Curtin Sarawak students awarded Western Australian Premier’s Scholarships

Miri, 11 February 2009 – Five final year students of Curtin University of Technology, Sarawak Malaysia (CSM) – Yong Pei Chee, Sim Chia Yee, Teo Shu Qing, Esther Liaw Mei Yen and

Wee Lee Ling – have left for Australia to complete their final graduate year at Curtin University of Technology’s main campus at Bentley in Perth, Western Australia.

The five are recipients of the Western Australia (WA) Premier’s Scholarship, which is granted by the Government of Western Australia to deserving students of CSM each year as part of its commitment to building educational ties with Malaysia. The scholarship provides the best and brightest students the opportunity to gain different perspectives on their respective fields of study, and to experience a completely different cultural experience in Western Australia.

The Western Australian Government will provide AUD$7,000 for each scholarship towards return airfares, visas, health insurance and on-campus accommodation while Curtin University of Technology will cover the tuition fees for the one year of study.

A pre-departure briefing was held for the students at the CSM campus on 2 February 2009, during which they received their air tickets and relevant documents.

Every aspect of the academic programmes at CSM Sarawak including course materials and examinations are identical to those offered at the main campus in Perth, and CSM students can elect to study for two semesters or a year there if they so choose.

Furthermore, examinations for degree programmes are set and moderated at the main campus, and lecturers from Perth visit Miri as necessary to consult with CSM academic staff

on subject issues, content, assignments and assessment tasks. This synergy and linkages between the two campuses mean that CSM students, including the five scholarship recipients, will have no difficulty integrating into programmes at Bentley.

Bentley is conveniently located close to the city of Perth, shopping centres and popular attractions, giving them opportunities to relax and enjoy the Perth lifestyle. Students from Sarawak also get to experience a unique international and cross-cultural learning environment as Bentley has over 8,000 students from more than 105 countries studying on campus.

“I can’t wait to experience being an international student abroad. It will be a whole new

learning experience for me,” said Chia Yee, a Finance & Marketing student. She looks forward to engaging in larger discussion groups and with students from a diverse range of countries and backgrounds at Bentley. “I’m sure they’ll have a whole lot of stories to tell and it will be a wonderful experience for me,” she exclaims.

Shu Qing and Lee Ling, who are pursuing degrees in Marketing & Management and Accounting & Finance respectively, encourage other CSM students to aim for the Western Australian Premier’s Scholarship and other scholarships available to them. According to them, it is important to strive from the very beginning of one’s course and aim for not just high academic scores, but also acquire crucial skills such as presentation and interpersonal skills. Such skills can be developed by actively participating in class discussions and joining the many club activities on campus, they said. They added that it pays to put in a little extra effort in everything one does, and that they are confident the skills they have acquired at CSM will benefit them at Bentley.

Esther considers the opportunity to continue her studies in Perth ‘icing on the cake’ as she is convinced the once-in-a-lifetime experience will help her build her character and expose her to a whole new educational and cultural experience. “I always challenge myself in all aspects of my life because what people want to see is a robust person and not a walking textbook. I will certainly make the best of my year in Perth,” she said.

For Electronic & Communication Engineering student Pei Chee, being part of a research group upon graduating is his ultimate goal. “Being awarded this scholarship is an opportunity for me to prove myself and demonstrate my dedication towards my field of study. That way, I hope to be given preference by research groups when I graduate,” he stated.

At the briefing, the five students expressed their appreciation to the Western Australian government and Curtin University of Technology for giving them the opportunity to study in Perth. All said it would be an experience they will never forget.

More information on scholarships and study loans available to students of CSM can be obtained by contacting Loans and Scholarship Officer Marianne Masli at 085-443939 or by

e-mail to marianne@curtin.edu.my.

Photo: (Left – right) Wee Lee Ling, Sim Chia Yee, Yong Pei Chee, Esther Liaw Mei Yen, Teo Shu Qing