By Karen Bong
KUCHING, May 13: The Bachelor of Engineering in Construction Management will be among the new courses offered through the Sarawak government’s free tertiary education programme beginning next year.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg emphasised that this new academic offering is part of the State’s strategy to equip future talents with knowledge and skills relevant to developing a low-carbon construction industry.
“This is a new discipline. We will be offering education in the area of construction management because construction is one of the major industries contributing to carbon emissions,” he told reporters after officiating the International Construction Week (ICW) Borneo 2025 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today.
He stressed the need for the industry to embrace sustainable practices, including the use of green materials and the adoption of modern, energy-efficient methods such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), which promotes low carbon footprint construction.
“To do this, we must train our young people. That’s why, starting next year, eligible Sarawakian students will be able to pursue this course under Sarawak’s free tertiary education programme in our own universities,” he said.
Abang Johari noted that the Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus is already prepared to roll out the course, while the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) in Sibu is also likely to offer it.
“This will be the first time such a course is introduced in Sarawak. There are many branches of engineering, and this addition reflects the State’s commitment to innovation and sustainability in the construction sector,” he added.
The free tertiary education programme, a landmark policy initiative by the Sarawak government, will officially begin implementation in 2026.
Meanwhile, the ICW Borneo 2025 is organised by Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia in partnership with Qube Integrated Malaysia Sdn Bhd. The two-day event brings together policymakers, industry leaders, academics, and innovators under the theme “Innovative Construction for a Sustainable Future”.
Malaysia’s Minister of Works Dato Sri Alexander Linggi, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Minister of Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin and Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Works Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan were among the distinguished guests present. — DayakDaily
