Curtin Sarawak staff receive long service awards

Miri – 20 January 2014 – 64 academic and professional staff of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) last week received long service awards from the university.

They included eight staff of the university who joined in its first year of operations as Curtin University’s first offshore branch campus back in 1999.

At an award presentation ceremony held at the Curtin Sarawak campus, Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Jim Mienczakowski said that as Curtin Sarawak has just celebrated its fifteenth anniversary, it is fitting that it acknowledges the contributions of the eight pioneering staff.

In congratulating them, Professor Mienczakowski said that they have continued to serve the university with great loyalty and dedication and become its leading icons. He also congratulated the 32 recipients of the 5-year awards and 24 of the 10-year awards, saying that they have also contributed greatly to the success of the university.

Recounting some of Curtin Sarawak’s achievements over the past 15 years, Professor Mienczakowski said all staff members of the university should be very proud that Curtin Sarawak has become a leading centre of innovative learning and excellent scholarly research in Malaysia.

“Thanks to your outstanding efforts, our students get a university education of the highest quality. We have also produced many graduates that have gone on to successful careers in business and industry,” he remarked.

He added that Curtin Sarawak’s success in maintaining its Tier 5 or Excellent rating in the SETARA rating system for institutions of higher learning and its passing Curtin University’s latest institutional audit with flying colours recently were good indications of their efforts.

He also said that the fact that Curtin Sarawak now has over 3,600 students from over 40 countries, the elevation its School of Engineering and Science and School of Business to full faculties, and new infrastructural developments such as its new Faculty of Engineering and Science building, say a great deal about the credibility of Curtin Sarawak and the quality of the education it offers.

One of the 15-year award recipients, Associate Professor Pauline Ho Poh Ling said she has grown personally and professionally with Curtin Sarawak over the years, and it is a joy to witness the growth of the university not only through research and development but also through providing a quality higher education to young people and by serving the needs of the local community.

Fellow 15-year recipient and senior lecturer Bibi Aminah Abdul Ghani commented that Curtin Sarawak has grown significantly over 15 years and has accomplished a lot in that time.

“I continue to serve with pride, knowing that the work that I do is contributing to the progress of the university and the local community, as well as education in Malaysia,” she said.

Assoc. Prof. Pauline Ho Poh Ling receiving her award from Prof. Mienczakowski.

Bibi Aminah Abdul Ghani proud to continue serving Curtin Sarawak.