KUCHING – In a stellar representation of Sarawak’s burgeoning education sector, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus marked its presence at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) 2023, held in Beijing from 2 to 6 September 2023.
This year, Swinburne Sarawak participated in CIFTIS as part of the Sarawak Pavilion, and leveraged this platform to showcase its academic prowess and educational services.
The Sarawak Pavilion was launched by Sarawak Deputy Premier YB Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah bin Ali Hasan at the China National Convention Centre, Beijing on 2 September 2023.
At CIFTIS 2023, the Sarawak Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED) and more than 20 state ministries and agencies including the Sarawak Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) represented Malaysia.
The Sarawak Pavilion drew a notable amount of attention at CIFTIS 2023, where it displayed the best of Sarawak’s investment opportunities, cultural wonders, tourism, gastronomic delights as well as education and other services offered in Sarawak.
Amidst this rich tapestry of offerings, Swinburne Sarawak stood out with its educational services, highlighting the university’s commitment to innovation, global connectivity and industry readiness.
“Our involvement at CIFTIS 2023 underscores our dedication to fostering international partnerships and offering globally recognised educational programs right here in Sarawak,” said Swinburne Sarawak Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer Ir Professor Lau Hieng Ho.
“The response has been incredibly positive, and we are excited about the numerous collaborative opportunities this platform will bring,” he remarked.
Sarawak Deputy Premier YB Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah bin Ali Hasan (centre) launches the Sarawak Pavilion.
A momentous highlight of Swinburne Sarawak’s participation in CIFTIS 2023 was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with East China Normal University (ECNU) at Hilton Beijing Wangfujing a day prior to the expo.
Witnessed by YB Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah bin Ali Hasan, the MoU was formalised with Swinburne Sarawak represented by Professor Lau and Professor Dr Moritz Müller, while ECNU was represented by its Vice President Professor Hongliang Gu and its State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research Director Professor Shan Jiang.
Through this MoU, both universities will look into joint research and development projects bolstered by both Chinese and Malaysian support, the creation of virtual joint laboratories and the enhancement of Swinburne Sarawak’s undergraduate and postgraduate curricula to ensure they are aligned with contemporary academic and industry needs and demands.
CIFTIS 2023 served as a prime opportunity for Swinburne Sarawak to engage with a broad spectrum of participants, ranging from influential global leaders to government officials, industry experts and potential investors. The involvement of Swinburne Sarawak in this significant event reaffirms its position as a leading educational institution not just within Sarawak but also on the global stage.
Swinburne is an Australian university based in Melbourne, Australia. It is ranked among the Top 1% of universities globally in the QS World University Rankings 2024 and in the latest Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).
For more information on Swinburne Sarawak, visit its website (www.swinburne.edu.my), Facebook page (@swinburnesarawak), Instagram page (@swinburnesarawak), Twitter page (@Swinburne_Swk), TikTok page (@swinburnesarawak) or YouTube channel (Swinburne Sarawak).