Curtin Sarawak receives top-level delegation from Universiti Malaysia Kelantan

Miri – 25 February 2010 – A top-level delegation from Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) paid a study visit to Curtin University of Technology, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) on 23 February 2010 to explore avenues for collaboration and exchange ideas on marketing, staff and student recruitment, seeing as both universities share similar characteristics and outlooks.

The delegation comprised Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & Internationalisation) Professor Dr. Azizul Halim Yahya, Faculty of Agro-Industry & Natural Resources Dean Professor Dr. Haji Ibrahim bin Che Omar, Faculty of Creative Technology & Heritage Dean Associate Professor Haji Abdul Aziz bin Shuaib, Centre of Academic Development & Management Director Professor Dr. Rosdi bin Abdul Rahman, Centre for Corporate Relations Director Wan Tik Sakinah binti Wan Mohd. Zain and Librarian Amirul Firdaus bin Zilah.

On hand to welcome them were Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Joan Gribble; Dean of the School of Foundation & Continuing Studies and The Learning Centre, Beena Giridharan; Dean of the School of Business, Shamsul Kamariah Abdullah; Dean of the School of Engineering & Science, Professor Dr. Yudi Samyudia, and Corporate Communications Manager Nicholas Leong.

Following briefings by the Curtin Sarawak deans on their respective schools and a briefing on UMK by Professor Dr. Azizul, the two parties discussed possibilities for future collaboration, including student and staff exchanges and collaborative research. The visitors later toured the campus and were entertained to lunch by the university management.

According to Professor Dr. Azizul, UMK was very keen to learn the secrets of Curtin Sarawak’s success, especially how it has succeeded in attracting students and academics from throughout Malaysia and around the world. He said both universities were relatively young and of similar size, and furthermore shared similar outlooks and localities, and of all the universities in Malaysia, Curtin Sarawak was the one UMK could best emulate.

UMK is the first public university in Kelantan, established just three years ago. It currently has four faculties and focuses on entrepreneurship education in the fields of business, heritage, creative technology and science of natural resources. It is currently located at a temporary campus at Taman Bendahara, Pengkalan Chepa, Kota Bharu and the Teacher’s Institute of Kota Bharu while its permanent campus is being built at Bachok and Jeli in Kelantan.

Professor Dr. Gribble said there was indeed scope for collaboration between the two universities, particularly in the teaching and promotion of business sustainability, entrepreneurship and heritage. Professor Dr. Yudi meanwhile said there could be opportunities for collaborative research with UMK’s Faculty of Agro-Industry and Natural Resources, particularly when the Miri BioPark research facility at Curtin Sarawak is operational next year.

(L-R) Nicholas Leong, Prof Dr Hj Ibrahim, Wan Tik Sakinah, Assoc Prof Hj Abdul Aziz,

Prof Dr Azizul, Prof Dr Yudi Samyudia, Beena Giridharan, Shamsul Kamariah, Prof Dr Rosdi.