According to Murdoch’s former Executive Dean of Science and Engineering, Professor Tony Tate, the two-year course has already filled its quota of students with 24 Sarawak-based professionals commencing their studies.

Professor Tate, who visited Sarawak in August to launch the course, said Murdoch’s partner, the Centre for Modern Management, had investigated many international universities before deciding on Murdoch as their provider.

The course, which has a major in Environmental Impact Assessment, (EIA), focuses on Australia’s environmental experience with particular reference to the Malaysian workplace.

“The agreement, originally put together in Perth, provides the Centre for Modern Management with an online course subject to certain modifications, for example, rewriting the unit in Environmental Law to suit Malaysian law,” said Professor Tate.

CMM is owned by the Sarawak Government under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary of the State of Sarawak, Datuk Abdul Aziz Husain.

“When enrolling its students, Murdoch made no compromise on its admission criteria, with all students possessing more than adequate qualifications and English language skills,” said Professor Tate.

Initial preparation for the course was conducted in Kuching, Malaysia by Environmental Science academics Dr Jenny Davis, (Head of School), Dr John Bailey (Policy Specialist) and Ms Halina Kobryn, (Geographic Information Systems specialist).

Built into the course will be a visit to Perth in the middle of next year to allow students to observe the implementation of what they have learnt - in particular how environmental impact assessment is carried out in the Australian context.

“The agreement gives Murdoch many benefits - including an alumni working in the state of Sarawak - and provides the students themselves with a network of experts to call upon in their day-to-day work,” said Professor Tate.