Curtin Sarawak scholars making the most of their studies in Perth

Miri – 24 March 2015 – Five outstanding scholarship students from Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) are making the most of their studies at Curtin University’s main campus in Perth, Western Australia.

The students are the 2014 recipients of the jointly-funded Western Australia Premier’s Scholarship offered by Curtin University and the Western Australia State Government that enables them to complete their final year of study in Perth.

Civil and construction engineering students Alexis Lee and Jeffrey Lam; accounting and finance students Jong Yee Yee and Soo Yann Bin; and electronic and communication engineering student Han Yi Chiew are taking full advantage of the opportunity to gain different perspectives on their respective fields of study while experiencing a completely different lifestyle and culture.

Curtin Sarawak Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Jim Mienczakowski said the five are fitting ambassadors of Curtin Sarawak in Western Australia.

“Through the scholarship, some of our best and brightest students have been given the opportunity to study abroad, gain valuable new experiences and broaden their horizons. We are very proud of what these five students have accomplished,” said Professor Mienczakowski.

He added that the scholarship scheme is part of Curtin’s strong commitment to international engagement, being the one of the largest and most multicultural universities in Australia.

“With this scheme, both the Western Australia government and Curtin have shown their strong commitment to international education and we commend them for making these opportunities possible for our students,” he said.

The Western Australia Premier’s Scholarship was established in 2003 with the Western Australia State Government covering the cost of airfare and accommodation for each student while Curtin meets the cost of tuition fees.

For 22-year-old Lee, who hails from Sabah, being given the scholarship and the opportunity to complete his degree in Australia is a dream come true.

“Coming from a medium income family, my parents would otherwise have had to work extremely hard to put me through studies overseas,” he remarked.

He added that it has been a relief that the cost of his three years of study at Curtin Sarawak has been very affordable, being just a fraction of the cost to do the same course in Perth. Furthermore, as the courses offered at Curtin Sarawak are identical to those at the parent campus, students can easily transfer to the Perth Campus with no disruption to their studies.

Ipoh-born Lam applied for the scholarship hoping to set a good example for his younger siblings, two of whom are also students of Curtin Sarawak. Lam’s excellence extends beyond the classroom, having headed several student clubs at Curtin Sarawak.

“It gives me the opportunity to experience a completely new environment and will take me to a new level of personal advancement. I’m very thankful to the academic staff at Curtin Sarawak who gave me a lot of support to get me where I am today,” remarked Lam.

He added that Curtin Sarawak provides an undifferentiated Curtin student learning experience utilising the same learning technologies and strong student learning support mechanisms, which has enabled him to adapt well to studies at the main campus.

Meanwhile, Jong of Miri commented that her scholarship puts her a step closer to her dream of becoming a professional accountant. She has harboured the dream of studying abroad since secondary school and is glad that her hard work has finally paid off.

“I plan to apply for an internship during my semester break to experience the working environment in Australia, and ultimately, I hope to get a job with one of the ‘Big Four’ corporations after graduating,” said Jong.

Hailing from Johor, 22-year-old Soo believes that studying in Perth will drive him to be even more independent and responsible than at Curtin Sarawak. He also thinks that having experienced Sarawak’s ethnic diversity and now immersing himself in Perth’s immensely multicultural society will be very beneficial to him in the future.

“I picked up many useful skills at Curtin Sarawak that I continue to apply here in Perth. They include organisational and time management skills which help me balance my studies and social life,” said Soo.

Han credits his family for his achieving the scholarship. He said his parents have always encouraged him to do his best, and as a result, he has always believed in trying his utmost and that good opportunities will come to those who are honest and passionate about they do.

Curtin Sarawak offers scholarships for foundation and undergraduate studies such as the Pro Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholar, Dean’s Scholar and CSM Scholar awards, and CSM Scholarship for SPM High Achievers, in addition to the Western Australia Premier’s Scholarship.

Other external scholarships and study loans are also available, including the Tunku Abdul Rahman Scholarship, Yayasan Sarawak Bestari Scholarship, Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) Loan and Yayasan Sarawak Study Loan, to name a few.

Information on scholarships and study loans can be obtained by contacting Loans and Scholarships Officer Jeremy Edison George at 085-443 035 or by e-mail to loans.scholarships@curtin.edu.my.

(L-R) Scholarship recipients Soo Yann Bin, Jeffrey Lam Khai Yue, Jong Yee Yee, Alexis Lee Yun Kwang and Han Yi Chiew.