Curtin Sarawak and Sarawak Energy enhance collaboration

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(Seated from second right) Mienczakowski, Peing and others during the group photo following the MoU signing.

(Seated from second right) Mienczakowski, Peing and others during the group photo following the MoU signing.

MIRI: Curtin University Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) and Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Wednesday to facilitate greater collaboration between them.

The focus of cooperation is on areas of academia, industrial training, research and development and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

It will be primarily for developing employment opportunities at Sarawak Energy for top performing graduates of the university, industrial training for undergraduate students, scholarships for top-performing students, collaborative research and development and joint CSR projects.

Representing SEB to formalise the MoU at the Curtin Sarawak campus were its assistant general manager for corporate communications Peing Tajang together with competency training manager Benjamin Lim and corporate communications senior executive Christian Chiou.

Curtin Sarawak was represented by its pro vice-chancellor and chief executive professor Jim Mienczakowski together with deputy pro vice-chancellor professor Ir Yudi Samyudia, chief operating officer Kingsley Francis Charles and director of government and corporate relations Alex Chung.

Among those present were faculty deans and heads of departments within the faculties.

In his speech, Mienczakowski thanked SEB group chief operating officer Datuk Torstein Dale Sjotveit and the management for their commitment towards forging a strong partnership between the two organisations.

He said the commitment to provide employment opportunities to graduates of Curtin Sarawak under the MoU was most welcome.

“The university is also very appreciative of Sarawak Energy’s offer to provide industrial training for its undergraduate students which will give them vital industry exposure and an added advantage in their future careers,” he said.

He hoped that SEB’s staff will pursue postgraduate programmes at Curtin Sarawak to advance their careers and learn from academics at both Curtin Sarawak and its main campus in Western Australia.

Meanwhile, Peing said the MoU marked a significant milestone in Sarawak Energy’s continuous efforts to enhance relationships with institutions of higher learning, especially in Sarawak.

She said education is the backbone of development and growth, and universities like Curtin were at the forefront of research and development, providing critical findings and creative ideas to spur growth and help build tomorrow’s leaders.

She pointed out that the MoU was part of their ongoing collaboration with Curtin Sarawak on various projects from research and development to student visits over the years.

Peing added that SEB had identified education and young people amongst its key focus areas in developing long-term, sustainable partnerships to meet real community needs, and it was this commitment that had led to the partnership with Curtin Sarawak.