Guangdong University of Business Studies keen to collaborate with Curtin Sarawak

Miri – 3 October 2012 – A six-member delegation from Guangdong University of Business Studies in Guangzhou, China, visited Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) recently to explore opportunities for collaboration.

Guangdong University of Business Studies is one of the top 10 economic and finance universities in China while Curtin Sarawak is the largest international campus of Western Australia’s Curtin University located in Miri, Sarawak.

The delegation comprised the Vice President Professor Yong Heming, MBA Centre Director Professor Li Huanrong, Dean of School of Mathematics and Computational Science Professor Hong Yong, Vice-dean of School of Information Professor Lai Qing, Vice-director of Personnel Department He Xiongwei and Head of Foreign Affairs Office Yang Chun.

The visitors were received by Curtin Sarawak’s Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Kerr, Dean of School of Business Professor Francois Therin, Marketing Manager Liew Mei Yin,   and senior academics of both its School of Business and School of Engineering and Science.

Following speeches by Professor Kerr and Professor Yong, the delegation was given a briefing on Curtin Sarawak’s School of Business by Professor Therin before a formal discussion on possible collaboration in student and faculty exchange, articulation programmes and cooperative research between the two varsities.

Professor Kerr said he was pleased Guangdong University of Business Studies was considering Curtin Sarawak as potential partner and that Curtin Sarawak has worked very hard to achieve a good standing and reputation not only in Malaysia, but also internationally.

He added that, over the last few years, Curtin Sarawak has established a number of fruitful partnerships with other institutions of higher learning across the world, and looked forward to adding Guangdong University of Business Studies to the list.

He also briefed the visitors on Curtin Sarawak’s placing amongst the 18 top universities in Malaysia by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) under its 2009 SETARA Rating System for Malaysian Higher Education Institutions and its being one of only eight universities granted self-accreditation status by the MQA.

“To be ranked amongst the top institutions in the country means we have been successful in ensuring the highest quality and excellence in our teaching and learning, academic programmes, research output, staff calibre, and the quality of our graduates and their employability,” he said, adding that Curtin Sarawak will continue to work with the relevant government agencies towards achieving a world-class tertiary education system and making Malaysia an education and research hub in the region.

Professor Kerr also touched on Curtin University’s achievements in the QS World University Ranking, which include ranking twelfth among Australian universities making it into the top 300 universities globally, one of the world’s top 50 young universities, and among the top 200 universities in the world across nine subject categories. In addition, he spoke of the accreditation of Curtin Sarawak’s business courses by various professional bodies in Malaysia, Australia and other countries.

Meanwhile, Professor Yong said Guangdong University of Business Studies was strategically located in Guangdong Province, one of the economic powerhouses of China. Established in 1993, it has some 24,000 students at two campuses and offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in economics, finance, management, information management, software engineering and e-commerce.

The university has ties with over 30 institutions of higher learning all over the world, including Curtin University’s main campus in Perth, Western Australia. Professor Yong said that though it already has an ongoing relationship with Curtin in Western Australia, Guangdong University of Business Studies was keen to establish similar ties with Curtin Sarawak due to Malaysia’s geographical proximity and affordable cost of living. In addition, he said his university wished to give its students and staff a different educational and cultural experience here in Malaysia.

The delegation from China and staff of Curtin Sarawak posing for a group photo.