KUCHING – A festival like atmosphere enveloped the Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak’s campus as more than 800 thronged its annual carnival last Saturday.
Organized by the Swinburne Sarawak Student Council (SSSC), the day-long carnival featured stage performances, food and games stalls, a DotA competition, a basketball tournament and more.
“Thank you to SSSC members for their wonderful teamwork and hard work in organizing such unique events wherein students can enjoy a festive atmosphere with friends and family” said Professor Janet Gregory, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer at the launch of the event.
“It’s always great to see our students building partnerships with businesses,” said Professor Gregory, noting the many booths set up by the vendors at the venue. “These partnerships help build confidence among our students, and get them prepared for their working lives ahead,” she added.
Professor Gregory also presented certificates to sponsors and participating vendors for their support of the carnival.
According to Tan Leong Woon, the event’s Organizing Chairperson, “The carnival is a platform for Swinburne’s various student clubs to showcase their dynamic makeup as well as to let students of various cultures and background to engage and network with one another.”
“It also aims to increase students’ experience in terms of a balanced student life”, he added.
The carnival included stage acts by Swinburne’s own buskers and stage performances by the Swinburne Music Club, dance performances by the Swinburne Dance Club and Swinburne’s own Indonesian singing trio, the Indocoustic.
For gaming enthusiasts, a DotA competition was also held which saw the participation of top DotA players from the university while a 7-By-7 basketball tournament organized by the Swinburne Basketball Club was held at the multi-purpose hall.
Other attractions were an automobile exhibition organized by the Automobile Club and participated by Iron Tigers Bikers Kuching and other automobile clubs in Kuching.
The Swinburne Carnival, already in its seventh year, was sponsored by Telekom Malaysia (TM), Gizmo Gamers, Saberkas Sarawak and Raw Juice. While Osome Wood Fired Pizza, Green Leaf, You & Me Nail Cottage, Level Up Fitness, PC City, Pheonix Gym, Lasan Denak, T4 and DiGi were among the vendors who set up booths at the carnival.
Accompanying Professor Gregory on a walkabout after the launch was Associate Professor Dr Su Hieng Tiong, Acting Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science, Evelyn Gan, Manager, Policy and Planning Unit, and members of the organizing committee.