549 graduates attend Curtin Malaysia graduation ceremony

Miri – 16 July 2022 – 549 graduates from Curtin University Malaysia’s graduating classes of 2019, 2020 and 2021 attended its second graduation ceremony for 2022 on 13 and 14 July.

Held in six sessions over the two days, this second ceremony conducted in the university’s 440-seat auditorium allowed more graduates and their family members to attend graduation ceremonies put off by the COVID-19 pandemic in the last two years. A smaller ceremony for 230 graduates was held in March and a third, significantly larger ceremony will be held this October.

The graduates comprised 242 from Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science, 296 from its Faculty of Business, and 11 from its Faculty of Humanities and Health Sciences. They included 15 receiving Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.  

Heading the dignitaries in attendance was Pro-Chancellor of Curtin Malaysia, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam, who presented the graduates their awards on behalf of the Chancellor of Curtin University.

Also present were Chair of Curtin Malaysia’s Management Committee Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin; Miri Mayor and member of the Curtin Malaysia Council Adam Yii Siew Sang; Sarawak Foundation Director and Curtin Malaysia Board member Haji Mersal Bin Abang Rosli; Curtin Malaysia Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Prof. Simon Leunig, faculty deans and faculty heads of department. 

Over the past 21 years, as Curtin University’s earliest and largest global campus and the first foreign branch campus in Sarawak, Curtin Malaysia has produced over 10,000 graduates who are now part of Curtin’s growing global alumni network of over 250,000 graduates.

Its inaugural graduation ceremony in its founding year in 1999 saw its first cohort of foundation students graduating. This was followed by the first degree graduation in 2002 for its pioneering batch of commerce students, and the graduation of its first cohort of engineering students in 2003.

The number of graduates has been growing steadily since, and in 2019 in conjunction with its 20th anniversary celebrations, Curtin Malaysia saw the graduation of its largest-ever graduate cohort of 735 students.

In his address to the graduates, Datuk Patinggi Dr. Chan remarked that it was a great joy to see so many graduates and their family members attending physically thanks to the continued easing of travel and health restrictions.

He added that it was timely for the graduates to reflect on what has transpired over the last two years and consider how they would face the challenges ahead, particularly as most of them have already found employment and are experiencing working in the ‘new normal’.

“While the road ahead is full of uncertainty and challenges, these are also exciting times. There are now opportunities to explore new ways of thinking and doing things, introduce innovative new business ventures, make new scientific and technological discoveries, and more,” Datuk Patinggi Dr. Chan said.

He expressed confidence that the graduates were more than ready for these new challenges as the university has taught them to be innovative, creative and entrepreneurial; to think originally and unconventionally, and unafraid of pushing the boundaries. Above all, they have been taught to accept change and embrace the unknown.

“These qualities and values are what the world really needs as it rebuilds and re-energises in a post-COVID era and it will augur very well for all of you in your careers,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, in his charge to the graduates, Prof. Leunig said the graduates should be extremely proud to have graduated from Curtin, a university ranked in the top 200 or top one per cent of universities worldwide. He also said Curtin Malaysia is the most highly-ranked university in Sarawak across all the metrics, including its volume of research, which constitutes about 10 per cent of research across all Curtin campuses.

Prof. Harlene Hayne, Vice-Chancellor of Curtin University, also conveyed her congratulations to the graduates in a recorded speech.

Curtin University based in Perth is an increasingly global university with campuses in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Dubai and Mauritius, and strategic partnerships with over 130 institutions around the globe. It is recognised as being in the top one per cent of universities worldwide in the 2021 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) and ranks 193rd in the world in the 2023 QS World University Rankings.

Curtin Malaysia offers the same internationally-accredited courses as its Australian parent, and undergraduate students have the option to transfer to the main campus or any other Curtin global campus at any time to complete their degrees and add another dimension to their international experience. These courses include undergraduate and postgraduate courses in engineering, science, business and humanities.

Curtin Malaysia also offers foundation programmes that feed directly into its undergraduate programmes, diplomas in commerce, media studies and information technology; and training and short courses.

For more information on Curtin Malaysia and the courses it offers, visit its website at https:// www.curtin.edu.my or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or Tik-Tok.