Curtin Sarawak Graduate School to advance and promote postgraduate education

Miri – 13 March 2015 – Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) has established a Curtin Sarawak Graduate School to advance and promote postgraduate education through both taught and research programmes, and to enhance the graduate student experience.

Professor Marcus Lee, formerly the Associate Dean, Research Training, has been appointed the Graduate School’s inaugural dean.

Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Professor Jim Mienczakowski said he was delighted that the Graduate School has commenced operations and that Professor Lee, a highly qualified academic and researcher, has taken on the very important role of dean.

“I heartily congratulate Professor Lee on this development and wish him and all of our graduate students and their academic teachers and supervisors every success in this new arrangement,” remarked Professor Mienczakowski.

He added that the advent of its own graduate school marks a further milestone in Curtin Sarawak’s development as a fully-fledged university which has grown its research and postgraduate capacities over recent years to the extent that a graduate school is now warranted.

“This development is also a reflection of the successful contributions and dedication of our faculty in growing our research and postgraduate teaching activities to their current levels,” he said.

To fulfil its mission, the Curtin Sarawak Graduate School will work in close collaboration with the university management, its faculties and the Curtin Sarawak Research Institute (CSRI), as well as the graduate students.

According to Professor Lee, the Graduate School will assume academic leadership for postgraduate education at Curtin Sarawak and will provide oversight for policies and standards for all the postgraduate programmes at the campus.

It will also provide general administrative support for academics and students in relation to the postgraduate programmes, service to prospective students, and advocacy for postgraduate education and graduate students both on campus and in the professions at large.

“Our aim is to provide high quality support and research training to both students and supervisors and to assist in the growth of postgraduate education and a vibrant research culture that facilitates great outcomes for students, supervisors and the university,” he said.

Postgraduate study at Curtin Sarawak is an opportunity for talented individuals to become experts in their field. It provides students that have already completed a degree at the undergraduate level with the opportunity to increase the knowledge they have already gained through further study and research.

The postgraduate programmes currently offered include Masters degrees by coursework in Project Management and Policy Sciences, as well as Petroleum Engineering. It is expected that further programmes will be developed with the establishment of the Graduate School.

Higher degree by research (HDR) programmes leading to Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) qualifications are offered for a range of research areas under the faculties and the CSRI.

All graduate students have full online access to research supporting resources, including international journals, conference proceedings and e-books, provided by the parent campus in Perth, Western Australia.

Curtin Sarawak currently has over 180 graduate students, including around 80 HDR students, from a number of countries and their number continues to grow each year, according to Professor Lee.

Information on postgraduate studies at Curtin Sarawak, including admission requirements, enrolment and duration of study, study support, and facilities and services, can be found at   www.curtin.edu.my/courses/Postgraduate.htm. For information on Curtin Sarawak Postgraduate Research Scholarships (CSPRS), visit www.curtin.edu.my/R&D/HDR/tc.htm.

Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Professor Jim Mienczakowski.

(L-R) Graduate research students Akram Akbari, Tan Yee Yong, Balaji Palani, Caleb Acquah and Jong Ling with Professor Lee (in tie).