By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 8: Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak has pushed back against concerns that the surge in student enrolment under the Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) is overwhelming its teaching capacity, stressing that the growth had been anticipated and is being actively managed.
The university issued the statement in response to Sarawak Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth’s (DAPSY) secretary George Lam’s call for a review of Swinburne Sarawak’s teaching capacity and facilities following a sharp rise in FTES enrolment.
Responding to claims that increased enrolment had forced some classes online due to limited facilities, Swinburne Sarawak said it has adopted blended learning since 2022, combining physical and online teaching in line with practices at higher education institutions nationally and internationally.
“The use of online or digital resources and online delivery should be understood as a component of the broader teaching and learning process, rather than taken as evidence that the university’s physical teaching facilities are inadequate,” it said.
It said that its enrolment data showed an increase in student population from 3,749 in 2024 to 4,504 in 2025 and 6,484 (including FTES degree students) in 2026, representing approximately 20 per cent year-on-year growth from 2024 to 2025 and 44 per cent from 2025 to 2026.
“Within the 22 FTES-approved programmes, Swinburne Sarawak welcomed 2,100 new FTES degree students in 2026, representing approximately 32 per cent of the university’s total student population.
“At the same time, the university has approximately 1,000 graduating students in 2026, reflecting the ongoing progression of students through the university’s academic programmes and the completion of their studies.
“This sustained growth has been anticipated and is being proactively managed through continuous investment in teaching and learning facilities, learning resources, and student support services,” it said.
Swinburne Sarawak further added that in 2024, it completed a RM50 million campus upgrade, which included the new library expansion, a student hub, the food hall, the newly added Borneo Atrium, a reconstructed Student Village, and also enhancements to teaching and learning facilities.
Following the upgrade, the university said it has continued to invest in additional teaching and learning infrastructure over the past two years, adding new facilities such as a Digital Design Hub, Business Simulation Lab, Entrepreneurship Hub, as well as expanded CISCO Lab, AI, and IoT computing laboratories.
It added that further capacity planning and infrastructure development are already being proactively progressed in consultation with its shareholders, key stakeholders, and relevant authorities, for future campus upgrades and expansion plans.
The university also said that it has university-arranged accommodation to all eligible FTES students in accordance with the FTES guideline.
At the same time, Swinburne Sarawak highlighted that it adheres to the quality framework of the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and maintains established quality assurance processes with the Australia campus.
“Swinburne Sarawak has been part of Sarawak’s higher education landscape for more than two and a half decades and has successfully produced over 11,000 graduates who contribute to the socioeconomic development of Sarawak, Malaysia, and beyond.
“We recognise the continuous growth in enrolment and are acting proactively to support this growth by continuing to invest in our people, facilities, technology, academic capacity, and student support.
“The university remains committed to providing accessible, high-quality Australian education and excellent student experience in Sarawak for all students, whether from Sarawak, other Malaysian states or other countries, while responsibly managing the continued growth in enrolment.” — DayakDaily
