KUCHING – It was a day of celebration for more than 680 graduating Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus students when they were awarded their scrolls, recently.
The Borneo Convention Centre Kuching was filled with about 3,000 cheerful graduates, their family and friends. Also in celebratory mood were some 300 lecturers, and senior officers from the university’s Sarawak and Melbourne campuses.
The 683 students who had completed their courses in diploma, degree, masters and doctorate levels in business, computing, design, engineering, and science were awarded scrolls by Swinburne University Chancellor Graham Goldsmith.
Graduating among the 560 Malaysian students are those from 24 countries. Students from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan are the three largest groups. The rest are from countries such as China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mauritius, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
Three students who had completed their studies at the university’s Melbourne campus were among those graduating.
Two posthumous degrees were awarded. These are a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in engineering and a bachelor’s degree in graphic design.
Corporate and industry awards were presented by CPA Australia, Crowe Horwarth Malaysia, Ernst & Young, Institute of Internal Auditors Malaysia, KPMG Tax Services Sdn Bhd, Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Bhd, NAIM Holdings Bhd, Pansar Company Sdn Bhd, Sarawak Energy Bhd, SAINS, Sarawak Oil Palms Bhd, Shell Malaysia, Three Gorges Development Company (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, and Wisma Printing Sdn Bhd.
The 11th graduation of the university also witnessed the installation of the Chief Minister of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Haji Adenan Bin Haji Satem as Pro Chancellor of Swinburne Sarawak. It was symbolised by the robing of the Pro Chancellor’s academic regalia on Adenan by Swinburne University Chancellor Graham Goldsmith, prior to the presentation of scrolls to graduates.
Adenan was the chairman of the University Council, a position he held since 2004. That position is now filled this year by Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Morshidi bin Abdul Ghani, who is also the chairman of the university’s board of directors, and the State Secretary of Sarawak.
Sarawak Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud was the Pro Chancellor of the university during his tenure as Chief Minister.