Institution Profile

Introduction

Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak Campus is the result of a successful combination of goals: Malaysia’s goal of becoming an educational centre of excellence and Swinburne University of Technology Australia’s goal of globalising its operations to provide its students with quality Australian education at much lower fees for students from across Asia and the rest of the world.

The Sarawak campus was established in Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, in 2000. The university is jointly owned by Swinburne Australia, and the Sarawak state government via Yayasan Sarawak and Sarawak Higher Education Foundation.

The 16.5 acre city campus is situated at a prime location about 10 minutes from the city centre. It currently has a student population of more than 2,500 and this is expected to reach more than 3,000 by 2009, and 5,000 in the next three years.

The opening of its RM110 million expanded campus in August 2008 gives the university state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories, computer facilities as well as recreational facilities.

Courses off ered are in business, engineering, science, computing and design from one-year foundation programmes to postgraduate studies. The School of Language and Foundation off ers a range of preparatory and English language enhancement programmes.

A number of its programmes are accredited by professional bodies such as CPA Australia, ACCA, Institute of Engineers Australia, Board of Engineers Malaysia, and the Australian Computer Society.

Academic Strengths

The courses at Swinburne Sarawak are identical to those off ered by its home campus in Melbourne, and its graduates are awarded with the same Australian testamur. Hence, students have the opportunity to obtain a qualification of international standard from a 100-year-old Australian institution, in Malaysia.

The programmes at Swinburne are designed to prepare graduates to live and work in a contemporary world characterised by high levels of interaction between economies and societies. Career-oriented education is combined with academic study to arm students with relevant skills applicable to industry.

Engineering students have the opportunity to complete six to 12 months of industrybased learning that are relevant to their course of study. This means that when students graduate, not only will they have gained an important professional qualification, but also relevant work experience.

Swinburne Sarawak students may complete their studies either in Kuching or at a campus in Melbourne. As the programmes 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.

Examinations at the Sarawak campus are moderated by Australian as well as Malaysian academics to ensure consistency and quality of the courses. An academic advisory board made up of academics from the Sarawak campus and Swinburne University, Australia monitors the academic quality and sets academic standards.

Highly experienced and qualified academics, many with PhDs and Masters, make up the teaching staff at Swinburne Sarawak.

As an on-going development exercise, academic staff is regularly sent on exchange programmes to the Swinburne campuses in Melbourne. Key experts from Melbourne also make regular development visits to the Sarawak campus.

Programme Outline

Foundation

• Swinburne Foundation Studies (Business)
• Swinburne Foundation Studies (Design)
• Swinburne Foundation Studies (Engineering/Science)
• Swinburne Foundation Studies (Information Technology/Multimedia)

Diploma

• Diploma of Business and Information Systems
• Diploma of Electronic Engineering Undergraduate
• Bachelor of Business
• Bachelor of Business (Marketing)
• Bachelor of Business (Accounting)
• Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management)
• Bachelor of Business (International Business)
• Bachelor of Computing
• Bachelor of Business Information Systems
• Bachelor of Multimedia (Multimedia Software Development)
• Bachelor of Science (Computer Science and Software Engineering)
• Bachelor of Design (Multimedia Design)
• Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering)
• Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)
• Bachelor of Engineering (Electronics and Computer Systems)
• Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering)
• Bachelor of Engineering (Robotics and Mechatronics)
• Bachelor of Engineering (Telecommunications and Network Engineering)
• Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology) Double Degrees
• Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering) / Bachelor of Business
• Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) / Bachelor of Business
• Bachelor of Engineering (Electronics and Computer Systems) / Bachelor of Science (Computer Science and Software Engineering)
• Bachelor of Engineering (Robotics and Mechatronics) / Bachelor of Science (Computer Science and Software Engineering)

Postgraduate

• Master of Business (by research)
• Master of Engineering (by research)
• Master of Science (by research)
• Doctor of Philosophy (by research)

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-toface 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 their learning and research work. All computers are linked with high-end networking infrastructure via high-speed leased lines.

Learning facilities include mechatronics workshops, electrical and electronics workshops, computer laboratories, lecture theatre, lecture rooms equipped with computers and projectors, and a state-ofthe- art digital resource centre.

The university is continually developing its infrastructure and other facilities to create an ideal learning environment for its students. Among them is a lecture theatre that seats 350 students, highly advanced engineering and science labs as well as computer labs. Its library accommodates 700 students and provides learning resources and services to support the university’s teaching, learning and research programs. Its services and facilities are specially designed to integrate modern digital technology with traditional information resources. All functions are fully automated with the Library Management Software Services, or ANGKASA. The library provides access to the Web Online Public Access Catalogue for bibliographic search and loan status information of library material via the internet. It is equipped with a growing range of printed, electronic and audiovisual reference material to support the work and research by students and academic staff .

Other amenities are a seven-storey car park and a multi-purpose hall with gym and sports facilities.

Student Support Services & 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 run by students themselves, and activities may involve working with university staff and external organisations. The Swinburne Sarawak Student Council helps new students adjust to university life and organises orientations jointly with university staff and holds activities throughout the year to bring together students from the various programmes. These activities are a great way to make new friends while seeing what Sarawak has to off er.

Meanwhile, a pickup service for new students arriving at the Kuching airport and other ports of entry is available upon request.

Its fully-furnished on-campus hostels off er accommodation at reasonable rates. Off - campus accommodation is also available, and a regular shuttle service ferries students between these premises and the campus. Apart from these, the university assists students in locating other suitable off -campus housing.

Confidential counselling on academic as well as non-academic matters is available to students. The assistance of the counsellors can be sought for a range of reasons including adjusting to life and study, study skills, cross-cultural issues, loneliness, issues related to relationships with family and friends, anxiety, depression and stress management. The counsellors work with the various schools of the university to provide sound information specific to students’ needs.

Apart from this, the counsellors assist international students with banking, visa renewal and medical appointments.

Scholarships / Financial Aid

As an incentive and an acknowledgement of their academic achievement and leadership skills, Swinburne Sarawak awards scholarships to its top students. New students, both Malaysian and international, entering into any of the university’s programmes with good results are eligible to apply for its scholarship schemes. Those who perform well in exams each semester are also eligible for scholarships.

Meanwhile, study loans and a variety of financial aid are off ered by the government, educational loan institutions and private institutions to Malaysian students at Swinburne Sarawak.

Recognition & Achievements

Swinburne, which celebrated its centenary in 2008, was ranked as Melbourne’s best university for Teaching Quality and Cultural Diversity, and as one of the top universities in Melbourne for Graduate Satisfaction by The Good Universities Guide 2009. In 2008, the Times Higher Education– QS World University Rankings ranked Swinburne among the top 500 universities in the world.

All degree courses off ered by the university are approved by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education. Its degrees are internationally recognised by the government and professional bodies. Its Bachelor of Business in Accounting and Master of Accounting programmes are accredited by CPA Australia while its Bachelor of Multimedia (Multimedia Software Development) and Bachelor of Science (Computer Science and Software Engineering) are externally vetted by the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and acknowledged as being at professional level.

Courses Offered

Click on a programme name for full details.

Contact Details

Location Map