KUCHING – Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus proudly celebrated 594 of its graduates at the university’s third graduation ceremony of the year held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on 2 November 2022.
The ceremony saw the conferment of awards to 549 undergraduates, comprising 276 in the field of business, 145 in engineering, 72 in computer science, 34 in design, 15 in information and communications technology and 7 in biotechnology. Nine graduates from the Diploma of Business Management received their scrolls.
Awards were also presented to 18 graduates from the Master of Business Administration (International), 10 from the Master of Arts (TESOL), 3 from the Master of Science (Research) and a graduate from the Master of Engineering (Research).
Four graduates were conferred Doctor of Philosophy awards in engineering, science and business.
The group of graduates consisted of Malaysian students as well as international students from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Brunei Darussalam, Bangladesh, India, Jamaica, Sudan and Myanmar.
One of the valedictorians, Diana Choo Chung Yiing who graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy (Science), described Swinburne Sarawak as a place she held near and dear to her heart – having spent over 10 years at the university from commencing her foundation studies to leaving with her PhD.
“I believe that my choice to keep furthering my studies with Swinburne Sarawak speaks for itself. Swinburne Sarawak has provided me with opportunities and platforms to grow in ways I never thought I could, allowing me to discover my capabilities. The relationships fostered with my friends, supervisors and colleagues have made me feel like I truly have a Swinburne family,” she said.
Sharing some words of encouragement for graduates about to embark into the real world, Choo said, “Remember to always be open to opportunities and never ever stop having the will to learn. Learning truly begins when you step out of the classroom – not just learning technically but also learning socially and personally. I wish you all the best and believe that you are on the path that is meant for you!”
Karen anak Patrick Lai, another valedictorian who graduated with a Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management), said she had a diverse, memorable and welcoming experience at Swinburne Sarawak.
“I like how Swinburne Sarawak takes the initiative to host events that relate to important global issues like mental health, sustainability and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as well as fun events revolving around music, culture, sports and art. The student community is racially and culturally diverse, so we are exposed to different perspectives and people from around the world.
“I gained plenty of knowledge and practical skills from my courses. Our passionate lecturers never settled for average and set the bar high so that we could produce our best work and emerge as our best selves. This journey has not been an easy one, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, but I am forever grateful to my friends, teachers and family who helped me through these challenging years,” she said.
Karen encouraged graduates not to compare themselves with others but rather celebrate their achievements and remember their strengths.
“Everyone is on their own journey and as long as you try your best, you are already halfway there. Always remember that you have the power to decide how your story goes and define success on your own terms. So, keep going and trust your journey,” she said.
The graduation ceremony was presided by Professor Simon Ridings, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, External Engagement, Swinburne University of Technology. Both Professor Ridings and Swinburne Sarawak Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer Ir Professor Lau Hieng Ho presented the awards to the graduating students.
Swinburne is an Australian university based in Melbourne, Australia. It is ranked among the Top 1% of universities globally in both the QS World University Rankings 2023 and the latest Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). Swinburne Sarawak has been recognised as one of the country’s Top 10 Preferred Private Universities by JobStreet.com. It is also the first and only Adobe Creative Campus in Malaysia, granting students and staff full access to the Adobe Creative Cloud on all devices.
For more information on Swinburne Sarawak, visit its website (www.swinburne.edu.my), Facebook page (@swinburnesarawak), Instagram (@swinburnesarawak), Twitter page (@Swinburne_Swk) or YouTube channel (Swinburne Sarawak).