Abang Johari presents the cheque to Mienczakowski (second left), witnessed by Uggah (on Abang Johari’s left), Fatimah (third left), Lee (left) and others.
MIRI: The Sarawak government continues to place strong emphasis on quality tertiary education, with an allocation of RM2 million for Curtin University Malaysia.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg presented the cheque to Curtin Malaysia pro vice-chancellor, president and chief executive officer Prof Jim Mienczakowski at a hotel here yesterday during the launch of a booklet on the 65 initiatives undertaken by chief minister.
The allocation was a follow-up to Abang Johari’s visit to the campus in June last year, where he had assured all that the Sarawak government would assist Curtin Malaysia in expanding its facilities, particularly in relation to information technology (IT) to meet the requirements of the state.
He said this was necessary to meet the needs of Industry 4.0, and that tertiary institutions in Sarawak needed to enhance their IT and other expertise in line with the Sarawak government’s goal to develop its digital economy and natural resources.
Among those present at the event were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah; Utilities Minister Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi; Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah; Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian; and Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin.
Curtin University is ranked 20th among the world’s top young universities in the 2019 edition of QS Top 50, which measures the world’s best universities under 50 years of age.
Curtin Malaysia is its largest international campus and global hub in Asia, with other campuses located in Singapore, Dubai and Mauritius.
Curtin Malaysia will mark its 20th anniversary this year and its upward trajectory in the world rankings augurs well for the campus’ standing as the highest-ranked global university campus in Borneo and the largest Australian international campus in the world.