Campus hosts Danish ambassador
SWINBURNE University of Technology Sarawak Campus (Swinburne Sarawak) recently hosted a visit by the Danish Ambassador to Malaysia Jesper Vahr.
He was accompanied by the Honorary Consul of Denmark in Kuching Aw Tai Hui.
Swinburne Sarawak deputy vice-chancellor and chief executive officer Prof John Wilson, director of Academics Assoc Prof Enn Ong Siok Ean as well as Executive Group members and senior staff of the university welcomed Vahr to the campus.
In his welcoming remarks, Prof Wilson touched on the history of the university’s Study Abroad programme initiated in 2007 that has since opened the door to international students to study at Swinburne Sarawak. The programme, he said, enrolled its first student from the United States followed by Denmark in 2008.
“Swinburne Sarawak works closely with its recruitment partner EDU based in Copenhagen.
“EDU organises the Study Abroad fair called the EDU Days twice a year, covering cities such as Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense and Aalborg where students can find out more about opportunities to study at Swinburne Sarawak,” he added.
Prof Wilson said there were 31 Danish students enrolled at the campus in 2016 while 46 enrolled last year. “At present, we have 15 Danish students and we expect the number to grow to 50 in Semester Two which will commence in September,” he said.
He said the Danish and other European students are a welcome addition to the university’s community. Swinburne Sarawak has 4,000 students from over 50 countries.
Under the Study Abroad programme, international students can enrol in Semesters One or Two. The next group of Danish students is expected to arrive this month.
Vahr said Swinburne Sarawak has the highest number of Danish students, partly due to the Danish government’s commitment in sending undergraduate students abroad for at least one semester to enrich their learning.