Andrew delivers two colleges, varsity to meet SCORE needs
SIBU: The setting up of two colleges and a university college in Sibu is to answer the call of the state government to produce skilled workers to meet the needs of mammoth projects in Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).
Taking the cue from former chief minister Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, UPP president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh requested Dato Andrew Wong to undertake the development of the tertiary sector in Sibu.
Thus, Andrew helped to establish two colleges and a university college in Sibu in quick succession, providing the opportunity of quality higher education to students in the central region without having to travel to Kuching, Miri, Peninsular Malaysia or abroad.
The two colleges are Kolej Laila Taib which is offering technical courses and Sarawak Maritime Academy, catering for students interested to venture into the seafaring profession. The university is University College of Technology Sarawak ( UCTS).
Not many can boast of having that kind of experience but to Wong, this had to be done because unlike other cities and towns in Sarawak which enjoy advantages such as having rich oil resources or a natural deep seaport or being the capital city, Sibu needed to establish its own niche after the depletion of the timber industry.
“With the depleting timber industry, what can we count on? What can Sibu offer in face of stiff competition from other towns and cities? We have nothing,” said Andrew to The Borneo Post yesterday.
Andrew, who is UPP Community Service Board chairman, has been entrusted by UPP Sibu to develop a development master plan for Sibu. He said it was not an easy task to set up a college, not to mention two and one university college.
“It was long hours of research and preliminary preparation before we could come up with a proposal. After the proposal, we had to convince the Ministry of Higher Education that the higher institution which we were setting up will be viable. Then we have to seek accreditation for our courses.
“Then there is also the issue of infrastructure and teaching resources. It was a long, tough and tedious process. However, with a lot of support and encouragement from the state government, especially Pehin Sri, now you can see Sibu has more than three
With the depleting timber industry, what can we count on? What can Sibu offer in face of stiff competition from other towns and cities? We have nothing. Dato Andrew Wong, UPP Community Service Board chairman
institutions of higher learning which we could be proud of,” said Andrew, who achieved the feat before the age of 40.
Andrew said when he was preparing to set up UCTS, many had deemed that it was an impossible task. Yet, he was able to achieve it within two and-a-half years after the plan was first put into action.
“UCTS now has about 2,000 students and it is offering courses to PhD studies. Its main focus is to tailor-make technical courses for the needs of SCORE,” said Andrew, who is presently the advisor for all the three higher education institutions.
And for his vast contribution to the setting up of these two colleges and a university college, he was awarded the Panglima Setia Bintang Sarawak ( PSBS) which carries the title ‘Dato’ from the Head of State two years ago. Besides that, he also won the prestigious ‘Outstanding Young Malaysian for Education Category’ award last November.
“I understand that many think that I am where I am because of my father (Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh). Yes, I must admit that it was my father who gave me the first chance.
“However, you must also admit that I did not waste the opportunity given to me. I managed to deliver the responsibility entrusted to me,” said Andrew.
Andrew has been fully aware that being the son of a minister could be detrimental to his own personal milestones, especially from the opposition who always took the opportunity to run him down.
“The opposition especially the DAP has always alleged that these colleges and university college are offering courses that are not up to the mark. But in actual fact, the quality of the infrastructure is there for all to see, with UCTS holding the title of being the most environmentally sustainable campus in the world with its Green Building Index ( GBI) ‘Platinum’ rating. In addition, its academic achievements is second to none, with all three institutions offering courses which have been accredited by various government and professional bodies,” added Andrew.