Curtin Sarawak welcomes new foundation and diploma students

Miri – 4 April 2012 – Over 300 new foundation and diploma students of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) started their university careers recently by taking part in the campus’ Orientation Week 2012 programme, also known as ‘O-Week’.

The foundation students entered the School of Business’ and School of Engineering and Science’s respective foundation streams whilst the diploma students joined Curtin Sarawak’s various business and technical diploma programmes.

The week-long orientation was facilitated by staff of the university’s University Life Department and student volunteers comprising Curtin Volunteers! (CV!), Student Orientation Registration Advisors (SOAR), the Student Council and student club representatives.

Curtin Sarawak runs an intensive orientation programme at the start of each semester to ensure students have a higher success rate of completing their studies. Through various activities and workshops, the programme familiarises students with its administrative processes and helps them adjust socially and academically. Participation is compulsory for all new students, and international students are required to attend a prior two-day International Prep Programme prior to O-Week.

A similar O-Week programme was held for incoming undergraduate and postgraduate students from 20 to 24 February 2012.

While the new students find O-Week interesting and highly beneficial, the student volunteers involved find it an equally enjoyable and rewarding experience.

Among them was final-year accounting and finance student and CV! Vice-President, Anne Tie Mei Ang. She said it is important for new students to attend O-Week so they can learn about campus facilities and services like the library, lecture theatres, tutorial rooms, laboratories, recreational facilities, housing and other support services.

SOAR team leader Jude Lim, meanwhile, looks forward to O-Week because he enjoys meeting students of different backgrounds and helping them get acquainted with student life on campus.

“I love being able to lend a hand to the new students and working with my SOAR team to make them feel welcome. I have lasting impressions of my orientation when I first joined Curtin Sarawak and I want them to feel the same,” remarked Lim.

The new students all gave their thumbs up to the O-Week activities, the campus environment and facilities, and the campus community. Yip Yaw Fang and Bernard Pui from Bintulu remarked that the campus was a nice and friendly place, while Jeevetha from Johor Baru described the campus as a wonderful, particularly its gardens and man-made lakes. International student Aywan Ashiq from Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, said he was pleased with the wide range of facilities on campus.

Curtin Sarawak’s University Life Department plays a significant role in helping new students manage the challenges of university life and providing current students the opportunity for self-growth in the areas of entrepreneurship, leadership and professional development.

Curtin Sarawak welcomes new foundation students during O-Week 2012.

A CV! giving new students a tour of the campus.