18 June 2009 University ceremony celebrates success of Sarawak timber industry postgraduates

A handshake of congratulations extends across the sea from New Zealand to Sarawak this week as 22 postgraduates celebrate their academic success in Kuching.

The 22 have all recently graduated with Lincoln University's Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Science, majoring in sustainable tropical forest management.

The handshake is being delivered personally to the postgraduates by Lincoln University representatives at a ceremony in the Wisma Sarawak Timber Association Building, Kuching, on 18 June. The occasion marks the award of the qualification to group members at Lincoln University's Graduation ceremony in New Zealand in April. Seventeen were able to attend that ceremony personally and the other five received their qualifications in absentia.

For the postgraduates this week's celebration marks the  end of two years of intensive academic and practical study. 

All came into in the Lincoln University from management positions with timber companies in Sarawak under a programme facilitated by the Sarawak Timber Association in cooperation with the Sarawak Forestry Corporation and the Sarawak Forest Department.

The aim has been to provide the managers with an internationally recognised university qualification in sustainable tropical forest management and equip them with an enhanced skill-set for their work in Sarawak's timber industry.

“It has been a tough and demanding course for them,” says Associate Professor Hugh Bigsby of Lincoln University, the academic leader of the programme. “These 22 men and women have had to combine their postgraduate studies with their normal working commitments and responsibilities. It has been a big task, but they have done it.

“For two years they have lived double lives,  as students and forestry industry professionals.

“Lincoln University is immensely proud of the way they have coped with the workload and  and performed so well.

“Their success is a good sign for the future of the Sarawak timber industry.

“In congratulating the new diploma holders can I also publicly thank our partners in this venture, the Sarawak Timber Association.

“The Sarawak Timber Association has been an enthusiastic partner in the postgraduate programme and Lincoln University has enjoyed working alongside it. Our connections go back many years to field trips to Sarawak by Lincoln University students, and now the Association has involvement in this latest activity.”

For their postgraduate diploma the students study six subjects over two years, covering a  wide range of topics including forest economics, harvest technology, harvesting technologies, planning processes, forest certification, forest utilisation, and silviculture.

The postgraduate diploma also provides a pathway to masters degree study and some of the group are considering this as a future option.

The 22 students whose graduation is being marked this week are:

Sii Yew Hii (with Distinction), Kwong Hung Ling (with Distinction), Ling Tiing Tchin (with Distinction), Sally Adee, Jaime Shin Syn Chan, Jenny Mei Fang Chen, Breach Chung,  Goh Collin Tee Khiang, Hii King Hung, Raymond Anak Jinny Baba, Denny Kana Anak Joshua, Lau Ching Hoo, Ling Ee Khai, Peter Peros Anak Kunok, Law Chu Yang, Ting Jack Hui, Ting Sing Ling, Leong Hui Ngu, Chong Pei Wong, Wong Ko Hock, Heing King Wong, Shaffeqe Affendy Bin Zakaria.

Representing Lincoln University's Vice-Chancellor at the ceremony is Dr Patrick Aldwell, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce.

A second intake of postgraduate students has now commenced study towards the diploma.