Graduating Curtin Malaysia students participate in pre-graduation webinars

Miri – 15 October 2020 – 150 soon-to-graduate engineering and science students of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) participated in their Faculty of Engineering and Science’s virtual pre-graduation gathering recently. The occasion marked the close of their final semester and three or four years of undergraduate study (depending on programme) at the campus.

Meanwhile, 110 graduating students from the Faculty of Business and Faculty of Humanities participated in a combined virtual event the following day. Like their engineering and science counterparts, their event marked the end of their final semester and three years of undergraduate study.

Such events are usually physical events held on campus, but given the current restrictions due to COVID-19, these latest gatherings had to be held on online for the second time this year. However, that hardly diminished the significance of the events, nor did it affect the participation of all the graduating students, senior management, and academic staff of all three faculties.

As the students had spent their final semester attending classes, tutorials and examinations online, except for short periods on-campus for some to complete their final-year projects, having to attend their pre-graduation event remotely as well came hardly as a surprise.

The Faculty of Engineering and Science event saw the participation of students from its departments of Chemical Engineering, Civil and Construction Engineering, Electrical and Communication Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Applied Geology, and Computer Systems and Networking.

Also participating were Curtin Malaysia’s Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Simon Leunig, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Beena Giridharan, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Science Professor Vu Tuong Thuy, and heads and academic staff of the various departments. The three professors each gave speeches to congratulate the students and launch the event.

Civil and construction engineering programme coordinator and lecturer Ir. Meheron Selowara Joo gave a presentation on graduate membership in the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) and the pathways to attaining professional engineer status.

This was followed by a briefing by senior student support officer Winnifred Donadus on the processes relevant to their graduation; and a presentation on postgraduate study options at Curtin Malaysia by Deputy Dean of Research and Development and Graduate Studies Committee chair Associate Professor Agus Saptoro.

The webinar also saw four alumni of the Faculty sharing their student experiences at Curtin Malaysia and their transition from being university students to becoming young professionals. They also talked about the current situation in their respective industries, including career prospects for new graduates and how the global pandemic has affected their industries and personal lives.

The four were Angelina Tan Wen Ching, an engineering recruitment consultant with Michael Page Pte. Ltd., Singapore; Alice Foong Siang Ting, a R&D engineer with Ambu Malaysia; Irene Mong, factory operation controller with Mewah Oil and Fats Pte. Ltd., Singapore; and Vigneswaran Duraragh, an industrial specialties sales executive with Prysmian Group based in Indonesia.

The combined Faculty of Business and Faculty of Humanities webinar was attended by students from the Faculty of Business’ departments of Accounting, Finance and Banking, Marketing, and Management, and from the Faculty of Humanities’ department of Media and Communication.

On hand to welcome and congratulate the students was Dean of the Faculty of Business, Professor Andreas Zins, as well as department heads and teaching staff of both faculties.

Following a briefing by Winnifred on their upcoming graduation, the students were given a presentation on postgraduate studies by the Faculty of Business’ Associate Dean of Research & Development, Dr. Tiong Ying Ying.

The students also heard from eight alumni and two current postgraduate students of the Faculty of Business. The alumni shared their past experiences as students at Curtin Malaysia, their experiences entering the workforce for the first time, their current jobs and their outlook for the future, especially in a post-COVID economy.

The alumni were Humayun Babar, an audit senior with Ernst & Young in Pakistan; Umar Abas, an operations manager with Oriental Car Exports in Australia; Flora Janting, a senior operations analysis analyst for IHS Markit in Penang; Cynthia Cheong Jia Pei, a senior sales and marketing executive for Public Bank in Sabah; Edwina Yong Li Yen, an entrepreneur and executive director of YHY Intelligent Group Sdn Bhd; Shaikh Tahmind  Hassin, an operations, New York City Operations Assistant Manager at Skyhop Global LLC in the United States; Toh Yee Ting, a boutique Gentils Organisateurs (GO) with Club Med Malaysia; and Alina Hazeman, crew talent with DCS Entertainment and self-employed beautician.

The two postgraduate students were Ancy Sara Philip, who is doing a PhD in Economics, and Nyet Kah Lim, who is pursuing a Master of Philosophy in Management.

Professors Leunig, Giridharan and Thuy with Faculty of Engineering & Science students and staff.

Faculty of Business and Faculty of Humanities students and staff online during their webinar.

Professor Andreas Zins addressing business and humanities students.