KUCHING – Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding recently, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus and Sarawak Energy Berhad (Sarawak Energy) will see closer collaboration on student internships, scholarships and student consultancy projects.
Other areas they will also look into under the MoU include student sponsorship for research and development activities as well as staff development especially in the field of engineering.
Professor John Wilson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer of Swinburne Sarawak, said that the MoU was important to the university as part of its engagement with industry in developing students for their career.
Speaking on campus where the event was held, he said that to improve student experience, the university, through Yayasan Sarawak, has invested RM50 million to upgrade its facilities and services this year.
“While the world today is constantly changing, education is the way the university prepares for change,” Professor Wilson said, adding that the university was appreciative of Sarawak Energy for supporting students with scholarships since 2013 to pursue their studies at the campus.
“Last year SEB awarded 27 full scholarships to Swinburne Sarawak students and we are pleased to learn that many of our graduates have been absorbed by Sarawak Energy,” Professor Wilson said.
To date, SEB has engaged 102 Swinburne Sarawak graduates as members of staff and the energy company is currently supporting 18 new scholars while funding 68 others in their education at the Australian university branch campus.
At present, it is hosting 10 students from the university as part of its internship programme.
“This MoU is aimed to facilitate our Campus Ambassador Programme which was launched in 2018. It provides opportunities for our senior management to establish working relationships with selected local universities and to work closely with them in areas of mutual interests,” said Datu Sharbini, SEB Group Chief Executive Officer.
Under the programme, Sarawak Energy has engaged with 13 universities to create awareness amongst young Sarawakian graduates about the company and its vision in driving Sarawak’s development.
“We believe the programme will act as an enabler for us to be the ‘early bird’ in the industry to acquire the best Sarawakian talents in the job market and to achieve a sustainable and continuous supply of talents in Sarawak Energy in the short, medium and long term,” he said.
“With this MoU, we hope to complement and provide more upskilling pathways to our employees for an even more competent and skilled workforce,” Datu Sharbini said.
Following the MoU, Swinburne Sarawak and Sarawak Energy will also collaborate on science, technology, engineering and mathematics outreach projects and corporate social responsibility activities.
Present at the signing of the MoU were Sarawak Energy Group Chief Operating Officer Mr Lu Yew Hung and Swinburne Sarawak Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Ir Professor Lau Hieng Ho.
