Goethe-Institut Malaysia commits RM60,000 research grant to Swinburne Sarawak’s creative projects
KUCHING (Dec 12): Germany’s cultural institute Goethe-Institut Malaysia has committed a RM60,000 research grant to Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus to support the creation of short animations, interactive stories, digital comics, and illustrated books.
The grant, which will be distributed over three years, follows a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed between the two parties during the official launch of Swinburne Sarawak’s Good Design Week (GDW) 2024 yesterday.
The signing ceremony held at the university’s lecture hall was witnessed by Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan.
Goethe-Institut Malaysia was represented by its director Anna Viegel, while the MoA was pre-signed by Swinburne Sarawak’s pro-vice chancellor and CEO Prof Lau Hieng Ho, who was unable to attend.
Deputy vice-chancellor (Academic) Prof Sim Kwan Yong signed as a witness for Swinburne Sarawak, while programme coordinator David Ngui signed as witness for Goethe-Institut Malaysia.
The agreement recognises the excellence of Swinburne Sarawak’s design programs and its award-winning staff and students.
The grant will be awarded as micro-grants to eligible Swinburne students to produce creative outcomes, which will be showcased through screenings, exhibitions and publications, facilitated by external partnerships on national and international levels.
Additionally, Snowdan witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Swinburne Sarawak and the Sarawak Influencers Council (SIC).
SIC president Jeremy Yaw and vice president Jarone Choo represented the council.
The MoU had also been pre-signed by Lau, while Sim signed as a witness on behalf of Swinburne Sarawak.
This MoU formalises a collaboration aimed at fostering innovation in education, creating integrated internship pathways, joint industry-linked projects, and developing collaborative courses in digital marketing.
By leveraging shared resources, mentorship, and entrepreneurial opportunities, the partnership aspires to empower students and influencers, driving positive growth within the Sarawakian community.
The initiatives highlight Swinburne Sarawak’s commitment to advancing creativity, innovation, and collaboration in both academia and industry.
-Agency
