MIRI: Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) celebrated its 20th anniversary with over 120 Curtin alumni at a leading hotel here last Saturday.
The alumni included those who graduated at Curtin Malaysia and Curtin’s main campus in Perth, Western Australia.
Present at the dinner event were Curtin Malaysia pro-chancellor Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan, pro vice-chancellor and chief executive professor Jim Mienczakowski, deputy pro vice-chancellor professor Beena Giridharan, chief operating officer Pieter Pottas and Curtin University associate deputy vice-chancellor International, associate
professor Simon Leunig.
Several faculty deans and management staff also attended.
Among the highlights of the evening was the presentation of alumni achievement awards to three notable alumni by associate professor Leunig. The award winners were chosen by a university selection panel from over 20 candidates who were nominated by their peers.
Mechanical engineering graduate Joyceanna Hong Jia Ming, who graduated in 2012, received the Curtin Malaysia Alumni Professional Award which recognises distinction, exemplary leadership and achievement in the professions or industry.
Hong is currently turnaround lead at KPOC, a joint venture between Petronas, Shell and Conoco Philips, operating platforms in Sabah waters, the largest producing platforms in Southeast Asia.
Receiving the Curtin Malaysia Alumni Entrepreneur Award, which recognises outstanding initiative or contribution to innovation or creative new ideas, solutions or business opportunities that have the potential for strong growth, was Master of Science in Electrical Engineering holder Stanly Ampah Barak, who graduated earlier this year.
An accomplished engineer-entrepreneur, Stanly has 15 years’ experience as a project engineer with a proven track record in contract management, project engineering, oil & gas and petrochemical plant construction, onshore fabrication and offshore hook-up and commissioning, topside major maintenance and technical integrity restoration and facility improvement.
Meanwhile, the Curtin Malaysia Social Impact Award for exceptional contribution and commitment to creating positive social change and improving the lives of others, went to electrical and communication engineering graduate and environmentalist Rexy Prakash Chacko, who graduated in 2016.
In his welcoming speech, professor Mienczakowski said the alumni homecoming was aimed at getting alumni to re-connect with their alma-mater, especially at its 20th anniversary year.
He said that a series of commemorative events for various stakeholders have been held this year to mark the important milestone and it is only fitting that Curtin Malaysia hosted one for Curtin alumni in Miri. A second event, for Malaya-based alumni as well as government and industry stakeholders, will be jointly hosted by Curtin University and Curtin Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur on October 11.
In his address, Dr Chan said he was delighted to see the good attendance of alumni who obviously continued to have a strong connection with Curtin Malaysia and Curtin University.
He said Curtin has had a long and meaningful relationship with Sarawak since 1998 when the university and the Sarawak government signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of academic cooperation. This led to the establishment of Curtin Malaysia later that year, and the commencement of classes with 220 students in March the
following year.
In April 2002, Curtin Malaysia produced its first degree graduates with Bachelor of Commerce degrees, followed by its first engineering graduates in 2004, and since then, over 7,500 students have graduated from Curtin Malaysia.
For insights into Curtin Malaysia’s 20-year history and outlook as Curtin University’s largest international campus and global hub in Asia, visit the Curtin Malaysia 20th anniversary website at 20years.curtin.edu.my.
For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit its website (www.curtin.edu.my), its Facebook page (CurtinMalaysia), Twitter profile (curtinmalaysia), Instagram (curtinmalaysia), YouTube channel (Curtin Malaysia) or LinkedIn page (Curtin Malaysia).
