MIRI: Hundreds of secondary school students across Sarawak are discovering the nuts and bolts of the construction industry, thanks to a series of hands-on STEM workshops organised by Curtin University Malaysia in partnership with Advancecon (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd.
The outreach sessions, rolled out at SMK Merapok in Lawas, SMK Julau No. 2 in Sarikei and SMK Tinjar in Beluru, Baram, gave students their first real taste of civil and construction engineering.
More than just classroom lectures, the workshops turned soil science and engineering principles into interactive experiments designed to spark curiosity and future ambitions.
Associate Professor Wong Kwong Soon, who heads Curtin Malaysia’s Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, said Advancecon’s support reflects a deep commitment to building Sarawak’s human capital.
“By exposing students to real-world concepts, such as soil permeability and why it matters in construction, we are equipping them with knowledge that can shape their academic and career choices,” he said.
Teachers applauded the initiative, noting how students lit up during hands-on activities that showed how soil properties could make or break a project.
The practical demonstrations, they said, made STEM not only accessible but exciting, while giving pupils a sense of where science and engineering can take them.
For Curtin Malaysia, the effort is part of a broader mission: bringing quality STEM education to communities that often fall outside the reach of major institutions.
By linking theory with industry practice, the university hopes to help steer Sarawak’s next generation towards opportunities in one of its fastest-growing sectors.
Advancecon’s sponsorship underscores how industry and academia can work in tandem to prepare young people for tomorrow’s workforce.
For many of the students, it was not just an introduction to engineering but a glimpse of a future career.
