National Sports Institute and Curtin Sarawak to collaborate in research and development

Miri – 9 April 2015 – The National Sports Institute of Malaysia (NSI) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) for collaborative research and development in the fields of engineering and technology in sports.

The MoA paves the way for NSI and Curtin Sarawak researchers to work together to research and develop an automated system to gauge and monitor the performance of athletes, and ultimately enhance their performance.

Present at the signing were Chairman of NSI’s Board of Directors Datuk Seri Mohamad Norza bin Zakaria, NSI Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Dr. Ramlan bin Abdul Aziz; and Professor Clem Kuek, Curtin Sarawak’s Dean of Research and Development representing Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Professor Jim Mienczakowski.

Also present were Professor Michael Cloke, Dean of Curtin Sarawak’s Faculty of Engineering and Science and Dr. Garenth Lim King Hann, senior lecturer in electrical and computer engineering.

The collaboration will include research into the automated measurement of athletes’ performance, management of data for the profiling of their performance, adaptation of medical and psychometric technology and computer-aided visual monitoring, management and administration of sports, and any other areas determined by a joint committee comprising representatives of NSI and Curtin Sarawak.

The research activities will be carried out at both the NSI in Kuala Lumpur and the Curtin Sarawak campus in Miri, Sarawak.

The collaboration will also open the opportunity for the NSI to send up to four of their staff for enrolment as Curtin PhD candidates.

It is envisioned that, through the collaboration, the knowledge, expertise and skills of researchers at Curtin Sarawak in the fields of engineering and technology will be effectively leveraged with that of NSI researchers in the field of sports science and sports medicine.

Dato’ Dr. Ramlan commented that the collaboration is the first between NSI and Curtin Sarawak, which is well known for its strengths in engineering and technology, and will help to promote advancements in sports science and sports medicine in Malaysia.

Professor Kuek, meanwhile, said Curtin Sarawak is very keen to jointly develop such a system as part of its research activities and provide its students with the opportunity to carry out research in the fields of engineering and technology in sports.

He added that it gives Curtin Sarawak, as a leading university in Malaysia, the opportunity to play a critical role in advancing sports science and sports medicine and support the nation’s sporting aspirations.

He said there is considerable scope for further collaboration between Curtin Sarawak and NSI in the future as the university continues to ramp up its research activities in wide range of areas, both within its faculties and Curtin Sarawak Research Institute.

According to Professor Kuek, Curtin Sarawak has a pool of highly qualified and experienced researchers who have developed a number of research centres linked to researchers at its parent campus in Perth, Western Australia, and other institutions of higher learning around the world. It provides a platform for both experienced and early career researchers, as well as postgraduate research students, to undertake collaborative and inter-disciplinary research.

The NSI is an agency of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia spearheading advancement and excellence in sports science, medicine and technology. Excellence and success in improving the performance of athletes and national sports are the main focus of the NSI, as success in producing world-class athletes results from the adoption of elements of sports science and sports medicine from the outset.

Curtin Sarawak is the largest international campus of Curtin University, one of Australia’s largest and internationally engaged universities. Established in 1999 in partnership with the Sarawak state government, it has a strong reputation for its vibrant research culture,  international outlook, innovative courses, world-class teaching facilities, experienced academics, use of advanced technology, partnerships with industry and government, and active community engagement.

Professor Clem Kuek speaking at the signing ceremony.

Professor Kuek exchanging documents with Dato’ Dr Ramlan while Datuk Seri Mohamad Norza looks on.