Curtin Sarawak’s tenth anniversary celebration a glittering affair

Miri – 9 April, 2009 – Curtin University of Technology, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) marked its first decade with a 10th Anniversary Celebration Event on 4 April 2009 and what a glittering affair it turned out to be.

It was attended by the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and State Secretary of Sarawak, as well as the federal Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities and state Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication, local dignitaries, senior government officials, corporate and community leaders, and a large number of press and other guests.

Also attending were the Chancellor of Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia Gordon Martin and Vice-Chancellor Professor Jeanette Hacket, members of the Curtin Council and former executives of both Curtin University and Curtin Sarawak, members of the Curtin Sarawak Council and management board, Curtin Sarawak Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Professor John Evans, and senior management staff and academics of the university.

The event was held to mark Curtin Sarawak’s ten years of excellence in education and research and Miri’s coming of age as a regional education hub. It included the official launch of Curtin Sarawak’s newest infrastructure, the Recreation & Events Centre where the event was held and the Lance Twomey Building housing the School of Business, as well as the BioValley Park Project spearheaded by the Sarawak Ministry of Industrial Development to be built on a 10-acre site on the campus.

Highlights of the event included the singing of the Malaysian and Australian national anthems by the 30-member Curtin Sarawak Choir comprising students and staff of the university, and video presentations of messages from key personalities at Curtin’s main campus in Perth and a celebratory music video produced by students and staff. Providing an element of local culture were the SUPP Lion Dance Troupe presenting a 24 seasonal drums performance and the Sarawak Ministry of Social Development & Urbanisation’s Sanggar Budaya Troupe with a medley of local ethnic dances.

Chancellor Gordon Martin in his speech said that Malaysian students have long been a part of the fabric of Curtin University. According to him, a cohort of more than 200 students in 1969 were the first from Malaysia to study at Curtin and today, the university is proud to have more than 6,000 Malaysian students studying at its campuses in Australia and offshore. Since 1992, over 13,000 Malaysian students have graduated from Curtin.

“They, like other international students, have enriched the cultural life on Curtin’s campuses, adding new dimensions to study and social activities, and offering all students the opportunity to develop lifelong personal and professional relationships with their counterparts from other countries,” he said.

He added the long-standing relationship between Curtin and Malaysia was enriched in 2006 when the university awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Technology to the former prime minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He also noted Curtin Sarawak’s achievements since its establishment ten years ago, and how it continues to develop strongly, attracting greater numbers of students and a gaining a positive and growing reputation. He cited the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) audit report of 2008 which commended Curtin on the ‘conceptualisation, establishment and successful development of the Curtin Sarawak campus’ and ‘the development and implementation of internationalisation of research including the developing research record of Curtin Sarawak’ as resounding success stories.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam, who is also the Curtin Sarawak Council chairman, in his speech described the partnership between the Sarawak State Government and Curtin University as an extraordinarily powerful one; a partnership that has brought rich rewards to Miri, Sarawak and the university.

“Over the last ten years, I have attended and officiated a number of graduation and certificate conferment ceremonies at Curtin Sarawak and it’s heartening to note that this university is turning out many skilled young people who have been educated at a very high standard and who will contribute enormously to the growth and development of the state. This is a profound testimony of Curtin Sarawak’s tremendous success,” said Dr Chan.

“What we are celebrating today is not just Curtin Sarawak’s ten years in Sarawak but a milestone in the continual development of the city of Miri. The outstanding success of Curtin Sarawak has helped put Miri on the world map, and will continue to propel us to the forefront of tertiary education in the region. With Curtin Sarawak, we are well on the road to fulfilling our vision of making Miri a preferred education destination and education hub,” he added.

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud meanwhile said in his address that studies have shown that Sarawak will have about one and a half million job opportunities by 2030 and this would be a direct challenge to institutions of higher learning like Curtin Sarawak to help produce a quality workforce to meet the demand.

“Being a university of technology, Curtin Sarawak will certainly play a bigger role in producing engineers as part of the development of SCORE (Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy),” he said.

The chief minister went on to congratulate the university for its fast development in a span of just 10 years.

“Having started with just over 200 students, now the university has more than 2,000 students. That is a growth of ten times in ten years, which is no mean achievement. It is satisfying to witness the growth of the university,” he said.

The chief minister was later given the honour of launching the university’s tenth anniversary celebration and new infrastructure by signing a plaque mounted on a large replica of the anniversary logo. This was followed by the launching of the BioValley Park Project, which he launched by unveiling a model of the facility and signing a commemorative plaque.

The chief minister then presented plaques to the members of the first Curtin Sarawak Protem Council formed in 1998 in recognition of their contributions to the establishment of the university.

Other events held in conjunction with Curtin Sarawak’s tenth anniversary celebration included its Foundation/IEP Certificate Ceremony on 2 April, naming of the new Lance Twomey Building housing the School of Business and Graduation Ceremony on 3 April, and 10th Anniversary Open Day, Prizes & Awards Ceremony and 10th Anniversary Celebration Dinner on 4 April 2009.

Chancellor Gordon Martin welcoming Chief Minister Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud as Vice-Chancellor Jeanette Hacket and Curtin Sarawak Council chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan look on.

The Curtin Sarawak Choir sang the Malaysian and Australian national anthems.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Jeanette Hacket giving welcoming speech.

Spectacular Sarawak ethnic dances added much colour to the event.

Curtin Sarawak Council chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan delivering his speech.

The Chief Minister signing the plaque to launch the celebration and new infrastructure.

Chancellor Gordon Martin presenting souvenir to the Chief Minister.