Prof Mienczakowski (third left) exchanging the NoU documents with Abdubrani while others look on.
MIRI: Curtin University Sarawak (Curtin) and Politeknik Mukah yesterday signed a five-year Note of Understanding (NoU) paving the way for more students to study at the university.
It also enables both institutions to collaborate on other educational related activities.
Curtin’s Pro Vice-Chancellor and chief executive, Professor Jim Mienczakowski signed for Curtin University Sarawak while Director of Politeknik Mukah signed for his institution.
Present to witness and speak at the signing ceremony was Shabudin Man, Deputy Director-General (Strategic), Department of Polytechnic Education, Ministry of Education.
Among those present were Curtin’s Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ir Yudi Samyudia, Dean of Faculty of Engineering and Science, Professor Michael Cloke and Ahmad Masduki Selamat (Deputy Director — Academic) and Harmen Muda (Collaboration Officer/Lecturer) of Politeknik Mukah.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prof Mienczakowski said the NoU augured well for a meaningful ongoing partnership to provide world class education to the people.
“This NoU clearly outlines the requirements for students of Politeknik Mukah who have completed their diplomas to enroll in our Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) or Bachelor of Technology programmes, and the Recognised Prior Learning (or Advanced Standing) they will receive.
We hope that, with this arrangement, students of Politeknik Mukah will take advantage of the opportunity to further their studies at Curtin Sarawak,” he said.
Under the NoU, the Politeknik’s diploma graduates will be given up to a maximum of 225 credits and other favourable terms for pursuing the courses at Curtin.
He added that with over 3,600 students from more than 40 countries Curtin offers a unique cross-cultural learning experience and with highly-qualified academic staff from some 15 countries further strengthen
the international outlook of Curtin.
“The engineering courses we offer are highly-ranked and widely-recognised in the world, and accredited by engineering professional bodies nationally and internationally. We are also the only university in East Malaysia to be rated Tier 5 or Excellent in the D-SETARA for our engineering programmes,” he stressed.
Shabudin meanwhile said the NoU was among the collaborative efforts taken by politeknik in Malaysia with relevant agencies in both the public and private sectors in and outside the country.
“Politeknik education system does not only produce semi-professionals with academic knowledge but also nurture them with the relevant technical skills and life-long learning skills in order to better equip them in the challenging global marketplace,” he said.
He added that Politeknik Mukah has collaborated with few other institutions such as Pontianak State Polytechnic, Bintulu Development Authority and Press Metal Sarawak Bhd.
He hoped that Curtin and Politeknik Mukah will also pursue many other significant activities such as seminars, workshops and conferences in the area of education and training for lecturers.
“With a strong commitment from both institutions, I am confident that this collaboration would inspire more joint innovative activities in future and drive the educational development of Sarawak to even greater heights,” he said.