KUCHING – Swinburne’s Sarawak campus will begin phases of campus upgrades in 2019 in line with its long-term commitment to enhancing the campus experience for students and providing students with a world-class teaching and learning environment.
Up to RM50 million will be invested into teaching and learning spaces, accommodation, the cafeteria and student hub, as well as the lobby and building foyer of block A.
The key focus areas will be on enhancing student experiences to prepare them for the future of work in a digital-led environment. Spaces for teaching and learning will be upgraded with flexible, innovative and technological capacities, while areas such as student accommodation, cafeteria, the student hub, sporting facilities and office spaces for both professional and academic staff will also be renovated to ensure the campus community gains a more profound and meaningful learning and social experience.
Also in the pipeline are new research buildings equipped with premier facilities in line with Swinburne’s research vision of transforming industry and shaping lives and communities. The state-of-the-art addition is expected to strengthen the university’s research portfolio and position Swinburne as the partner of choice for industry in the region.
In establishing the master plan, the upgrades will ensure that Swinburne continues to provide a high-quality Australian education at affordable fees. According to Swinburne’s Director of Administration, Caroline Hon, the campus upgrades are vital to meet the needs of today’s global student whilst attracting students from all over the world to provide a multinational experience at the Sarawak campus.
“The Sarawak campus was established in 2000 and we’ve seen different generation of students with different needs. As we move into the next decade, it’s important for us to ensure that the campus meets the needs of students who grew up surrounded by technology. There is a strong need to redevelop existing teaching and learning spaces with emphasis on flexible and collaborative capacities, both for formal and informal learning,” said Hon.
Meanwhile Director of Yayasan Sarawak Tuan Haji Azmi bin Haji Bujang commented that as the major shareholder of Swinburne’s Sarawak campus, Yayasan Sarawak is committed to advance the growth of the university to ensure quality higher education is made available to Sarawakians.
Director of Yayasan Sarawak Tuan Haji Azmi bin Haji Bujang.
“Swinburne’s Sarawak campus has produced more than 6,200 graduates since its first graduation in 2004 and many of its graduates are currently pursuing careers with prestigious companies in the country and abroad. The university has played a significant role in improving the pool of human capital in various industries by providing learners with capabilities to contribute to a progressive society,” remarked Tuan Haji Azmi.
The existing tutorial rooms and lecture halls will be refurbished to equip these areas with flexible teaching facilities that can promote greater staff and student engagement. The proposed 7,000 square feet student accommodation will include recreational and informal space for residents of the hostels, as well as an office and a centre for all hostel services such as student mail management and registration of hostel reservations.
Also undergoing a facelift is the cafeteria where the proposed new dining area will consist of two-storey 18,000 square feet eco‐green cafeteria. With 14 food and beverage stalls, the new cafeteria is able to accommodate up to 650 people. Meanwhile, the current 11,000 square feet Building C space will be reconfigured into a student hub comprising multifaith room, surau, student activity rooms, office space for Student Council and a 2,000 square feet innovation and flexible leisure space with a maximum capacity of 450.
Photos of the proposed designs and areas can be viewed at www.swinburne.edu.my/campus-upgrades.
Since its establishment in 2000, Swinburne’s Sarawak campus student population has grown to 3,500 where 20% of the population consists of international students hailing from 45 countries. In 2008, the campus underwent a RM110 million expansion where eight new custom designed buildings were built, increasing the total number of buildings to 12.
Swinburne offers excellent choices for students to earn an international degree no matter which campus they choose. The Kuching campus offers courses at foundation, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate levels where all courses taught are identical to those at the Melbourne campus.
Applications for enrolment into Swinburne’s 2019 intakes are now open. Classes will commence on 4 March for degree and postgraduate programmes, and 8 April for foundation and diploma programmes. The university offers competitive internal scholarships and bursaries for all level of studies.
For more information about Swinburne, visit www.swinburne.edu.my, Facebook page (@swinburnesarawak), Instagram (@swinburnesarawak), Twitter page (@Swinburne_Swk) or YouTube channel (Swinburne Sarawak).