KUCHING – Research, student mobility and academic program collaboration are among the range of activities expected to occur between Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus and Universitas Tanjungpura (UNTAN) following a partnership arrangement between the two institutions.
Australian university branch campus Swinburne Sarawak and UNTAN of Pontianak in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore areas of mutual interest.
“We are excited to enter into this significant MoU with Universitas Tanjungpura. It will allow Swinburne Sarawak and UNTAN to work further in the areas of research collaboration, student mobility and other areas of collaboration that benefits both institutions,” said Swinburne Sarawak Pro Vice-Chancellor and CEO, Ir Professor Lau Hieng Ho.
Both institutions will also explore academic program collaboration including credit transfer arrangement for undergraduate and postgraduate studies, and are currently working on a 1+1 postgraduate articulation arrangement.
“I am particularly delighted to see the progress of the postgraduate articulation arrangement which will provide students who have completed their first year Master of Management at UNTAN the opportunity to enrol in Swinburne’s MBA (International) with a credit exemption”, Ir Professor Lau said.
When finalised, it will be the first such program with an Indonesian institution for Swinburne Sarawak, said Ir Professor Lau who hopes that more UNTAN students will join the MBA (International) program.
He said that the university is well-equipped for face-to-face learning and teaching, and that teaching and professional staff continue to ensure that students stay on track of their education journey with as little disruption as possible.
“UNTAN finds it important to have an international network of higher education institutions and other entities. This is an effort to improve the academic quality and the unavoidable demand in the development of the current global network of universities,” said Rector Professor Dr Garuda Wiko.
“UNTAN applies the principle of working together with universities abroad in its aim to be a world class university. This is by realising that the quality of human capital or human resources is essential.
“The MoU today will hopefully increase the collaboration in scientific and humanities fields and provide more opportunities for the exchange of scholars and students. I believe that both our universities require more young people with the skills that can contribute to the expansion of academic prosperity while also addressing challenges such as climate change, pandemic diseases, energy security, cybersecurity and food security.”
A non-profit higher education institution founded in 1959, UNTAN has about 30,000 students and is recognized by Indonesia’s Ministry of Research and Technology/National Research and Innovation Agency. It offers diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate programs including agriculture, social sciences and politics, classic science and science education, law, economic and business, technical, forestry, medical and, mathematics and natural sciences.
Swinburne Sarawak initiated the collaboration with UNTAN in view of the market potential in Kalimantan and in support of the Sarawak government’s effort to enhance economic ties with the Indonesian province.
The MoU was signed recently by Professor Dr Garuda Wiko while Deputy Vice-Chancellor and CEO Professor John Wilson, who has since retired, was the signatory for Swinburne Sarawak.
In congratulating both universities the Consul General of Indonesia in Kuching, Mr Yonny Tri Prayitno, said that his consulate is supportive of the collaboration and will assist with the process to realising the aspirations of the MoU where possible.
Mr Yonny Tri Prayitno witnessed the recent exchange of the MoU between Professor Dr Garuda Wiko and Ir Professor Lau at a virtual event.
