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Swinburne Sarawak 2009 Course Guide
Our Campus
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The ideal study
environment
Swinburne University of
Technology Sarawak Campus
was established in Kuching, the
capital city of the Malaysian
state of Sarawak, in 2000. The
university is jointly owned by
Swinburne University of
Technology, Australia, and the
Sarawak state government via
Yayasan Sarawak (Sarawak
Foundation) and Sarawak Higher
Education Foundation.
The establishment of the Sarawak
campus is in tandem with Malaysia’s
goal of becoming an educational
centre of excellence.
The 16.5-acre campus is situated at a
prime location about 15 minutes from
the Kuching city centre. It currently
has a student population of more than
2,500. The university expects to have
5,000 students in the next five years.
All degree courses offered by
Swinburne Sarawak are approved by
the Malaysian Ministry of Higher
Education.
Academic strengths
The Sarawak campus, which comes
under the direct control of the Higher
Education Division in Melbourne, offers
undergraduate degrees in business,
design, engineering, science, IT and
multimedia.
It also offers postgraduate research
programs at PhD and masters levels in
these disciplines.
Other programs include one-year
foundation studies in Business,
Design, IT/Multimedia and
Engineering/Science as well as
diploma of Business and Information
Systems, and Electronic Engineering
which articulate into degrees.
The School of Language and
Foundation offers a range of
preparatory and English language
enhancement programs.
The programs available at the Sarawak
and Melbourne campuses are the
same and the same Australian
testamur are awarded to graduates.
Students therefore have the
opportunity to obtain a qualification of
international standard from a
101-year-old Australian institution, in
Malaysia.
The programs are designed to prepare
graduates to live and work in a
contemporary world characterised by
high levels of interaction between
economies and societies. Careeroriented
education is combined with
academic study to arm students with
relevant skills applicable to industry.
A number of its programs are
accredited by professional bodies such
as CPA Australia, ACCA and the
Australian Computer Society.
Engineers Australia and the Board of
Engineers Malaysia have also
accredited two of its engineering
programs.
Swinburne Sarawak students have a
choice of completing their studies in
Kuching or at any one of its campuses
in Melbourne. Since the programs and
subjects are the same, students are
able to transfer from Australia or
Malaysia at the end of any semester
subject to meeting the appropriate
criteria.
To ensure consistency and quality of
courses, examinations at the Sarawak
Campus are moderated by Australian
as well as Malaysian academics. An
academic advisory board made up of
academics from both the Sarawak
campus and Swinburne Australia
monitors the academic quality and
sets academic standards.
Highly qualified and experienced
academics make up the teaching staff
at Swinburne Sarawak. Many hold
PhDs and masters degrees and bring
with them years of experience from
the industry.
did you
know?
Swinburne
Sarawak’s
expanded campus
features world
class facilities.
As an on-going development exercise,
academic staff are regularly sent on
exchange programs to the Swinburne
campuses in Melbourne. Key experts
from Melbourne also make regular
development visits to the Sarawak
campus.
The Sarawak campus has a strong
focus on research and undertakes this
with a number of private and public
organisations. At present, its iSECURES
lab spearheads research in
cryptography and authentication
protocols as well as to engage in
collaborative research work with
external parties.
Other research projects include
emerging devices and technologies,
intelligent and autonomous systems,
efficient and sustainable infrastructure
and one on renewable and alternative
energy technology with a government
agency. The university has also signed
an agreement with an external
organisation to conduct research in
biotechnology.
Academic facilities and
resources
Swinburne Sarawak is equipped with
the latest educational technologies
and all subjects have a web presence
in addition to the usual face-to-face
delivery by academic staff.
With an excellent computer-to-student
ratio, students have quick access to
the Internet and the database of
Swinburne University in Melbourne, to
facilitate the learning and research
work of students. All computers are
linked with high-end networking
infrastructure via high-speed leased
lines.
Learning facilities include
mechatronics workshops, electrical
and electronics workshops, science
and computer laboratories, lecture
theatres, lecture rooms equipped with
computers and projectors, state-ofthe-art
digital resource centre, student
lounge and an auditorium.
Student support services and
Student development activities
Students have the option of joining a
wide range of extra-curricular sports
and recreational clubs that are aimed
at nurturing them into well-rounded
individuals with strong leadership
qualities.
These clubs are managed by the
students themselves with academic
staff as advisors. Activities include
working and coordinating with parties
outside the club and university.
The Swinburne Sarawak Student
Council looks into the interests of
students and helps new students
adjust to university life. The council
organises orientations jointly with
university staff and organises activities
throughout the year to bring together
students from the various programs.
These activities are a great way to
make new friends and see what
Sarawak has to offer.
Students have the option of on- or offcampus
accommodation, and the
university also assists in locating
alternative housing.
Available for confidential counselling
on academic as well as non-academic
matters are student counsellors who
also assist international students with
banking, visa renewal and medical
appointments.
www.swinburne.edu.my