Our story

Curtin Malaysia stands proud today as Curtin University’s largest international campus and global hub in Asia. With a campus spread across 1,200 acres, it is also the largest Australian international campus in the world.

In 1998, Curtin University was invited by the Sarawak State Government to establish a branch campus in Sarawak.

Many notable people, both in Sarawak and Western Australia, were involved in the setting up of Curtin Malaysia. They included then Minister of Education Dato Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak, Chief Minister Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam and the late Harry Perkins AM, former Chancellor of Curtin University, as well as members of the various councils and working committees formed to make the campus a reality. These men and women of vision came together to fulfill the dream of a higher education institution in Miri.

The key organisational milestones in our subsequent journey to becoming Curtin’s largest international campus and global hub in Asia, in addition to being one of the leading tertiary institutions in Malaysia, are included below.  

Throughout 2019, we will be adding additional timelines to explore Curtin Malaysia’s evolution in more depth, including specific information relating to our teaching and research activities, our social journey, the changing student experience, our campus evolution and expansion, and our strengthening global focus.

  • 1998

    Birth of a partnership

    Sarawak Government and Curtin University sign MoU for development of academic cooperation

    Curtin (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. is incorporated

    Curtin University receives Letter of Invitation from Ministry of Education to establish campus in Miri

    Construction of administration block and lecture theatre at temporary campus at Riam commences
    Birth of a partnership
  • 1999

    Humble beginnings

    Construction of permanent campus in Senadin commences following laying of foundation stone by Education Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak

    Associate Professor Frank Sheehy is appointed Academic Director and CEO, assisted by Dennis Ham as Administration Director

    Initial academic and administrative staff are appointed

    Temporary campus at Riam is opened, first classes commence with 23 academic staff and 220 students
    Humble beginnings
  • 2000

    Gaining momentum

    Curtin Malaysia is formally registered as the first recognised foreign branch campus in Malaysia by Ministry of Education

    Curtin University confers honorary Doctor of Technology on Chief Minister Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud

    Professor Kevin McKenna is appointed first Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive

    Peat and Marine Soils Research Centre is established at Curtin Malaysia

    Curtin Malaysia Research Fund (CMRF) to support staff initiatives in R&D is established

    Graduation ceremony for first cohort of foundation students is held
    Gaining momentum
  • 2001

    Setting firmer foundations

    Approval is given by Ministry of Education to enroll foreign students

    Curtin Malaysia is the first foreign branch campus awarded Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) status by Malaysian Government

    Site development at Senadin campus proceeds on schedule
    Setting firmer foundations
  • 2002

    New campus is opened

    Permanent campus in Senadin is opened by Chief Minister Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud

    Curtin University confers Honorary Doctorate of Technology on Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan

    Curtin Malaysia hosts Higher Education for the 21st Century (he21) Conference, its first international conference

    Curtin Malaysia holds its first degree graduation ceremonies for 204 students from commerce and engineering programs
    New campus is opened
  • 2003

    The country takes notice

    Western Australia Premier Dr Geoff Gallop visits Curtin Malaysia and launches Western Australia Premier’s Scholarships for Curtin Malaysia students

    Datuk Patinggi Tan Sr Dr George Chan is nominated to the Curtin University Council

    Courses offered grow from modest 4 in 1999 to 25

    Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia HE James Wise visits Curtin Malaysia
    The country takes notice
  • 2004

    First degree graduation

    Student population reaches 1,800 with a significant number of international students

    Professor Laurie Hegvold is appointed Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor

    Curtin Malaysia hosts Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) Conference in Miri

    Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad visits Curtin Malaysia

    Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail and Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin visit Curtin Malaysia
    First degree graduation
  • 2005

    Helping Miri become a city

    The presence of Curtin Malaysia is instrumental in Miri attaining city status on 20 May 2005

    Curtin University awards Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development & Communications and Chair of Curtin Malaysia Management Board Datuk Lee Kim Shin an Honorary Doctorate of Letters

    Professor Graham Lodwick is appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive
    Helping Miri become a city
  • 2006

    Campus expansion

    Curtin University confers Honorary Doctorate of Technology on Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

    Deputy Chief Minister and Chairman of Curtin Malaysia Council Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan officiates ground breaking ceremony for Phase II development

    Professor John Evans is appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive

    Minister of Human Resources Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn visits Curtin Malaysia

    Curtin Malaysia hosts inaugural Curtin University of Technology Sarawak Engineering (CUTSE) Conference

    Curtin Malaysia becomes the only university in Malaysia to win prestigious IChemE, UK McNab Gold Award for Best Design Project
    Campus expansion
  • 2007

    Getting recognition

    Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi visits Curtin Malaysia

    Minister of Higher Education Dato’ Mustapha Mohamed visits Curtin Malaysia
    Getting recognition
  • 2008

    Making our mark

    16 students are selected as inaugural student ambassadors for John Curtin Leadership Academy (JCLA) program at Curtin Malaysia

    First John Curtin Weekend held involving community projects at 8 longhouses

    Curtin Malaysia hosts first international-level Curtin University of Technology Science and Engineering (CUTSE) Conferenc

    MSC Malaysia Incubator Initiative launched at Curtin Malaysia in partnership with MSC Malaysia
    Making our mark
  • 2009

    10th anniversary milestone

    Curtin Malaysia marks its 10th Anniversary

    Phase II buildings are officially opened by Chief Minister Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud

    Site works for first phase of Sarawak Government owned BioValley Park at Curtin Malaysia commences
    10th anniversary milestone
  • 2010

    Elevating our status

    Name of campus is changed to Curtin University Sarawak Malaysia as Curtin University of Technology begins trading as Curtin University

    Curtin Malaysia achieves ‘Tier Five: Excellent’ rating in augural SETARA rating system

    Curtin Malaysia is awarded self-accreditation status by Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA)

    Professor Ian Kerr is appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive

    Schlumberger Petrel GIS Laboratory is established at Curtin Malaysia
    Elevating our status
  • 2011

    Campus expansion continues

    Construction of RM10 million Library & Auditorium Complex commences

    Curtin Malaysia Research Institute (CSRI) is launched

    ‘Enhancing Teaching: Teaching & Learning International Conference 2011’ is jointly hosted by Curtin Malaysia Teaching & Learning Committee and Curtin University’s Office of Assessment, Teaching and Learning at Curtin Malaysia
    Campus expansion continues
  • 2012

    Building community ties

    Curtin Malaysia maintains ‘Tier 5: Excellent’ rating in SETARA

    Assistant Minister of Early Childhood Education and Family Development Rosey Haji Yunus officiates ground-breaking ceremony for RM500,000 Azman Islamic Centre

    Curtin Malaysia offers PhD scholarships for research study in science, engineering and business.
    Building community ties
  • 2013

    Accumulating achievements

    Curtin Malaysia achieves ISO 9001: 2008 certification

    Curtin Malaysia is rated Tier 5: Excellent for Engineering in D-SETARA

    Leadership and Entrepreneurship Centre (LEC) launched at Curtin Malaysia

    Professor Jim Mienczakowski is appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive

    Curtin Malaysia receives first exchange students from main campus under AsiaBound program

    Curtin Malaysia becomes an IELTS Associate and establishes IELTS Test Centre

    Curtin Malaysia hosts 2nd International Higher Education Teaching and Learning Conference (HETL2013)

    Researchers from Curtin Malaysia and UNIMAS develop world’s first index to assess traditional knowledge and language vitality simultaneously
    Accumulating achievements
  • 2014

    Building on engineering strengths

    Curtin Malaysia retains ‘Tier 5: Excellent’ rating in SETARA ’13 for the third consecutive time

    Foundation stone for new Faculty of Engineering and Science building is laid by Pro-Chancellor Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam

    Keysight Technologies – Curtin Reference Laboratory, the first industry-oriented reference laboratory in Sarawak, is established at Curtin Malaysia

    Curtin Malaysia wins IChemE Award for Innovation and Excellence 2014
    Building on engineering strengths
  • 2015

    Getting on international stage

    Curtin Malaysia hosts the first Global Communication Project (GlobCom 2015) held in Malaysia

    Curtin Malaysia is the first foreign branch campus in Malaysia to host National Chemical Engineering Symposium (NACES)

    Offices of Teaching & Learning at Curtin Malaysia and Curtin Perth jointly host 3rd International Higher Education Teaching and Learning Conference (HETL 2015) at Curtin Malaysia
    Getting on international stage
  • 2016

    Going from strength to strength

    Curtin University Chancellor Colin Beckett opens new RM20 million Faculty of Engineering and Science building

    Curtin Malaysia contributes to Curtin University’s attainment of accreditation by Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

    Minister of Higher Education Dato’ Seri Idris Jusoh visits Curtin Malaysia
    Going from strength to strength
  • 2017

    A fast maturing campus

    Curtin University Sarawak Malaysia is rebranded Curtin University Malaysia to reflect expanding footprint as Curtin’s largest international campus and global hub in Asia

    Curtin Malaysia continues to maintain self-accreditation status first awarded by MQA in 2010

    Curtin Malaysia maintains ‘Tier 5: Excellent’ rating in SETARA for fourth consecutive time since 2009

    Curtin-Pearson VUE Authorised Test Centre established at Curtin Malaysia in collaboration with Pearson VUE

    #MyDigitalMaker Hub established at Curtin Malaysia in collaboration with MDeC

    Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari pays inaugural visit to Curtin Malaysia

    Curtin Malaysia and Curtin University co-host One Curtin International Postgraduate Conference (OCPC2017) concurrently with 10th Curtin University Technology, Science and Engineering International Conference (CUTSE2017)
    A fast maturing campus
  • 2018

    Renewing the partnership

    Geologist Associate Professor Rajat Mazumder and international collaborators discover world’s second oldest rock

    Curtin Malaysia and Curtin University co-host concurrent One Curtin International Postgraduate Conference (OCPC2018) and 11th Curtin University Technology, Science and Engineering International Conference (CUTSE2018)

    Curtin University and Curtin Malaysia renew partnership for a further 20 years with signing of new JVA
    Renewing the partnership
  • 2019

    Campus comes of age

    Curtin Malaysia celebrates its 20th Anniversary
    Campus comes of age