KUCHING: Sarawak Energy and Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus recently renewed their partnership through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a three-year term as part of Sarawak Energy’s Campus Ambassador Programme.
Swinburne, in a statement today, said the renewal is a testament to the strong collaborative partnership both parties have enjoyed over the years.
Under the Campus Ambassador Programme, Sarawak Energy establishes partnerships with selected universities to collaborate on areas of mutual interest.
Since the signing of the first agreement between Swinburne Sarawak and Sarawak Energy in June 2019, both organisations have engaged in various areas of collaboration, including talent nurturing, industry-engaged learning, research, and scholarship provision for high-performing students.
This year’s MoU renewal signing ceremony coincided with Sarawak Energy Group chief operating officer (CEO) James Ung’s first visit to the campus since assuming the role as the new Swinburne Sarawak Campus Ambassador.
In addition to offering financial assistance to students through its scholarship programme, Sarawak Energy actively supports the university’s commitment to industry-engaged learning through the Sarawak Energy Internship Programme, delivering guest lectures and providing advice for courses and students’ final year projects.
The role Sarawak Energy plays as a close collaborator of the university has greatly benefited the students by ensuring that they gain practical, work-ready skills, placing them ahead of their peers.
“We believe that when industry players collaborate with universities, we will be able to create more value to benefit the community as a whole.
“With Swinburne Sarawak being one of our closest university partners, we are looking forward to exploring more projects together,” said Ung.
Swinburne Sarawak Pro Vice-Chancellor and CEO Professor Lau Hieng Ho agreed and said: “In addition to our projects with Sarawak Energy, we can also work together with the other universities under the Campus Ambassador Programme to unlock potential for more innovation in our projects with Sarawak Energy.
“Through Swinburne Sarawak’s subsidiary, Swinburne Innovation Malaysia Sdn Bhd (SWIM), our university can also manage and respond to industry needs with greater agility.”
Both parties also discussed collaboration on potential projects, including an upcoming outreach education programme the university intends to roll out around June this year.
After the MoU signing ceremony, Ung continued the campus ambassador visit with a fireside chat session with the Sarawak Energy scholars of the university.
The session provided an opportunity for him to share knowledge and interact with the students on various topics, including the application of academic knowledge at work, sustainable energy, and the importance of research and development (R&D) in the energy industry.
