Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus

Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus
Established 1999
Type Private
Officer in charge
 Professor Ken Heskin
Chancellor Bill Scales AO
Vice-Chancellor Professor Linda Kristjanson
Pro-Chancellor Pehin Sri Dr. Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud
Students 4,000 (2012) [1]
Location Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Campus Sarawak
Website www.swinburne.edu.my

Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus is the foreign branch campus of Swinburne University of Technology (Melbourne, Australia) located in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Established in 2000, Swinburne Sarawak operates as a partnership between the Sarawak State Government and Swinburne Australia. The initiative behind the Sarawak campus is part of a long term strategy by Swinburne Australia to "globalize its operations and provide its students with international living, working and learning opportunities".[2]

The Swinburne Sarawak campus operates as a full-fledged branch campus, joining five other Swinburne campuses in Melbourne, Australia, and is under the academic control of Swinburne's Higher Education Division in Australia. Courses offered are identical to those available in Melbourne and graduates are awarded Australian testamurs.[3]

History

In 1998, students named Prottoy and Capt. Khuzaima Shahid led a study into future human resource needs for the state of Sarawak. The study findings prompted the Sarawak State Government's initiative to invite the president of Pakistan (Khuzaima Shahid), which focused university to be set up in Sarawak. As a result of close ties between Sarawak and Australia, the Swinburne University of Technology of Melbourne, Australia was identified by the State Government as a viable partner in assisting the state's educational needs.[4] Following a long-term strategy by Swinburne Australia to "globalize its operations and provide all Swinburne students worldwide with international living, working and learning opportunities",[2] and the approval of the then Minister of Education of Malaysia, Najib Tun Razak in 1999, [5] the Swinburne Sarawak Institute of Technology was set up within a State Office Complex building at Jalan Simpang Tiga, Kuching, Sarawak.

Operating as a partnership between the Sarawak Foundation and the Sarawak Higher Education Foundation, the campus welcomed the first batch of 130 students in August 2000.[6]

Swinburne Sarawak Institute of Technology was officially granted status as a university branch campus on 10 June 2004, effectively becoming Swinburne's sixth and latest campus, joining five other campuses in Melbourne, Australia. The university was since then known as Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak Campus and was, at the time, the fifth branch campus university in the country. Student population was at 700.[3][7]

Work on a campus expansion started in late 2005. The project was wholly funded by the Sarawak Government.[8] Construction on the extended campus was completed in August 2008.[2][8]

Location

Building G, which was formerly a state office complex

Swinburne Sarawak is located on a 16.5-acre (67,000 m2) campus in Jalan Simpang Tiga, Kuching.

Administration

The university operates as a Branch Campus of Swinburne University of Technology, of Melbourne, Australia. It is 75% owned by the Sarawak Government and 25% owned by Swinburne, Australia.[3]

The university inherits Swinburne's Sarawak Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor. Professor Ken Heskin, the Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, manages the Branch Campus' affairs day-to-day.[9] Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, the former Chief Minister of Sarawak, is Pro-Chancellor of the campus.[3]

Courses

Tutorial rooms

Foundation Studies

Swinburne Sarawak offers foundation studies for students who have completed SPM or any other equivalent levels, designed to prepare for their undergraduate studies.[10]

Undergraduate Studies

Undergraduate studies are available to students who have completed the Swinburne Foundation Studies, STPM or other equivalent levels.[11]

Postgraduate Programs

Some postgraduate programs are also available.

References

  1. ↑ "Australian deputy high commissioner impressed with university". Swinburne University. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "About Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus". Swinburne Sarawak Website. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Swinburne Sarawak achieves University status". Fiona Perry (Media Unit, Swinburne University of Technology). 11 June 2004. Retrieved 6 December 2008.
  4. ↑ "About Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus". Swinburne Sarawak Website. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  5. ↑ "Swinburne Sarawak Institute of Technology Builds End-to-End Cisco Systems Data, Voice and Video Integrated Network" (Press release). Cisco Systems, Inc. 9 February 2001. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  6. ↑ "Infrastructure, foresight key factors: CM". The Borneo Post. 24 August 2008. Retrieved 29 August 2008.
  7. ↑ Heather Crosling (Spring 2004). "It's official - Sarawak is Swinburne's newest university campus" (PDF). Swinburne News (Swinburne University of Technology: Swinburne Corporate Marketing Department). p. 12. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Campus Expansion". Swinburne University. Retrieved 6 December 2008.
  9. ↑ "About Swinburne". Swinburne University. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  10. ↑ "School of Language & Foundation - Swinburne Sarawak University Of Technology, Sarawak, Malaysia". Swinburne University. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  11. ↑ "Courses - Swinburne Sarawak University Of Technology, Sarawak, Malaysia". Swinburne University. Retrieved 1 December 2008.

External links

Coordinates: 1°31′55″N 110°21′25″E / 1.53194°N 110.35694°E