Prof Samyudia — first non-Australian deputy pro vice-chancellor of Curtin Sarawak

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CURTIN SARAWAK’S FIRST: Prof Kerr (left) congratulating Prof Samyudia on his appointment as deputy pro vice-chancellor.

MIRI: Curtin University, Sarawak, (Curtin Sarawak) has appointed Prof Dr Ir Yudi Samyudia as new deputy pro vice-chancellor.

He is the first non-Australian appointed to the post, replacing Prof Alistair Inglis who ended his two-year tenure on Dec 31, 2012.

“Prof Samyudia’s appointment represents a coming of age for Curtin Sarawak because for the first time, one of our employees has been appointed to one of the two senior positions normally filled by an Australian,” said Prof Ian Kerr, Curtin Sarawak’s pro vice-chancellor and chief executive.

He said this at a recent farewell dinner for Prof Alistair, where he announced the appointment of Prof Samyudia.

The management staff and deans of schools of the university attended the dinner.

In his speech, Prof Ian Kerr also thanked Prof Alistair for his outstanding work in advancing Curtin Sarawak as Curtin University’s largest international campus and one of Malaysia’s leading educational institutions.

“Not only has Alistair taken responsibility for and overseen a very broad range of portfolios, he has also revived the importance of our academic board. As chair of our campus quality enhancement committee, he ensured that our policies and documents are revised and updated; and many of our processes and practices improved upon,” said Prof Kerr.

Prof Samyudia, from Indonesia, who assumed the position on Jan 1, will be responsible for overseeing Curtin Sarawak’s academic programmes, Research and Development, Teaching and Learning, Student Services, The Library, University Life, Planning, Quality and Accreditation, and Staff and Student Affairs.

Prof Samyudia is a results-oriented educator and administrator. His immediate focus is on improving the university’s academic service and support systems, strengthening the academic programmes and research, as well as the expansion of the campus library and learning spaces for students.

Prof Samyudia said he is pleased to be able to contribute to the advancement of Curtin Sarawak in his new capacity, adding that further enhancement of the university’s industry-focused learning with advanced teaching methods and modern facilities, unique international and cross-cultural environment, will ensure it continues to be a preferred choice for students throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

He has a distinguished career spanning over 20 years. He joined Curtin Sarawak in 2005 after spending 12 years as an academic and researcher at several leading educational institutions such as McMaster University, Murdoch University, Australia and Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia.

Prior to his appointment, Prof Samyudia was the Dean of Curtin Sarawak’s School of Engineering and Science, since 2009. He was also a senior academic in the school’s Department of Chemical Engineering.

He received his Ir (Ingenieur) degree from Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia, in 1989 and his PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Queensland, Australia, in 1996.

He has extensive experience in industrial research in the area of process systems engineering and is a recipient of the Indonesian-Toray Science Foundation (ITSF) Research Award and Young Academics Award from the Department of Higher Education, Indonesia.

He has published more than 100 publications in reputable book series, international journals and conference proceedings, and co-authored a book on control systems.