February
Welcome Party
Date: 23 February 2022 (Wednesday)
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Venue: Microsoft Teams / B006
The PGRS 2022 Welcome Party event was organized successfully in a hybrid mode. Prior to the event, 39 HDR students registered for the event – 23 stating physical attendance and 16 online. During the event, there were 25 HDR students, who attended physically while 19 attended online, giving a total of 44 participants, including the organizing committees. With the event organized in hybrid mode, participants get to socialize with one another physically amidst the pandemic. This event is meant to introduce PGRS, the new committee members for 2022, the upcoming events, and to enhance social interaction amongst the HDR students. Professor Ts. Lau Bee Theng gave a motivating and insightful speech to encourage all students to participate in PGRS activities. Dr. Victor Bong also shared the benefits of participating in extracurricular activities aside from doing research alone. Towards the end of the event, the participants were engaged in a Quizizz session, where participants have to compete to answer 15 questions correctly. Three HDR students – Asna, Hanna and George won the game and were given prizes each. The event then ended with refreshments provided to all the participants, who attended physically.
April
Mental Health Awareness Talk
Date: 6 April 2022 (Wednesday)
Time: 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Venue: Microsoft Teams
On Wednesday, April 6, a mental health awareness sharing session was conducted via Microsoft Teams, featuring a collaboration with PGRS and Swinburne’s senior counselor Ms. Evelyn HuiYann Liew, and researchers Dr. Chew Jiuan Jing, and Dr. Xavier Chee. The session was moderated by postgraduate student Rachel Tang Zifang. The purpose of the session was to discuss topics surrounding mental health, including its relation to postgraduate students. All three speakers have prepared PowerPoint slides for their presentations and have provided both educational and practical tips for students to take care of their mental health.
In the first half of the session, the moderator led the participants in a casual game, followed by a briefing. During the second half of the session, it was the three speakers’ turn to share matters about mental health and tips on how to improve our mental health as postgraduate students. Lastly, a Q&A session was held with Ms. Evelyn where students’ questions were answered. As a token of appreciation, the speakers of the event received gifts from PGRS, and participants were given door gifts.
Visit to Borneo Cultures Museum
Date: 29 April 2022 (Friday)
Time: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Venue: Swinburne & Borneo Cultures Museum
The first outing of PGRS 2022 was held on the morning of Friday, April 29. A total of 13 postgraduate students gathered at the Swinburne Block A lobby at 8:00 AM before departing together to the Borneo Cultures Museum. The trip was organised during a weekday to allow students to relieve their stress by putting their research aside to explore the historical artefacts and cultures of Sarawak. Besides, the students were not only exposed to the vast information provided by the museum but also benefitted from the social interactions amid the trip. Verbal feedback was received from the students, stating that this trip has helped in refreshing their minds and preparing them for the upcoming research challenges. The event adjourns with the students gathering for a lunch and heading back towards the campus.
May
Casual Badminton Session
Date: 9 May 2022 (Monday)
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Venue: Swinburne Multipurpose Hall (MPH)
On Monday, May 9, a badminton sharing session was conducted at Swinburne Multi-purpose Hall (MPH). The session was moderated by postgraduate student, Wong Jung Lin. The purpose of the session was to provide an opportunity for participants to release their stress via exercising. The participants gathered at MPH at 6:00 PM. Badminton rackets were prepared by participants themselves, whereas badminton shuttlecocks were prepared by Alfred Jia Yee Tan.
Outreach & Life after Postgraduate
Date: 18 May 2022 (Wednesday)
Time: 2:00 PM – 4:10 PM
Venue: Hybrid (B004 + MS Teams)
On Wednesday, May 18, the Outreach & Life After Postgraduate event was conducted in hybrid mode, with B004 Lecture Hall as the physical venue and Microsoft Teams as the virtual platform. This event was a collaboration with Swinburne Sarawak Employability (SSE), who helped in inviting speakers for the event. The event featured four speakers: Prof. Ts. Dr. Lau Bee Theng (Director of Swinburne School of Research), Ms. Michelle Kuek (SME Account Manager of Maxis Sdn Bhd), Ir. Dr. Choo Chung Siung (Senior Lecturer of Swinburne), and Mr. Mohamad Ehwan (Student Engagement Officer of SSE).
The event was moderated by Edwin Thou, and assisted by Alfred Tan, Rachel Tang, and Steffi Yap. One of the aims of this event was to introduce undergraduates to what it’s like to be a postgraduate student. Furthermore, speakers from FBDA and FECS faculties shared their career experiences and advice to postgraduate students during their transition to the workplace. After that, SSE provided some resources and advice to postgraduate students in their career planning process.
The moderator started the event by providing a brief introduction of PGRS, some past activities, and social media information. This was followed by the first speaker, Prof. Ts. Dr. Lau Bee Theng, who presented a 20-minute research outreach session to undergraduates. A 10-minute Q&A session was held for questions for the first speaker. The event was followed by Ms. Michelle and Ir. Dr. Choo, who each had 15 minutes to share their experiences as postgraduates and transitioning to the workplace. Another 10-minute Q&A session was held for both speakers who represented FBDA and FECS, respectively. For the final session, Mr. Mohamad Ehwan handled the employability session by introducing some resources and tips for postgraduates in their career planning process. Due to time constraints, there was no Q&A session for the last speaker.
After all speakers’ sessions were complete, the speakers received gifts from PGRS as a token of appreciation for their thoughtful sharing. Lastly, a lucky draw was held for the participants who attended the event physically. The prize pool consisted of 7 units of PGRS merchandise, 3 units of SoR merchandise, and 5 units of RM20 Food Panda e-vouchers sponsored by SSE. The event officially adjourned by 4:30 PM.
June
Sun Adventure Trip
Date: 25 June 2022 (Saturday)
Time: 6:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Venue: Swinburne & Kubah National Park
The Swinburne Postgraduate Research Society (PGRS) embarked on a trip to Kubah National Park on the 25th of June 2022, with a total of 25 postgraduate students. The purpose of this trip was to take a break from research and enjoy some nature but to also promote health awareness, build relationships, and celebrate milestones together. The students were divided into two groups before the hike, and both groups successfully met at the summit and the end of the trail. In the scorching heat, the pelting rain, and the cool breeze, the postgraduate students have learned how to celebrate small wins in life, look out for one another, and to live in the moment no matter the weather. The hike took the postgraduate students about 5 and a half hours. Although everyone went back home with sore legs, the experience was certainly rewarding.
August
Beach Cleanup
Date: 6 August 2022 (Saturday)
Time: 6:15 AM – 12:00 PM
Venue: Swinburne; Golden Beach, Trombol; Telaga Air
Swinburne Postgraduate Research Society (PGRS – @pgrsswinburne) has organized a beach cleaning activity at the Golden Beach, Trombol on 6 August. The participants comprise mainly Swinburne postgraduate and a few undergraduate students. With a good and cool weather, the students were able to clear some rubbish at the beach. Through this event, awareness was created regarding the importance of maintaining the cleanliness of our local beaches, which inevitably contributes to the preservation of aquatic life as well as boosting tourism. The PGRS club hopes that this event will encourage more people to participate in protecting our environment, particularly at the beach, by not littering out of convenience or by joining in the effort towards a clean and green environment.
September
Plant-A-Tree Program
Date: 22 August 2022 (Thursday)
Time: 4:00PM – 4:30PM
Venue: In front of Lecture Theatre, L001
The Plant-A-Tree Program was organized successfully during the SDG Week 2022. The event was launched right after the opening ceremony of the SDG Week. A total of 24 potted tree saplings – Eugenia and Bucida, were gathered and placed in front of the lecture theatre, which were witnessed by 21 attendees. Also present were Dato ‘ Lee Choon Chin, the Group Executive Chairman of Weida (M) Bhd, and the main sponsors from ZHA Environmental Sdn Bhd and Sar-Alam Indah Sdn Bhd.
The program started off with the VIPs watering the tree saplings, thereby acknowledging the effort introduced by the program to address a few of the SDGs. The addressed SDGs are SDG No.3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG No. 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG No. 13: Climate Action and SDG No. 15: Life on Land.
Being the co-organizer of this event, the PGRS committees are delighted to join in the effort together with Swinburne Sarawak to emphasize on the environmental sustainability. Hence, the committees hope that these tree saplings will be well taken care of and grow fruitfully to contribute to the creation of a greener environment.