‘Petroleum Week’ offers students networking opportunities with oil and gas companies

Miri – 24 October 2013 – The recent ‘Petroleum Week’ organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Student Chapter of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) provided a platform for students of the university to network and learn from professionals in the oil and gas industry.

Held at the foyer of the Harry Perkins Lecture Theatre, the event was attended by over 250 students and included the participation of industry players such as Weatherford Sdn. Bhd., Halliburton, Sarawak Shell and Brunei Shell.

Officiating at the event’s launch was Datuk Dr. Lee Kim Shin, Sarawak Assistant Minister of Communications and Assistant Minister of Sports, who is also the chair of Curtin Sarawak’s management board.

Also present were Curtin Sarawak Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Professor Jim Mienczakowski; Dean of School of Engineering and Science Professor Michael Cloke; Head of the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Associate Professor Chua Han Bing; President of SPE Student Chapter Sean Toh Zit Cheng; and Organising Chairperson Grace Rantai.

In his opening speech, Professor Mienczakowski said Petroleum Week is an important annual event for Curtin Sarawak as the university continues to forge closer relationships with industry for the advancement and promotion of petroleum engineering.

Meanwhile, Datuk Lee said in his official address that despite the vast opportunities in the Malaysian petroleum industry, many engineering positions are still occupied by expatriates. He attributed this to the fact that there are still relatively few institutions offering degrees in petroleum engineering and other related disciplines.

“It needs to be made known that Curtin Sarawak is one of a select few institutions in the region offering courses in petroleum engineering. I highly recommend Curtin’s Bachelor of Engineering (Petroleum Engineering) to those seeking lucrative careers in both the national and international oil and gas industry,” said Datuk Lee.

The week-long event covered activities such as mini exhibition, integrated high school programme, academic talks, competitions and an industrial site visit.

The SPE Student Chapter can be contacted through its official e-mail at CUSMstudents@spemail.org.

Datuk Lee delivering his address at the event launch.

Grace Rantai (3rd from right) presenting a souvenir to Datuk Lee as (L-R) Toh, Chua and Mienczakowski and others look on.