Shell and Curtin Sarawak sign memorandum on scholarships

Miri – 17 August, 2009 – Sarawak Shell Berhad on behalf of the Shell Malaysia Scholarship Trust Fund (SMSTF) and Curtin University of Technology, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) today signed a memorandum of agreement renewing their collaboration in providing scholarships for deserving students in East Malaysia.

Signing the agreement at a simple ceremony held at the Curtin Sarawak campus were Dato Wee Yiaw Hin, Managing Director of Shell Malaysia Exploration & Production (SMEP), and Dr. John Evans, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Curtin Sarawak.

On hand to witness the signing was Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communications Datuk Lee Kim Shin, who is also the chairman of the Curtin Sarawak Management Board.

Also present were General Manager (Talent and Resourcing) SMEP, Abang Azahari bin Abang Zen, and General Manager (Learning) SMEP, Wong Hee Jiong, and Curtin Sarawak’s Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr. Joan Gribble, Chief Operating Officer James Ng, department heads and academic deans of Curtin Sarawak, as well as representatives of Shell’s Campus Ambassador Programme and the media.

The scholarships for Curtin Sarawak students, which were first offered in 2005, provide students who are academically outstanding but do not have the financial means the opportunity to pursue Bachelor of Engineering degrees or their equivalent at Curtin Sarawak.

“This signing ceremony marks yet another chapter in the close relationship and collaboration between two very significant organisations and community players here in Miri – Shell and Curtin Sarawak,” declared Datuk Lee in his address during the ceremony.

He added that the scholarship offers deserving students in East Malaysia a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pursue a higher education in a prestigious international university like Curtin Sarawak. Furthermore, Curtin Sarawak’s engineering courses are not only highly regarded in the region and identical to courses offered at Curtin’s main campus in Australia, but also accredited by professional bodies in Malaysia, Australia and the United Kingdom.

”The recipients will be getting the very best. Shell and Curtin Sarawak must be commended for their generosity and outstanding community spirit in this regard,” remarked Datuk Lee.

Dato Wee, meanwhile, disclosed that Shell would continue to partner the state government as well as other stakeholders including Curtin in various educational, youth development and other community-oriented programmes which are designed with the underlying objective of progressing capacity building, knowledge enhancement, skill development and promoting health and safety and environmental concern.

“As a partner in Malaysia’s progress, Shell is proud to contribute to sustainable development in the country by enhancing our nation’s intellectual asset pool through this programme,” he added.

In thanking Shell and the SMSTF for their contribution to the scholarship programme, Dr. Evans said, “It is a great pleasure to renew our working relationship with Shell and the SMSTF with regards to the scholarship. In fact, we are glad to have had the support of Shell on a number of key areas, such as in our research activities and training and career development, and we look forward to building even stronger ties in the future.”

He said the scholarship was one of many scholarships available to enrolled and potential students of Curtin Sarawak. “I would encourage those who do not have the financial means but are keen to pursue studies at Curtin Sarawak to seriously consider applying for the scholarships or loans available,” he said.

The scholarship is open for applications between March and May each year. Those interested to apply can obtain application forms from the Loans and Scholarships counter at the Student Services Department, Curtin Sarawak, or download it from the Shell-Curtin Scholarship website at www.curtin.edu.my/scholarship/shellcurtin.htm.

Full details of the scholarship are also available on the website, or alternatively, they may contact Curtin Sarawak’s Loans & Scholarships Officer Marianne Masli at 085-443939 or Siti Rohanah Amat Dollah, SM EP HR Talent & Resourcing Advisor, Sarawak Shell Berhad, at 085-454477 for information.

Group photo after the signing ceremony. (L-R front row)

Wong Hee Jiong, Abang Azahari bin Abang Zen, Jonathan Jolly,

Dato Wee Yiaw Hin, Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Dr. John Evans,

Dr. Joan Gribble, James Ng