Five from Curtin Sarawak receive Western Australia Premier’s Scholarship

Miri – 26 February 2014 – Five students of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) recently left the country to complete their final graduate year at Curtin’s main campus in Perth under the sponsorship of the Western Australia Government.

Recipients of the Western Australia Premier’s Scholarship awarded to Curtin Sarawak’s most accomplished students each year, the five are Tourism, Marketing and Event Management student Belinda-Ann Too Yun May; Chemical Engineering students Chua Yee Wen and Thien Yee Kiong; Accounting and Finance student Kow Kai Sheng; and Civil and Construction Engineering student Voon San.

The scholarship provides them the opportunity to gain different perspectives on their respective fields of study and experience a completely different lifestyle and culture. It covers return airfares, visas, health insurance and on-campus accommodation while Curtin provides a full fee waiver for the one year of study.

Sabahan Too applied for the scholarship to experience a new learning experience and looks forward to experiencing a different culture and lifestyle in Perth. She is confident the knowledge and skills she has garnered in her two years at Curtin Sarawak, including how to do proper research and referencing, as well as communication, interpersonal and presentation skills, will bode well for her there.

“I am really grateful for this opportunity. I look forward to the exposure and hope to gain some work experience in Australia upon graduating as well,” said Too.

Chua, who was awarded a Curtin Sarawak scholarship for her foundation and degree years, is pleased that her continued hard work has paid off and the Western Australia Premier’s Scholarship will now allow her to fulfil her lifelong dream of studying abroad.

“To qualify for the scholarship, one must demonstrate not only excellent academic performance but also outstanding personal qualities and soft skills. Studying at Curtin Bentley will allow me to develop myself further in a new and stimulating environment. I am really looking forward to it,” remarked Chua, who hopes to find employment in the design and process plant industry upon graduation.

Having been listed thrice in the Vice Chancellor’s List (Top 1%) and a CSM Scholarship scholar for three consecutive years, Thien attributes his success to the patience, guidance and vast knowledge of the lecturers at Curtin Sarawak.

At Curtin Sarawak, he was involved in designing and developing programming software for six months under the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Programme (UROP). He wishes to combine his learning experiences in Australia and Malaysia to be a better student and contribute to the development of the country when he graduates.

Meanwhile, Kow, a Penangite and the sole recipient from West Malaysia, opines that Perth provides a modern, safe and healthy environment for international students to pursue their studies. He believes that the more one sees, the more one can learn.

“Students must have clear goals and strategies for improvement. Most importantly, it is vital to understand and apply different ways of learning,” said Kow, who aims to become a successful investor and philanthropist.

Amazing structures such as Burj Khalifa in Dubai inspired Voon San to pursue his degree in civil and construction engineering. He said studying at Curtin Sarawak has taught him to communicate and interact effectively with students of different nationalities and backgrounds as well as helped him develop critical research skills.

Commenting on the scholarship, Voon San said studying in Australia will help him improve his communication skills as well as increase his chances for employment in the future.

“I hope to return to Sarawak and contribute to its development by introducing the advanced building and wastewater treatment technologies used in Australia,” he commented.

Information on scholarships and study loans for study at Curtin Sarawak can be obtained by contacting Loans and Scholarships Officer Jeremy Edison George at 085-444307 or by e-mail to jeremyedison@curtin.edu.my.

Belinda-Ann Too looks forward to experiencing a different culture and lifestyle.

Chua Yee Wen is pleased her continued hard work has paid off.

Thien Yee Kiong attributes his success to the patience, guidance and vast knowledge of his lecturers.

Kow Kai Sheng says Perth provides a modern, safe and healthy environment for international students.

Voon San says studying in Australia will help him improve his communication skills and increase his chances for employment.