KUCHING – The ongoing pandemic did not deter the Swinburne’s Sarawak campus to hold a simple drive-thru event for over 200 graduates in place of the usual large-scale graduation ceremony held annually.
The 12-day initiative was made possible by the Graduation and Parchment team under Student Systems and Administration unit of Student Engagement Department. Prior to collection day, the graduates were required to choose their preferred date and time through an online booking system. Each graduate was given a 15-minute timeframe to drive up to the main entrance of the campus Multi-Purpose Hall where they were presented with their transcript and testamur by representatives from the Graduation and Parchment team.
To minimise the number of people on campus, only 22 graduates were allowed to attend per day. Other than the drive-thru method, graduates could also opt for courier or mail-out service, or GRAB document delivery on a case to case basis.
Commenting on the initiative, Swinburne’s Registrar and Director of Student Engagement Esty Sharkawi said it was carried out so as not to delay the graduates’ effort in job hunting.
“As we all know, a standard hiring process would require the candidates to present the original copy of their transcript and testamur. With this small initiative, we hope it could speed up their employment process.”
“To all the graduates, we wish you all the best, be resilient, and carry out your work with integrity by applying all the knowledge and skills that you’ve learnt and practiced in Swinburne,” said Esty.
According to Assistant Manager, Student Administration and leader of Graduation and Parchment team Lythmee Willie, the initiative was carried out in strict accordance with the university’s SOPs to prioritise health and safety of the Swinburne community. On behalf of the team, she congratulated all graduates and hope that it’s the beginning of many more wonderful achievements to come.
For the period of January to November 2020, over 600 students graduated from various undergraduate programmes including Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Computer Science, Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Engineering. All engineering students graduated with honours.
Several students graduated with a double degree in Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) (Honours) / Bachelor of Business, and Bachelor of Engineering (Robotics and Mechatronics) (Honours) / Bachelor of Computer Science.
34 graduated in Master of Business Administration (International), Master of Construction Management, Master of Engineering (Research), Master of Science (Research), and Master of Business (Research), while nine were conferred the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in engineering, science and business.
The graduate cohort comprised students from Malaysia, China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Egypt, Germany, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Tanzania and other countries.
Met on the day of collection, Master of Science (Research) graduate Nur Diyana binti Musa said graduating in the midst of a pandemic was a little overwhelming as it wasn’t the graduation that she had imagined. However, Nur, whose research was on finding possible anti nose cancer product from local plants in Sarawak, was thankful to the university for trying their best to hold a simple event that was convenient for those who could attend.
Kueh proudly showing her testamur.
For Caryn Kueh Syn Lyn who graduated in Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) (Honours), she was excited about graduating but would miss university life, particularly volunteering in Swinburne Carnival and activities organised by the Swinburne Photomedia and Design Club. On her future plan, she hopes to find employment with a company based in KL.
Meanwhile, international student from Egypt Abdalla Hassan Ahmed Hassan Ahmed commented that graduating from university in the middle of a pandemic was an indescribable feeling. The Bachelor of Business (International Business) graduate added that although there was no real graduation ceremony, a lot of students worldwide were also going through the same situation and that the best is for everyone to adapt and have a positive outlook in life. Abdalla, who lived in Kuching for the past five years, will move to KL to start a job with a multimedia development company.
For more information about Swinburne, visit www.swinburne.edu.my or its Facebook page (@swinburnesarawak), Instagram (@swinburnesarawak), Twitter (@Swinburne_Swk) or YouTube channel (Swinburne Sarawak).