Vahr (left) and Wilson pose for the camera.
KUCHING: Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus recently hosted a visit by the Danish Ambassador to Malaysia Jesper Vahr.
Vahr, who was accompanied by the Honorary Consul of Denmark in Kuching Aw Tai Hui, received a warm welcome from Swinburne Sarawak deputy vice-chancellor and chief executive officer Prof John Wilson, the university’s director of academics Assoc Prof Enn Ong Siok Ean, its executive group members and senior staff members.
In his welcoming remark, Wilson touched on the history of the university’s ‘Study Abroad’ programme, which has been opening doors to international students to study at Swinburne Sarawak, since 2007.
He said that under the programme, the campus enrolled its first student from the US, followed by Denmark in 2008.
“Swinburne Sarawak works closely with its recruitment partner EDU, based in Copenhagen. EDU organises the ‘Study Abroad Fair’ called the ‘EDU Days’ twice a year, covering cities such as Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense and Aalborg where students can find out more about opportunities to study at Swinburne Sarawak.
“A total number of 31 Danish students enrolled at our campus in 2016, and last year we enrolled 46 students. At present, we have 15 Danish students and we expect the number to grow to 50 in Semester 2 in September,” he said.
Wilson regarded students from Denmark and other European nations as ‘a welcome addition’ to the university’s student community as they provide a unique perspective and are very independent – they are known to be actively engaged in class, which many local students aim to emulate.
Under the ‘Study Abroad’ programme, international students can enrol in Semester 1 (February–June) or Semester 2 (September–December), with the latter receiving the biggest cohort.
The next group of Danish students is expected this August, comprising undergraduate and postgraduate students from Copenhagen Business School, Aarhus University, University of Southern Denmark, Aalborg University, Via University and University of Copenhagen.
Meanwhile, Vahr remarked that Swinburne Sarawak records the most consistent and highest number of Danish students yearly among Malaysian universities, partly due to the Danish government’s commitment in sending undergraduate students abroad for at least one semester to enrich their learning and perspectives.
Vahr added that Denmark is keen to explore real-world applications of thought technology with technologically advanced countries.
The ambassador is scheduled to have a meeting with Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, where the two may discuss Sarawak’s venture into digital economy.
Swinburne Sarawak is the only international branch campus of Swinburne University of Technology Australia. It is the highest-ranking international university in Borneo based on the inaugural Asia-Pacific University Ranking 2017 by Times Higher Education (THE).
For more information, visit www.swinburne.edu.my, Facebook page (@swinburnesarawak), Instagram (@swinburnesarawak), Twitter page (@Swinburne_Swk), or YouTube channel (Swinburne Sarawak).