‘O-Week’ activities help over 400 new students settle in at campus

Miri – 26 August 2013 – Over 400 new students enrolled in the July (Semester 2) intake at Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) kicked off their university careers with Orientation Week or ‘O-Week’ activities on campus recently.

They included 85 foundation students in the Commerce & Arts Stream and 136 in the Engineering & Science Stream, and 38 students enrolled in various diploma programmes.

In addition, 62 students were enrolled in undergraduate programmes in the School of Business and 89 in the School of Engineering and Science, while 6 students were enrolled in various postgraduate programmes.

The School of Continuing Studies’ Intensive English Programme (IEP), meanwhile, saw a new enrolment of 13 students.

Among the new intake were over 60 international students from Brunei, Indonesia, China, Myanmar, the Philippines, India, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Australia, the Netherlands, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Oman and Turkmenistan, as well as 131 West Malaysian students.

The bi-annual ‘O-Week’, which is compulsory for all new students each semester, combines faculty and course specific advice for new students.

In addition to a welcoming speech by Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Jim Mienczakowski, the ‘O-Week’ featured presentations by various student support areas; briefings on the attainment of Curtin’s graduate attributes, the various courses at the university and lab safety, as well as games and a campus tour.

The international students also attended a one-day ‘International Prep Day’ programme prior to the ‘O-Week’, which helped them get acquainted with their new environment in Miri and included briefings by Curtin Sarawak’s International Office on local norms and customs, immigration, health check and support services; insurance briefing as well as a campus tour.

Curtin Sarawak runs an intensive orientation programme to enable students to adapt to university life and handle any future obstacles that may cause them to drop out of university. Through various activities and workshops, ‘O-Week’ helps to familiarise them with the university’s administrative processes and help them adjust, socially and academically, as quickly as possible.

‘O-Week’ is coordinated by the University Life Department of the university and facilitated by student volunteers known as SOARs (Student Orientation, Advisory and Registration).

New students attending ‘O-Week’ briefing.

The new students, staff of Curtin Sarawak and SOAR facilitators in a photo call during ‘O-Week’.