KUCHING – Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, in collaboration with the Sarawak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and Sarawak Business Federation (SBF), convened leaders from education, industry, and government for SwinTalk Series, focused on the theme “From Access to Impact: Advancing Education for Sarawak’s Future-Ready Workforce”.
Held at Swinburne Sarawak’s campus on 23 May 2025, the forum highlighted the pivotal role of cross-sector collaboration in addressing Sarawak’s human capital needs under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030). The event was graced by YB Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Minister for Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Sarawak.
In his welcoming address, Ir Professor Lau Hieng Ho, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Swinburne Sarawak, emphasised the importance of turning educational access into meaningful outcomes.
“Access to education opens the door, but it is the quality of what happens after that which determines a graduate’s impact. With the Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme, initiated by the Premier, we are seeing more doors open. It is now our shared responsibility to ensure that what lies behind those doors prepares students to lead, create, and contribute meaningfully to Sarawak’s development,” he said.
Professor Lau also announced that Swinburne Sarawak will soon introduce a Graduate Diploma in Education course, a postgraduate qualification, to meet the growing demand for qualified educators in Sarawak. The new program aims to equip aspiring teachers with practice-based pedagogy, aligning with the state’s workforce and education needs.
Delivering the opening speech, Datuk Dr Philip Ting, Deputy President of SCCI, called for deeper alignment between education providers and industry stakeholders.
“We must treat education and employment as co-dependent systems. The private sector must not only recruit talent but help develop it – from co-designing curriculum to mentoring and training.
“The Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme expands the pool of talent. Now it’s on us – as industry, government, and academia – to ensure that talent is nurtured with purpose,” he said.
The event featured a keynote address by YB Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, who underscored the transformative goals of the Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme. He emphasised that the initiative is more than just financial support; it is a platform to empower Sarawakians and connect education with the sectors shaping Sarawak’s economic future.
A dynamic panel discussion followed, moderated by Mr Choo Chian Hou, Deputy Head of School, School of Design and Arts, Swinburne Sarawak. The panel featured YBhg Datu Haji Abdul Hadi bin Datuk Haji Abdul Kadir, General Manager, Sarawak Economic Development Corporation; Dr Jarrod Sio, Assistant Director, Sarawak State Education Department; Dr Joseph Ramanair, Educationist, MQA Panel of Assessors; and Timothy Ong, CEO, InvestSarawak.
The panel discussion at the event.
The panellists discussed how Sarawak’s education system can become more experiential, inclusive, and adaptive to emerging technologies and workforce demands. Key recommendations included embedding industry exposure into all stages of tertiary education, increasing rural outreach, and promoting interdisciplinary problem-solving.
The SwinTalk Series is a quarterly event organised with industry partners with the aim of developing knowledge and promoting the sharing of experiences and mentorship.
With Swinburne Sarawak celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, SwinTalk reinforces the university’s role as a catalyst for talent development, industry engagement, and educational innovation.
For more information on Swinburne Sarawak, visit its website, Facebook page (@swinburnesarawak), Instagram page (@swinburnesarawak), X page (@Swinburne_Swk), TikTok page (@swinburnesarawak), or YouTube channel (Swinburne Sarawak).