‘From Perth to Miri: A Journey of Transformation’ an interesting account of Curtin Sarawak’s first six years

Miri – 12 June 2009 – A detailed and interesting account of Curtin University of Technology, Sarawak Malaysia’s formative years from 1998 to 2004 by Associate Professor Frank Sheehy titled ‘From Perth to Miri: A Journey of Transformation’ has been published in conjunction with Curtin Sarawak’s tenth anniversary this year.

In the book, Sheehy, who is the former Academic Director and Chief Executive Officer of Curtin Sarawak and the man tasked by Curtin with establishing the campus in Miri, clarifies some of the myths associated with the university’s inception and development, as well as details the contribution of significant people and describes events that have helped it achieve so much in its short history.

The 209-page book is dedicated to the late Harry Perkins AM, former Chancellor of Curtin University of Technology, and Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam, whom Sheehy describes as men of vision who came together to make the dream of a higher education institution in Miri a reality.

Indeed, much of the book’s account focuses on the input and commitment of the many people who were involved in the pioneering development of the Sarawak campus – in building a campus culture, translating all the plans and policies from the Bentley campus (Curtin University’s main campus in Perth) and, most significantly, developing a quality focused educational ethos.

“In embarking on this venture, a journey of transformation had begun in establishing a permanent offshore presence providing new challenges – for the university, the Malaysian Government in inviting international universities to establish branch campuses, the Sarawak State Government, the town of Miri and especially those of us directly involved in the pioneering phase and our adaptation to representing the university and Australian higher education,” Sheehy states in the book. He goes on to illustrate in meticulous detail how this journey developed and the many questions that were resolved, including examining the various governance issues that arose and documenting the evolution of the relationship between the Malaysian holding company partners and Curtin University.

The story largely follows a chronological sequence, starting from initial meetings at the Bentley campus in 1998 and Curtin’s decision to go ahead and establish its first offshore campus in Miri, to the intensive negotiations with the local partners and various government agencies, the forming of various working committees to get the project off the ground, to the establishment of temporary facilities in its first year and the opening of its permanent campus in Senadin in 2002, and the burgeoning of campus life at the new premises.

Sheehy gives a remarkably good first-person account of the happenings throughout the six years and speaks fondly of his unique experience in Miri. “While I had assumed that this would be a short appointment of two to three years, in the end it constituted six satisfying years of my life in a town and community that I now consider my second home,” he says.

In his foreword, Professor Dato Lance Twomey, Vice-Chancellor and President of Curtin University of Technology from 1997 to 2006, says, “The genesis of Curtin Sarawak is well described in this excellent book. The campus began with a tentative approach and a cautious response in 1998; it was not until I visited Miri for the first time as Vice-Chancellor, and met with Chief Minister Taib Mahmud and his cabinet colleagues that I began to thoroughly understand that the proposition had real substance and was an opportunity which the university needed to grasp. The magnificent Curtin campus at Miri has become a wonderful testimony to cross-national and cross-cultural cooperation and progress.”

He relates how the early support of Chief Minister Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud and his cabinet was essential for Curtin to commit to the project, and thereafter Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr Chan and Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication Lee Kim Shin took the initiative on behalf of Miri. “The speed of decision-making and implementation at both Perth and Miri surprised many and, once the work began in earnest, it became obvious that this was an event of real significance,” Professor Dato Twomey states.

He concludes by saying, “Curtin Sarawak stands as a proud testimony to the vision, endeavour, courage and perseverance of people from two separate nations, prepared to work in harmony to achieve a great and worthwhile goal.”

‘From Perth to Miri: A Journey of Transformation’ is priced at RM45.00 and is currently available only at Curtin Sarawak’s campus bookshop. The bookshop is open from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm Monday to Friday. For more information, call 085-443920 or 085-443923.

‘From Perth to Miri: A Journey of Transformation’ now available from the Curtin Sarawak Bookshop