For a successful and sustainable development plan towards the digital economy, retaining home-grown talents and graduates is paramount for Sarawak, according to Chief Minister YAB Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg.
“Our graduates are an important factor in our plans for a digital Sarawak and to the spin-off that will arise,” he said in his remarks at Swinburne’s 25th Anniversary Celebration Gala that was held at a hotel in Kuching on 30th November 2017.
However, the Chief Minister, who is also Pro Chancellor of Swinburne Sarawak, said that ensuring such retention involves more than the government in confronting “the forces of demand and supply” facing the State’s human capital.
“Therefore, I call on local businesses and industries to help retain our local graduates in a manner that benefits both employers and employees.”
To that end, he commended Swinburne Sarawak and its “proactive approach” in taking on research projects specific and important to Sarawak, engaging with industry and government sectors, and equipping its students with current industry practices and challenges for the near future.
“Institutions of higher learning must not be ‘closed’ entities; instead, they must be open and work with businesses, industries, the community and other stakeholders.
“This is necessary to ensure a better understanding of the demands of industry, the latest business practices, setting industry standards and so forth,” he elaborated.
Meanwhile, the gala is part of Swinburne University of Technology’s 25th anniversary celebration that has been taking place across all campuses to commemorate its university status gained in 1992, beginning with its home campus in Melbourne.
Swinburne’s Sarawak campus was established in 2000 as a partnership between Swinburne University of Technology and the Sarawak State Government to deliver skilled human capital to the engineering and technical fields and to meet the manpower demand of the State.
