Abang Johari presents a scroll to a graduate during the ceremony. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: Family members and friends converged on Borneo Convention Centre Kuching yesterday to witness 314 Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus graduands and graduates receive their scrolls during the university’s 20th graduation ceremony.
The awards were presented by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, who is Pro Chancellor of Swinburne Sarawak, and Vice-Chancellor of Swinburne University of Technology Professor Linda Kristjanson.
The ceremony commenced with the conferment of awards to 137 undergraduate students from the Bachelor of Business in Accounting; Accounting and Finance: Finance; Human Resource Management; lnternational Business; Management; and Marketing programmes, as well as Bachelor of Design in Multimedia Design programme.
This was followed by conferment to 159 students from the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Civil; Electrical and Electronic; Mechanical; Robotics and Mechatronics; and Chemical engineering programmes, as well as Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology), Bachelor of lnformation and Communication Technology, and Bachelor of Computer Science programmes.
The presentation resumed with award conferment to eight Master graduates from the Master of Business Administration (International), Master of Science (Research) and Master of Business (Research) programmes.
Rounding up the graduates were 10 Doctor of Philosophy award recipients in engineering, science and business programmes. They were Baig Aysha Karamat, Choudhury Bismita, Brian Loh Chung Shiong, Khew Choy Yuen, Edwin Sia Sien Aun, Fredrik Phangkawira, Lai Jia Jiun, Mark Tee Kit Tsun, Nastassia Denis and Reagan Entigu Linton @ Jerah.
This year’s PhD cohort brings the total of PhD graduates at Swinburne Sarawak to 42, with the first cohort graduating in 2012.
Meanwhile, special needs student Leong Man Tik succeeded in overcoming a tough time in university after having been diagnosed in 2016 with focal dystonia, a neurological condition also known as writer’s cramp, according to a statement released by the university.
The condition limits the Bachelor of Business (International Business) graduate’s ability to write as his left hand, which is his dominant hand, would occasionally shiver uncontrollably.
“After completing my secondary school, I took a half-year vacation and practised writing with my right hand. When I commenced my study at Swinburne, I still struggled with writing but have improved over time.
“l’m thankful to Swinburne’s Student Development and Support Unit for assisting in the arrangement of extra time during my examinations, to cope with my writing difficulties,” Leong, who will be leaving soon for Singapore to work, said in the statement.
Yesterday’s group of graduates comprised Malaysian students and those from all over the world including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, lndia, Indonesia, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus is the only international branch campus of Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia.
The Sarawak campus offers a range of industry-applicable courses such as business, computing, design, engineering and science at pre-university (foundation), diploma, degree, masters and PhD levels.
The course curriculum taught and assessments conducted are equivalent and aligned to identical learning outcomes offered at the Melbourne campus. For students interested in gaining exposure abroad, they can transfer or go on an exchange programme to the Melbourne campus or partner institution in Germany.