Over 500 students graduate with Curtin degrees and GippsTAFE diplomas

Miri – 15 May 2013 – As has been the practice since last year, Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) recently held graduation ceremonies for its School of Business and diploma programmes, and its School of Engineering and Science.

Over 250 students from the School of Business graduated with Curtin business and arts degrees, while over 80 from the School of Continuing Studies were awarded diplomas from the Central Gippsland Institute of TAFE (GippsTAFE), a registered TAFE training organisation in Melbourne and Curtin Sarawak’s partner in delivering diploma programmes.

The School of Business graduates included 34 who graduated with postgraduate qualifications in business, project management and accounting, as well as over 230 with undergraduate degrees in arts (mass communication), business administration, and single and double majors in commerce.

The diploma graduates were from the Diploma of Business, Diploma of Occupational Health and Safety, and Diploma of Process Plant Technology programmes.

In his occasional address to the graduates, former Sarawak deputy chief minister and chair of Curtin Sarawak’s campus council Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam said that as Curtin University’s largest international campus, Curtin Sarawak is fully committed to Curtin’s aim to be an international leader shaping the future through its graduates and research, and strives to nurture innovative and creative minds who are job-ready and geared to better the future when they graduate.

“You should stand proud knowing that you are graduating from Curtin with the best Australian education and a fulfilling, life-changing learning experience. Graduating from university is a great achievement and a profound time of change and possibility and you should not take one bit of it for granted,” he advised the graduates.

“Your contribution to the world will not be measured by the money you make or the accolades you receive but by the way in which you share your unique gifts with the world,” he added.

Other dignitaries present included the acting chancellor of Curtin University, Chris Bennett; chairman of Curtin (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Datu Dr. Hatta bin Solhi; chair of Curtin Sarawak’s management board, Datuk Lee Kim Shin; Curtin University’s deputy vice-chancellor international, Professor David Wood; and Curtin Sarawak’s pro vice-chancellor and chief executive, Professor Ian Kerr. Representing GippsTAFE was Joanne Stringer, deputy chair of the institute’s board.

Meanwhile, the School of Engineering and Science Graduation Ceremony later in the day saw over 170 students graduating from the Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Technology programmes.

Professor Kerr, in his opening speech, said their graduation was an important milestone for them as it marked not just the completion of their studies and their readiness to enter the workforce, but also their attainment of Curtin’s graduate attributes.

He said that, in a highly competitive and increasingly global working environment, graduates need every advantage they can get to advance and improve their marketability and Curtin Sarawak continually seeks to equip its graduates with the ability to apply their knowledge, and the ability to be critical and creative thinkers in solving practical problems and serving the larger community.

He added that graduates also need to be technologically savvy and research smart, commit themselves to a lifetime of continual learning, and be the best they can be profession-wise, in addition to being international citizens in tune with the world and culturally sensitive when interacting with others.

“I am glad that many of our graduates have applied these attributes to the fullest and have established themselves as major contributors to industry and community, nationally and internationally,” he said.

Also present at both ceremonies were representatives of Sarawak state government departments and agencies; members of Curtin Sarawak’s campus council, board of directors and management board; senior management staff and senior academics of the university, as well as the graduates and their family members, many of whom flew in from other parts of Malaysia and overseas.

In total, some 1,200 attended the School of Business & Diploma Graduation Ceremony and over 700 were at the School of Engineering and Science Graduation Ceremony.

The valedictorians this year were Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Finance) graduate Tay Ai Way representing the School of Business graduates, Tracy Ting Xin Yi (Diploma of Occupational Health and Safety) representing the diploma graduates, and Lai Jia Jiun (Bachelor of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering) representing the School of Engineering and Science graduates.

Curtin Sarawak takes pride in offering identical courses in various business, arts, engineering, science and technology disciplines as Curtin’s main campus in Perth, adopting the same course structures, course materials, and examinations which are set and moderated at the main campus to ensure that they meet and fulfil the academic standards.

Thus, graduates from Curtin Sarawak are awarded the same degrees as their counterparts at the main campus and at Curtin’s regional and international campuses in Australia and Singapore. Curtin degrees are awarded under the Australian Qualifications Framework, which ensures qualifications are recognised and accepted throughout the world.

The diploma courses at Curtin Sarawak, meanwhile, are also awarded under the Australian Qualifications Framework and delivered by qualified Curtin Sarawak academics using the university’s modern teaching and learning facilities. The diplomas are nationally endorsed qualifications in Australia and are also recognised by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and Malaysian Public Services Department (JPA).

School of Business graduates.

Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Prof Ian Kerr delivering his opening speech.

Graduands eager to receive their testamurs.

School of Engineering and Science graduates.