Over 100 Curtin students graduate with Federation Training diplomas

Miri – 27 April 2015 – Over 100 students of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) graduated with diplomas awarded by Federation Training of Victoria, Australia at its Diploma Graduation Ceremony recently.

Federation Training, established in 2014, is an amalgamation of Advance TAFE and the Central Gippsland Institute of TAFE (GippsTAFE), which has been delivering diploma programmes at Curtin Sarawak in collaboration with the university since 2008.

The graduates comprised 59 graduating with Diplomas of Business, 12 with Diplomas of Instrumentation and Control Engineering, 21 with Diplomas of Occupational Health and Safety, and 11 with Diplomas of Process Plant Technology.

Officiating at the ceremony were Pro-Chancellor of Curtin Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam, and Executive Director of Federation Training, Pranay Lodhiya.

Also present were Chairman of Curtin (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Datu Dr. Hatta Solhi; Chair of the Curtin Sarawak Management Board, Datuk Dr. Lee Kim Shin; Curtin Sarawak Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Professor Jim Mienczakowski; members of the Curtin Sarawak Council, Board of Directors and Management Board; faculty deans and academics, and family members of the graduates.

The ceremony also witnessed the awarding of Federation Training Best Graduate Awards to outstanding students in the various diploma programmes.

In his welcome speech, Professor Mienczakowski reminded the graduates to be lifelong learners, saying that it can be very critical in a highly competitive and increasingly global working environment where graduates will need every advantage they can get to advance and improve their marketability.

In his occasional address, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr Chan said he was proud that the graduates were joining the ranks of Curtin Sarawak’s many diploma graduates who have gone on to successful careers in industry, both within Malaysia and overseas.

He went on to say that they should continue to be ambassadors of Curtin Sarawak – to show that they are not only technically or academically competent, but also possess emotional intelligence and be able demonstrate positive attributes like high integrity and a positive attitude.

Meanwhile, Pranay said he was pleased to witness the outcomes of the partnership between Federation Training and Curtin Sarawak. He remarked it has been an extremely fruitful partnership due to the effective professional relationships developed between the personnel from both organisations and one that has provided great outcomes for the local community.

The partnership began with a single programme in Process Plant Technology in response to the local oil and gas industry of Sarawak. The strength of this initial programme resulted in the addition of a further three programmes in the fields of Instrumentation and Control Engineering, Occupational Health and Safety and in Business from 2011.

Faculty deans and Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Jim Mienczakowski (right).

Pranay Lodhiya and Datuk Patinggi Dr George Chan (3rd & 4th left) and other members of graduation stage party.

Some of the graduates in a celebratory mood.