KUCHING – Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus and Jabatan Kerja Raya Sarawak (JKRS) have entered into a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in academic research, talent development, and practical infrastructure delivery for the benefit of Sarawak.
This MoU formalises both institutions’ shared commitment to combining academic research excellence with real-world infrastructure implementation to create meaningful outcomes for the state. It reflects a common vision to bridge theory and practice, ensuring that research, innovation, and professional expertise contribute directly to Sarawak’s development priorities.
The MoU signing ceremony was held at Swinburne Sarawak on 22 April 2026, with Swinburne Sarawak Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer Ir Professor Lau Hieng Ho and JKRS Director Datu Adj Prof Ir Ts Gs Br PMr Dr Cassidy anak Morris signing on behalf of their respective organisations.
JKRS has been the backbone of Sarawak’s public infrastructure since 1882, evolving from a traditional builder into a comprehensive manager of the state’s built environment. Today, JKRS manages the full lifecycle of infrastructure, covering planning, design, contract administration, monitoring, and maintenance, supported by its regional and divisional offices across Sarawak.
JKRS’s adoption of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) as a policy framework for infrastructure governance demonstrates a strong institutional commitment and positions it as a natural academic partner for Swinburne Sarawak.
Under this MoU, both parties will collaborate on joint research and pilot studies to address infrastructure challenges, with ESG considerations integrated across planning, design, construction, and asset lifecycle evaluation. The collaboration will also create valuable opportunities for student placements and internships with JKRS, giving students direct industry exposure while providing JKRS with access to trained, motivated graduates.
Ir Professor Lau Hieng Ho (centre left) and Datu Adj Prof Ir Ts Gs Br PMr Dr Cassidy anak Morris (centre right) display the signed MoU, as Professor Dr Ida Fatimawati bt Adi Badiozaman (left), Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research), Swinburne Sarawak, and Ir Sim Hui Kheng (right), Quality Manager, JKRS, look on.
In addition, the partnership will support shared professional development through webinars, training programs, and knowledge exchange between Swinburne Sarawak and JKRS’s professional consultant network. Qualified Swinburne students and faculty may also be included in JKRS’s professional consultant database, opening doors to research and project opportunities that further deepen academic-industry engagement.
“This MoU with Swinburne Sarawak is the bridge that connects academic innovation with the front-line reality of public works,” said Datu Adj Prof Ir Ts Gs Br PMr Dr Cassidy anak Morris.
“We are not just signing a document; we are signing a promise to the people of Sarawak. We will continue to ‘Build for You’ – but from this day onward, we will build with greater transparency, smarter technology, and a steadfast commitment to a sustainable future,” he said.
Touching on Swinburne Sarawak’s role, Ir Professor Lau Hieng Ho said, “Our researchers and graduates are not working in theory. They are already engaged in areas that speak directly to what JKRS does: infrastructure planning, construction, lifecycle management. Through our School of Research and our ties to Swinburne Australia, we can connect this partnership to international research networks and professional development pathways that go well beyond what a single campus can offer.”
Underscoring Swinburne Sarawak’s commitment to the MoU, he added, “We want to translate this into concrete projects, meaningful research outcomes, and strong professional connections that contribute to the development of Sarawak.”
Over the next five years, both institutions expect the partnership to generate specific projects, research outputs, and professional connections that deliver long-term value to Sarawak. Swinburne Sarawak and JKRS are committed to engaging meaningfully in this initiative and contributing their expertise, ideas, and talent.
This signing marks not just the start of a formal agreement, but the beginning of practical work that can support smarter infrastructure, stronger talent development, and more sustainable outcomes for Sarawak.