Deputy Minister of Higher Education visits Curtin Malaysia

Miri, Sarawak – 27 May 2024 – Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) was recently honoured to receive Deputy Minister of Higher Education Datuk Ts. Mustapha Sakmud and a delegation from the Ministry of Higher Education on a familiarisation visit to the campus, Curtin University’s earliest and largest global campus and one of five learning institutions owned by the Sarawak government through Yayasan Sarawak (Sarawak Foundation).

Accompanying the deputy minister and his delegation on the visit was Chiew Choon Man, Member of Parliament for Miri; and Ts. Herman Muda, Director of Kolej Komuniti Miri.

On hand to welcome the deputy minister and delegation were Curtin Malaysia’s Pro-Chancellor Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. Chan Hong Nam; Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Professor Simon Leunig, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Vincent Lee, and Chief Operating Officer Sharon Chong.

Also present were Dean of Research and Development John Curtin Distinguished Professor Nagarajan Ramasamy; Dean of Faculty of Engineering and Science Professor Tuong-Thuy Vu; Dean of Learning and Teaching Professor Tang Fu Ee; Director of School of Pre-U and Continuing Education Associate Professor Fidella Tiew; Deputy Director of Curtin Malaysia Graduate School Associate Professor Perumal Kumar; Assistant Director of Curtin Aquaculture Research Laboratories Dr. Lee Yih Nin; Director of Future Students and External Engagement Debora Caroline; and Manager of Institutional Compliance Rozita Shamsuddin.

In his welcoming remarks, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. Chan said Curtin Malaysia has always cherished the strong support and guidance of the Ministry of Higher Education. He described the deputy minister’s visit as underscoring the importance the ministry places on developing and supporting higher education institutions. He said the visit furthermore offered a valuable opportunity to strengthen the relationship between Curtin Malaysia and the ministry.

“We are proud to be celebrating our 25th anniversary, and our 25-year legacy of academic excellence, innovation, and community engagement, this year. We are also proud to be a critical component of Malaysia’s vibrant higher education landscape. Being a Sarawak government-owned institution, we also play a crucial role in Sarawak’s IR 4.0 and Digital Economy developmental thrusts in education, research and innovation, and human capital development,” said Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. Chan.

He said that after 25 years since its establishment in 1999, Curtin Malaysia’s remit to provide world-class education to students from Sarawak and beyond has not changed. ”Our innovative spirit and commitment to educating minds and enriching lives have seen us lead in many areas, including embracing new technologies, introducing new ways of learning, and conducting research that impacts local communities here in Sarawak.”

Meanwhile, Datuk Ts. Mustapha expressed his admiration for Curtin Malaysia’s educational advancements, noting its trajectory towards becoming a research university. He said he was particularly impressed by the Sarawak government’s robust support for tertiary education and human capital development in the state.

He also expressed hopes that, with the widespread adaptation of artificial intelligence (AI) and other related technologies globally, more AI-based education programmes would be created at institutions of higher learning. Such programmes would be crucial to Malaysia’s future development, he remarked.

To conclude the visit, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. Chan and Professor Leunig took the deputy minister and his delegation on a tour of Curtin Malaysia’s new Engineering Research Laboratory, and Curtin Aquaculture Research Laboratories (CARL), which will be officially opened next month.

Information on Curtin Malaysia can be found on its website at curtin.edu.my, or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and TikTok.

Dr Chan (2nd left) presenting souvenir to Datuk Ts Mustapha, flanked by Prof Leunig and Ts Herman

(Front row, L-R) Dr Lee, A Prof Tiew, Alan Ling, Prof Leunig, Dr Chan, Datuk Ts Mustapha, Ts Herman, Chiew, A Prof Perumal, Prof Lee, Chong (Back row, L-R) Prof Nagarajan, Prof Tang, Prof Vu, Debora.

Ts Mustapha (3rd left) signing plaque to mark his visit to Engineering Research Laboratory

Dr Lee (3rd left) briefing Datuk Ts Mustapha and others on research and innovation at the Curtin Aquaculture Research Laboratories