KUCHING – A total of 385 students graduated from Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus where 362 including four from the Melbourne campus received their parchments at yesterday’s graduation ceremony.
Three doctoral degrees were conferred to graduates Dr Alexander Funk Yun Leong, Dr Steven Wong Tung Yew and Dr Yeu Yee Lee. The Sarawak campus has produced 29 PhD graduates since 2012.
Held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, the event was attended by the Chief Minister of Sarawak and Pro Chancellor of Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus YAB Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, Sarawak State Secretary YB Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Mohamad Morshidi bin Abdul Ghani, Presiding Officer and Swinburne University’s Chancellor Graham Goldsmith, and Swinburne University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Linda Kristjanson.
The awards to the graduates were presented by Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari, witnessed by Mr Goldsmith.
The Faculty of Business, Design and Arts saw 171 undergraduate students graduated from the Bachelor of Business in Accounting, Accounting and Finance, Finance, Human Resource Management, International Business, Management, and Marketing programmes. Ten graduated from the Bachelor of Design in Multimedia Design and Graphic Design programmes.
Meanwhile, 157 graduated from the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science. 112 received their awards in Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Civil, Electrical and Electronic, Mechanical, Robotics and Mechatronics, and Chemical programmes, as well as double degree in Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) (Honours) / Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) (Honours) / Bachelor of Business.
For the Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology and Bachelor of Computer Science, 19 and 15 students graduated from the programmes respectively, while 11 graduated from the Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology).
Rounding up the number of graduates are 31 postgraduate students from the Master of Business Administration (International), Master of Construction Management, Master of Engineering (Research), and Master of Science (Research) programmes. Also graduating were the second cohort of civil servants from the State Human Resource Unit, Chief Minister’s Department, who graduated from the Master of Human Resource Management programme.
In addition, the Master programme also witnessed four students from the Melbourne campus obtaining their awards from the Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Social Investment and Philanthropy programmes.
The graduates consist of undergraduate and postgraduate students.
The group of graduates comprise 313 Malaysian students and students from all over the world namely Australia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Yemen, Zimbabwe and Zambia. For the first time in its graduation history, two students from Jordan and the Philippines took part in the Sarawak ceremony.
Valedictorian Melissa Ann Liew said it was a great honour to speak at the ceremony on behalf of all the graduates. The accounting graduate remarked that their university journey has been a life changing experience, where the lecturers’ dedication, teamwork spirit of their course mates and family support had shaped their values and priorities, and brought them to where they are today.
“For many of us, pursuing a university education is a life transforming event. It’s a time when we decide how best we are going to live our lives. I am sure we, the Swinburne graduates of October 2018 batch, look forward to contributing to our society and larger community beyond our geographical borders so we can reach our fullest potential,” said Liew.
Also among these proud graduates are students with special needs, graphic design graduate Joan Danielle Hong Wan-Jing, and Information and Communication Technology student Anand Mohan Puthuppully.
Born with Benign Hypermobility Syndrome and Eagle Syndrome, Hong’s conditions cause her daily pain and intense headache that not only hinder her thinking abilities but also affect her ability to write and draw. To overcome those challenges, Hong tries to reduce her overall workload by taking fewer units per semester so she could prevent major burnout.
“Recognising my physical limitations and working around them by being proactive, communicating honestly, and capitalising on my strengths are some key ways I make up for what I cannot achieve physically,” said Hong.
Hong hopes to become a designer and artist who is able to highlight invisible illnesses and disabilities such as her own conditions. She advised those with similar disability to recognise and accept their flaws and merits, and not to feel ashamed in asking for help.
Although his movements are physically restricted due to dwarfism, Anand said he is blessed with the opportunity to complete his higher education. The academic knowledge and experience gained through voluntary participations are crucial in helping him prepare for future employment.
“After all these five years of hard work and effort, it feels great to graduate. I will always cherish the memories I’ve created with my friends, fellow course mates, lecturers and other staff at Swinburne,” said Anand.
He advised students to do the best they can, manage their time efficiently and to seek assistance from their seniors or university counsellors should they face any difficulties in their studies.
Swinburne is a reputable Australian university with campuses across Melbourne and Sarawak. It offers courses at foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate levels in business, design, engineering, computing and science. The courses offered at the Sarawak campus are identical to those at the Melbourne campus. As a result, graduates are awarded the same Australian qualification that allows for broader recognition and better employment opportunities around the world.
For more information about Swinburne, visit the university’s website (www.swinburne.edu.my), Facebook page (@swinburnesarawak), Instagram (@swinburnesarawak), Twitter page (@Swinburne_Swk) or YouTube channel (Swinburne Sarawak).