellows a testament to its unwavering commitment to teaching excellence

Miri – 15 September 2023 – Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently attained the distinction of becoming one of the top three institutions in Malaysia with the most Advance HE (Higher Education) Fellows.

Advance HE (formerly HEA) Fellowships are widely regarded as a mark of excellence in higher education teaching and learning. Curtin Malaysia’s outstanding accomplishment is a testament to its unwavering commitment to teaching excellence, recognising the dedication and expertise of its faculty members, and highlighting the continuous professional development of its academic staff.

Curtin Malaysia currently counts seven Senior Fellows, 41 Fellows, and 16 Associate Fellows among the academic staff in its Faculty of Engineering and Science, Faculty of Business, Faculty of Humanities and Health Sciences, and School of Pre-U and Continuing Studies. They constitute 14 per cent, 23 per cent, and 16 per cent respectively of the total number of Fellows in each Advance HE category in Malaysian institutions of higher learning as of August this year.

Professor Simon Leunig, Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive of Curtin Malaysia, expressed immense pride in this achievement, stating, “This milestone underscores our dedication to nurturing a culture of excellence in teaching and learning, and a testament to our commitment to delivering world-class education.”

He stressed that it exemplifies Curtin Malaysia’s ongoing efforts to ensure that its academic staff are equipped with the latest pedagogical skills and teaching methodologies, ultimately enhancing the student learning experience.

“Being among the top institutions in the country with the most Advance HE Fellows reaffirms our position as a leading higher education provider in Malaysia. We are extremely proud of our dedicated faculty members who continue to elevate the standards of teaching and learning at Curtin Malaysia through achieving Advance HE Fellowships and winning prestigious awards for teaching excellence.”

Meanwhile, Dean of Learning and Teaching Professor Tang Fu Ee remarked, “This achievement is a wonderful acknowledgement from Advance HE, as well as the results of the support provided by the university. The great effort put in by our hardworking academics to teach effectively, ensuring excellent student engagement in our courses, is much appreciated.”

Curtin Malaysia recently hosted a visit by Advance HE’s International Partnerships Manager, Daniel Sheratte, who met with Curtin Malaysia’s Advance HE Fellows and other academics. During his visit, Sheratte highlighted the work that Advance HE does with higher education institutions globally, and their impacts in global education, leadership and management.

He shared Advance HE’s 2023 Professional Standards Framework (PSF), which is a global set of standards that benchmark effective teaching based on Professional Values, Core Knowledge and Areas of Activities. The framework is the basis on which Fellowship with Advance HE is based; academics demonstrate their teaching experience and impact on learners against the Professional Standards Framework. The PSF has been adopted by over 15 national governments and adapted to suit local cultural contexts. There are presently more than 170,000 Fellows globally.

Advance HE Fellowships offer academics peer support and networking with other educators, and their innovative teaching methods have a profound impact on student learning experiences. An institution’s high number of Advance HE Fellows demonstrates its commitment to Advance HE standards and is often used as a criterion for institutional accreditation and recognition.

Impacts of Fellowships on institutions include improved profile of teaching and learning, encouragement of collaboration across faculties and between institutions, increased scholarship and research in teaching and learning, and improved student retention, student experience data, and student engagement scores.

Curtin Malaysia is the largest international campus of Curtin University, Australia, offering a global education and practical, career-focused learning. Located in Miri, Sarawak, it offers a comprehensive range of innovative courses that are internationally recognised. In addition to being Curtin’s global hub in ASEAN for education, research and strategic partnerships, Curtin Malaysia is the highest-ranked institution in Borneo. Furthermore, it is committed to delivering high-impact research and promoting industry engagement to benefit the region and beyond.

Information on Curtin Malaysia can be found on its website at www.curtin.edu.my, or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and TikTok.

The number of Advance HE Fellows in different categories at Curtin Malaysia

Curtin Malaysia Dean of Learning & Teaching Prof. Tang Fu Ee with Advance HE’s Daniel Sheratte.