Over 300 attend Curtin Alumni dinner

Miri – 8 May 2012 – Over 300 alumni of Curtin University and Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) attended Curtin Sarawak’s annual Curtin Alumni Dinner in Miri recently. The event was held in conjunction with Curtin Sarawak’s graduation ceremonies held on the same day.

Among the guests at the event were the chairman of the Curtin Sarawak Campus Council and former Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam; Sarawak Assistant Minister of Communication and Assistant Minister of Sport and chairman of the Curtin Sarawak Management Board, Datuk Dr. Lee Kim Shin; the Acting Chancellor of Curtin University, Chris Bennett, and Vice-Chancellor Professor Jeanette Hacket; and Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Curtin Sarawak, Professor Ian Kerr.

In her speech at the dinner, Professor Hacket expressed delight at seeing so many Curtin alumni attending and making it the largest gathering of alumni in Miri thus far.

She welcomed the newly-graduated students to the Curtin Alumni, impressing on them that they were joining a network of nearly 170,000 alumni spanning 158 countries around the world.

She also related the fact that Curtin University has had a long and meaningful relationship with Sarawak since 1998 when Curtin and the Sarawak State Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of academic cooperation. This led to the establishment of Curtin Sarawak later that year, and in 2002, Curtin Sarawak produced its first graduates. Since then, some 3000 students have graduated from the campus in Miri.

She added that Curtin University has international campuses and partner campuses all over the world, and as such, has built a strong international reputation as a leading university with global reach.

“Our alumni are a critical part of the university community. You help shape Curtin’s character in your own unique and meaningful ways. You are valued stakeholders, who, by your continued participation, help the rest of the students in the Curtin community fulfil their educational mission. All members of our community, students, staff, alumni and friends have a place on this continuum linking the university to the society around us,” said Professor Hacket.

According to Professor Hacket, in 2010, 70 percent of graduates from Curtin Sarawak managed to secure full-time employment within six months of their completion of studies, which is testimony to the quality of the university’s graduates. She complimented the alumni for being key contributors to the development of Sarawak, and particularly to the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), as well as to the economy of Malaysia on the whole.

She urged them stay connected with the university and help keep the Curtin alumni network strong and enhance the reputation of Curtin graduates in the local community.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Jeanette Hacket addressing the alumni.

Alumni participating in a game.

Senior management staff of Curtin University and Curtin Sarawak with Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan, Chancellor Chris Bennett, Datuk Dr Lee Kim Shin and Professor Jeanette Hacket (seated 3rd to 6th from left).