Soon-to-graduate business students attend Curtin Malaysia pre-graduation gathering

Miri – 7 November 2019 – Over 90 final-year, final semester business students of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently attended a Pre-Graduation Gathering hosted by the campus’ Faculty of Business and Department of University Life.

The gathering, which is held for each graduating cohort, marks the final stages of their programmes and student journeys prior to their final examinations, celebrates their achievements as students and the joy of looking forward to their graduation, and prepares them for transition to working life after graduation.

The students were from various disciplines in the Faculty’s Accounting, Finance and Banking, Marketing, and Management departments.

Present at the gathering were Acting Dean of the Faculty of Business Dr. Stephen Sim, Faculty Manager Cherina Chiew, heads and academic staff of the four departments, and officers from the University Life Department.

 Also present to share their post-graduation journeys with the students were seven alumni of the Faculty, three of whom are currently pursuing postgraduate studies as Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students at Curtin Malaysia, and another four who are pursuing careers as industry professionals and entrepreneurs.

Among the three who are postgraduate researchers, all of whom graduated in 2018, Christine Mening Ngau graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom.) in Finance and Management and is now pursuing a Master of Philosophy (MPhil.) in Finance where she is researching ‘Digital Financial Services Acceptance among Low-Income Households in Miri, Sarawak: The Role of Cultural Dimensions’.

Athena Chong Wei Chee, who graduated with a BCom. (Marketing and Management), is enrolled in the MPhil. (Management) where she is leading a research project entitled ‘Socio-cultural Impacts of Festivals on Local Residents’ Quality of Life: Sarawak Perspective’.

Also enrolled in the MPhil. (Management) programme is Ting Qian Hui, who graduated with a BCom. (Finance and Management) and is now pursuing research entitled ‘The Role of Psychological Capital and Employee Engagement in Determining Organisational Citizenship Behaviour in the Industrial Revolution 4.0 Era: Transfer of Training as a Mediator’.

Of the working alumni, Daphney Koh Han Chien, who graduated with a BCom. (Public Relations and Marketing) in 2017, is currently the business development manager at the Miri branch of OCBC, and Justin Nason Simunyi Robinson, who graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Business Administration, is assistant manager for centre management in charge of Pantai Bayu Indah Sdn. Bhd.’s Miri Times Square development.

Meanwhile, Gavin Mattu, who graduated with a BCom. (Property Valuation) and later a Master of Science in Project Management, is co-founder of Warmonger Training Academy Miri, the first competitive combat sport training centre in Miri; and Rining Mutang Tagal is senior manager with Semaring Enterprise, a diverse group of companies involved in oil and gas, quarrying, marine and shipping, engineering, construction, consultancies, agriculture and tourism.

The soon-to-graduate students will soon join over 230,000 Curtin alumni across the world, including close to 8,000 from Curtin Malaysia, who have gone on to successful careers in a broad range of professions.

During the gathering, they were reminded to stay connected with their alma-mater as lifetime members of the Curtin Alumni, and continue to be active ambassadors of the university in the future.

Their graduation ceremony, which they will attend with graduates from the Faculty of Engineering and Science and Faculty of Humanities, will be held on 18 April 2020.

Faculty Manager Cherina Chiew and Acting Dean Dr Stephen Sim (2nd & 3rd left) and academics of the Faculty attending the gathering.

(L-R) Daphney Koh, Justin Nason Simunyi Robinson, Gavin Mattu and Rining Mutang Tagal.

Some of the students at the gathering.

Acting Dean Dr Stephen Sim addressing the students.

(L-R) Graduate researchers Athena Chong, Ting Qian Hui and Christine Mening Ngau.

Group photo of students, alumni and staff.