Curtin Sarawak students organise conservation education programme with Sarawak Forestry Corporation

Miri – 17 August 2016 – Four final-year Public Relations (PR) students of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) were recently given the opportunity by Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) to organise a conservation education programme for student volunteers at the Piasau Nature Reserve here. 

In addition to students of Curtin Sarawak, students from two secondary schools, SMK Lutong and SMK St Columba, also took part in the programme.

The half-day event comprised workshop and game sessions aimed at raising awareness of the importance of biodiversity conservation. It also enabled the students to learn more about the different types of wildlife found at the Piasau Nature Reserve, particularly its hornbills, and the State Government’s efforts to protect them. 

In praising SFC for giving him and his team the opportunity for the hands-on experience, project coordinator Dominic Liew said working with SFC on the programme allowed them to gain experience in dealing with clients and meeting their expectations.

Liew and his organising team consisting of Daphney Koh, Jesse Grace Lyn Juman and Sufrina Sufian, as well as nine other students from Curtin Sarawak, worked closely with staff of SFC to develop the format and materials for the programme. 

The programme included an environment-themed game, treasure hunt and visit to the nesting site of the Piasau Nature Reserve’s much-celebrated Oriental-Pied Hornbill couple, Jimmy and Juliet.

According to Liew, the students learned a great deal about conducting awareness campaigns from the seasoned SFC staffers. 

SFC hopes that such conservation education programmes will serve as an eye-opener and buy-in for the participants and encourage them to actively support the State’s wildlife conservation efforts, both at the individual and community level.

Public Relations is offered as part of a double major under Curtin’s Bachelor of Commerce at Curtin Sarawak, coupled with either Marketing or Management. Students in the major learn writing, event management, networking and organisational skills, which are needed for PR work in corporate or consultancy environments. 

They learn how to help businesses achieve their goals and how to represent them in the best possible light while considering the needs of all stakeholders. They also gain hands-on experience by developing strategies and pitching ideas for real organisations as well as undertaking a professional internship in their final year.

For more information on Curtin Sarawak, visit its website (www.curtin.edu.my), its Facebook page (Curtin University Sarawak Malaysia), Twitter profile (curtinsarawak), YouTube channel (CurtinUniSarawak) or Instagram (curtinsarawak).