Curtin Sarawak welcomes Omani students

Miri – 6 October, 2011 – Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) recently welcomed 43 new students from the Sultanate of Oman.

The students are part of a 54-strong cohort sponsored by the Government of Oman. They will enrol in Curtin Sarawak’s Intensive English Programme (IEP) to enhance their English language skills before entering the pre-university Engineering and Science and Commerce and Arts programmes.

A second batch of 11 students will arrive in Miri today (6 October 2011).

Their enrolment at Curtin Sarawak, which already has some 10 Omani students enrolled in various programmes, follows a fact-finding visit to Curtin Sarawak by officials from the Omani Ministry of Higher Education last July.

During their visit, the officials conveyed their government’s wish to place students in three of the foreign branch campuses here in Malaysia, including Curtin Sarawak. With the agreement of the university, they immediately laid the groundwork for the enrolment of the students, and this was quickly followed up by a reciprocal visit to Oman by staff of Curtin Sarawak recently.

On hand to receive the students at Miri’s airport was Sarawak Assistant Minister for Communications and Assistant Minister for Sports Datuk Dr. Lee Kim Shin, who is also the chairman of Curtin Sarawak’s Management Board, as well as Marketing Manager Liew Mei Yin, Dean of the School of Foundation and Continuing Studies Dr. Beena Giridharan, and staff of the university’s International Office, Housing Office, Student Services Department and Marketing Department.

Curtin Sarawak has lined up a series of orientation activities for the students which Professor Ian Kerr, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Curtin Sarawak, said are designed to help the students make the best possible start at Curtin Sarawak.

He added that the presence of the Omani students will further enrich the international and cross-cultural learning experience at Curtin Sarawak, which now has more than 3,300 students from over 40 countries.

According to Professor Kerr, Curtin Sarawak aims to have up to 5,000 students within the next five years, including a substantially larger number of international students.

For more information on Curtin Sarawak, visit its website at www.curtin.edu.my, call +60 85 443939, or e-mail enquiries@curtin.edu.my.

Datuk Dr Lee Kim Shin welcoming the Omani students.

The Omani students pose for group photo with Datuk Dr Lee and staff of Curtin Sarawak.