Curtin Sarawak Library hands over books to Industrial Training Institute

Miri – 21 May, 2009 – Curtin University of Technology, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) recently presented 200 computer programming and English language reference books to the Industrial Training Institute of Miri (Institut Latihan Perindustrian Miri).

The books were decommissioned copies from its library and were presented by Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Joan Gribble to the director of ILP Miri, Ramli bin Haji Rashidi, at a simple Book Donation Ceremony at the university campus on 19 May 2009.

Also present were Curtin Sarawak’s Chief Librarian Levas Mejus and librarians Marlina Ahmad and Sorina Ramli, Dean of the School of Foundation & Continuing Studies Beena Giridharan and associate lecturers Jephry Naan and Shamila Ludan, and Corporate Communications Manager Nicholas Leong, as well as vocational training officers Donny Sadin Kachon, Bahsan Meriam and Aslan bin Salam of ILP Miri.

Curtin Sarawak donated the books as part of its community outreach programme, which includes promoting collaboration with other educational institutions in Miri.

“We are very proud of our library and of our librarians who work very hard. It is a central part of our university. Now that we are ten years old, we feel it is time to give back to our community,” said Professor Gribble, adding that Curtin Sarawak has a vital role to play in the local community.

She said one way of contributing to the community was to provide local students with books which have been decommissioned from the campus library as needs change but can still be put to good use at other educational institutions.

Professor Gribble went on to thank ILP for making available its training facilities and resources to Curtin Sarawak’s Diploma in Process Plant Technology (DPPT) students for their practical training, saying that such collaboration is in line with the trend around the world, including in Malaysia and Australia, for the vocational and university sectors to work closely together for a common good.

Ramli, meanwhile, thanked Curtin Sarawak for donating the books, describing it as a good start to the continued collaboration in educational and technical programmes planned between the two institutions. Curtin Sarawak and ILP are due to formalise their relationship with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding soon.

“We always welcome support from all sectors. We also believe in innovative approaches to education and our collaboration with Curtin Sarawak is a good example. We are glad that Curtin Sarawak has entrusted us to provide practical training on valves for its students and we hope you will continue to work with us to develop young minds according to the 1Malaysia concept,” he said.

The ceremony ended with the exchanging of souvenirs between Professor Gribble and Ramli.

Professor Gribble handing over some of the books to Ramli.

Group photo after the handover.