School-leavers invited to ‘Curtin Summer Intake’ Programme Preview

Miri – 14 December 2012 – Form 5 and Form 6 school-leavers are invited to attend the ‘Curtin Summer Intake’ (CSI) Programme Preview organised by Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) on 22 December 2012. It will be held from 7.00 pm to 9.30 pm at the Imperial Hotel, Miri.

Themed ‘Curtin Christmas Evening’, the preview is tailored for SPM, STPM and UEC school-leavers interested to pursue tertiary studies at Curtin Sarawak and wish to make an early start to their studies by undergoing the CSI programme from 7 January to 8 February 2013.

The CSI programme, an enhanced version of the university’s previous ‘January Intake’ programme, is designed to give SPM, STPM or UEC school-leavers a significant head start on their university careers should their results prove adequate for entry into any of the pre-university or undergraduate programmes offered.

It allows them to take compulsory subjects mandated by the Ministry of Higher Education under the Malaysian Private Higher Education Act 1996 (Act 555) during the current year-end break, which would otherwise have to be taken during the course of their normal studies in the coming year.

Act 555 requires private higher education institutions to teach Malaysian Studies, Islamic Studies (for students professing the Islamic faith) and Moral Education (for non-Muslim students) to Malaysian students. The students are required to pass these subjects as a prerequisite to the award of a certificate, diploma or degree.

At the same time, they will take ‘Essentially Curtin’ academic skills modules that will help them acquire essential skills for a fulfilling tertiary education and get a taste of teaching and learning in a university.

The modules comprise Leadership Skills, Teamwork, Time Management, Preparing for Job Applications, Learning Styles, Study Skills, Exam Skills, Interpersonal Communication, Reading Effectively, as well as learning through talks by industry speakers, business games and field trips.

Upon completion of the CSI programme, and provided their examination results are adequate, the STPM and UEC school-leavers will be eligible for the undergraduate arts, business, engineering, science and technology degree programmes in February, whilst the SPM school-leavers will be eligible to enrol in the Engineering or Business Foundation programmes in March.

SPM school-leavers who are interested to enrol in diploma programmes such as the Diploma of Business and Diploma of Occupational Health and Safety, which are offered in collaboration with the Central Gippsland Institute of TAFE (GippsTAFE), are also eligible to enrol in the CSI programme prior to the commencement of the diploma programmes in March.

Former January Intake programme student Lee Guan Liang, 19, said the programme gave him many advantages over other students when he entered the Foundation programme. He studied the Moral Studies and Malaysian Studies units earlier than the rest, resulting in less workload during his Foundation year. He was also able to improve on his Microsoft Word and Excel skills, as well as his public speaking skills.

Jong Zeh Wei, 21, also said the January Intake programme was beneficial to him. Besides allowing him to focus more on other subjects during his Foundation year, the ‘Essentially Curtin’ modules helped him improve his command of the English language and his computer skills.

To enrol, students are required to pay a fee of RM3000 before 28 December 2012. They must also fulfil the entry requirements for the foundation, diploma or degree programmes of their choice (based on their SPM or STPM forecasted results, or for UEC students, their actual results).

If they are eligible and decide to enter one of the programmes following the Curtin Summer Intake programme, their RM3000 fee will go towards their first semester tuition fees, which means they would have undergone the Curtin Summer Intake programme for free.

They will also enjoy a waiver of their RM300 registration fee and a further RM200 early bird rebate on their tuition fees provided their tuition fees for Semester 1, 2013 for degree programmes are paid in full by 4 February 2013, or 25 February 2013 for the foundation and diploma programmes.

For more information on the ‘Curtin Summer Intake’ programme or to register for the preview, contact Wong Wei Chen at 013-830 3166 or e-mail chenwong@curtin.edu.my by 17 December 2012.

Lee (left) speaking at recent ‘Curtin Summer Intake’ press conference as fellow student Ernest Kong, Curtin Sarawak’s Chief Operating Officer Nicholas Ching and Student Recruitment Manager Liew Mei Yin look on.