Engineers Australia national president encourages undergraduates to join professional bodies

Miri – 24 March 2011 – The National President of Engineers Australia, Merv Lindsay, encourages undergraduate engineering students of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) to join professional bodies to make their voices heard.

Lindsay made the call when paying a familiarisation visit to Curtin Sarawak’s campus in Miri in conjunction with Curtin Sarawak’s engineering programmes being granted accreditation by Engineers Australia recently.

He was accompanied by a delegation that comprised the chairman and members of Engineers Australia, Malaysia Chapter (EAMC), as well as the chairman of the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), Miri Branch, Peter Ting.

They were welcomed by Curtin Sarawak’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Kerr; Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alistair Inglis; Dean of the School of Engineering and Science, Professor Yudi Samyudia; Head of the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Associate Professor Dr Lau Hieng Ho, as well as a number of lecturers and undergraduate students from the School of Engineering and Science.

In a talk to the students and lecturers, Lindsay said the future of engineering lay in the hands of the students and that there will always be career opportunities for them due to the global demand for qualified engineers. He also highlighted the importance of becoming members of professional bodies to enable them to contribute to society.

“Being a member of a professional body gives you the opportunity to contribute ideas and feedback and voice out your concerns pertaining to your profession. Therefore, I urge all of you present here today to join a professional body in the future because, as a body that is professionally managed, its voice can be heard more than the voice of an individual,” said Lindsay.

Professor Dr Yudi thanked Lindsay and his delegation for taking the time to visit Curtin Sarawak and meet the students and lecturers. He also expressed his wish to foster a closer relationship between the university, Engineers Australia and The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM).

The delegation’s itinerary at Curtin Sarawak included a tour of the campus, during which they visited its schools, library and research facilities.

For more information of Curtin Sarawak, visit its website at www.curtin.edu.my or e-mail enquiries@curtin.edu.my.

Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Kerr (3rd right) presenting a souvenir to Merv Lindsay (3rd left) witnessed by Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alistair Inglis (2nd right) and delegation from Engineers Australia.

Merv Lindsay presenting a talk to engineering undergraduate students.