KUCHING – Yayasan Sarawak and Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus have reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing inclusive education and access to digital learning by donating refurbished personal computers (PCs) to secondary schools in Kuching.
A total of 80 refurbished PCs were distributed to four beneficiary schools, namely SMK Tun Abang Haji Openg, SMK Batu Lintang, SMK Demak Baru, and SMK Green Road, with each school receiving 20 units.
This initiative aims to enhance students’ access to digital learning resources, strengthen ICT infrastructure, and support both classroom and co-curricular learning activities.
The handover ceremony was held at Swinburne Sarawak on 24 April 2026, with Yayasan Sarawak represented by its Principal Assistant Director (Information Technology, Systems, and Data Management Division) @ Chief Digital Officer, Ts Mohammad Faisal bin Jaffar, and Swinburne Sarawak represented by its Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer, Ir Professor Lau Hieng Ho. The delegation from the Kuching District Education Office (PPD Kuching) and beneficiary schools was led by Dr Majelan bin Sulong, Kuching District Education Officer.
The refurbished PC donation reflects the collective efforts of Yayasan Sarawak and Swinburne Sarawak to promote inclusive and equitable education outcomes, particularly by helping to narrow the digital divide faced by schools and students.
Beyond this, Swinburne Sarawak actively undertakes a wide range of education-related initiatives in collaboration with government agencies, schools, and community partners. These include capacity-building programs for teachers, student outreach activities, and applied research collaborations in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), digital literacy, and English language competency.
“Community engagement is a vital aspect of Swinburne Sarawak’s mission. Through our collaborations with government bodies, foundations, and schools, we contribute academic insights to education‑related initiatives throughout the state. Our collaborations encompass support for school development, program evaluation, and capacity-building efforts, particularly in areas where resources and access are uneven,” said Professor Lau.
He said that the PC donation initiative addressed digital access, promoted responsible reuse of resources, and demonstrated what is possible when institutions work together with a shared purpose.
Recognising that both educators and students face a growing set of challenges, he said, “Digital inequality continues to affect schools and learners who lack consistent access to devices and infrastructure. Meanwhile, the pace of technological change, including the rise of digital and AI‑driven tools, is transforming the way we approach teaching, learning, and skills development.”
He noted that these challenges were complex and required joint efforts, calling on Yayasan Sarawak and PPD Kuching to deepen their collaboration with Swinburne Sarawak to ensure a more effective and sustainable response to these challenges.
During the handover ceremony, Yayasan Sarawak, Swinburne Sarawak, and PPD Kuching also held discussions on potential collaborative opportunities in teaching and learning. These discussions explored ways to jointly support students and teachers in both primary and secondary schools, including professional development for educators, student enrichment programs, and initiatives aligned with digital and blended learning.
Ir Professor Lau Hieng Ho symbolically hands over the refurbished PCs to Encik Faidzul bin Ahmad, Principal, SMK Green Road, as Ts Mohammad Faisal bin Jaffar (left) and Dr Majelan bin Sulong (right) look on.
The continued partnership among higher education institutions, foundations, and education authorities underscores a shared aspiration to build a stronger, more inclusive education ecosystem in Sarawak.
The handover ceremony was also supported by Swinburne Innovation Malaysia Sdn Bhd (SWIM), the innovation and enterprise arm of Swinburne Sarawak.
For more information on Swinburne Sarawak, visit its website, Facebook page (@swinburnesarawak), Instagram page (@swinburnesarawak), LinkedIn page (Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus), X page (@Swinburne_Swk), TikTok page (@swinburnesarawak), YouTube channel (Swinburne Sarawak), or Xiaohongshu page (@SwinburneSwk).