By Karen Bong
KUCHING, July 27: i-CATS University College’s new aerospace degree programme will welcome its first batch of students in September this year.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg disclosed that this followed Malaysia Ministry of Higher Education’s approval for i-CATS to establish an Aerospace Faculty with aims to nurture talented Sarawakians for the burgeoning space industry.
“The programme will commence with the upcoming intake in September. It will be run at this Kuching campus, or most likely, we would use the Centexs Lundu Campus,” he told the media after launching the Sarawak Education Expo 2024 at the university college in Stampin here today.
With Sarawak having authority over the spectrum in the space above land and venturing into algae-based sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production, Abang Johari emphasised there are abundant opportunities in the space industry, but young Sarawakians must attain and expand their knowledge and skills.
This includes manufacturing aircraft components that are in high demand in the industry. While all these are a shift towards the new economy, he highlighted that these are all new disciplines and knowledge that will transform Sarawak.
“Someone has to make these components to build the wing, body, radar and even fuselage.
“Don’t worry; we have a new i-CATS campus situated at Trombol, which is not far from Telaga Air, Lundu and Sematan. We are building the Rambungan Bridge to connect to Lundu,” he said.
The Sarawak government has approved RM300 million for the construction of a modern facility with state-of-the-art laboratories and technology.
“The aim is to produce the right graduates to elevate Sarawak as the centre of modern learning,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Sarawak Education Expo 2024, organised by Yayasan Sarawak in collaboration with strategic partners, including Resident and District Offices and the Sarawak Education Department, was held simultaneously in 43 locations across Sarawak today.
The expo is expected to draw a combined 14,000 visitors in all locations, comprising school leavers awaiting letters of offer to pursue further education at various institutions of higher learning in the country, students and the public.
The event also witnessed the exchange of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) between the Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) and Yayasan Sarawak, Curtin University Malaysia, the Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) and i-CATS University College.
The collaboration underscores a commitment to enhance educational standards and foster professional development in the field of accounting. The MoU establishes a framework for partnership, facilitating knowledge sharing and joint initiatives aimed at strengthening the alignment between academic curricula and industry requirements.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Sarawak Finance Secretary Dato Sri Wan Lizozman Wan Omar, and Yayasan Sarawak director Mersal Abang Rosli were present. — DayakDaily
