KUCHING: A group of 30 entrepreneurship students from Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, led by Head of the Department of Executive and Entrepreneurship Dr Gabriel Wee Wei En and lecturer Dr Irving Ting Shou Hul, visited the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) on May 21 as part of their real-world learning initiative.
SBC, a leading research and development agency under the Sarawak government, is dedicated to the documentation, conservation, and sustainable utilisation of the state’s rich biodiversity.
Through applied research and community engagement, SBC collaborates with indigenous communities to document traditional knowledge and develop value-added natural products under the brands LitSara and NatureSara.
“Our projects are not only commercially viable but also socially meaningful and student-centric,” said Dr Wee.
“Entrepreneurship education at Swinburne Sarawak is built around real industry challenges.”
During the visit, students learned how SBC merges scientific research with traditional knowledge, resulting in the ethical commercialisation of natural products and the empowerment of rural communities.
This semester, the students are engaged in a cross-border entrepreneurship project in partnership with Zhejiang Yuexiu University, China. The initiative includes market validation for student-led startup prototypes and the co-establishment of an online marketplace to support cross-border e-commerce.
Looking ahead, with the Entrepreneurship Hub at Swinburne Sarawak set to launch next semester, Dr Wee shared the faculty’s aspirations to deepen its collaboration with SBC by supporting international market validation for LitSara and NatureSara products, and exploring the co-development of a global marketplace to showcase Sarawak’s unique innovations.
“This initiative underscores Swinburne Sarawak’s commitment to being grounded in industry, impact, and innovation,” he added.
