BY NEVILLE TIMOTHHY SANDERS & AMYLY YONG
KUCHING: The construction of the new campus building for i-CATS University College in Trombol, Matang, is expected to begin sometime in February next year.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim Suadi, said that right now the project is still in the process of developing its design concept for the new campus.
He further stated that it will take time to call on the tender of the project, alongside its evaluation and the appointment of the contractor.
“As for the capacity of the students in the new campus, we expect around 2,500 to 3,000 students will be placed there.
“Because our plan is that we will still be using our existing campus at Jalan Stampin.
“Some of the students will still be living at our current campus, while others will move according to their respective faculties.
“And then we will move to the main campus in Trombol,” he said.
He said this at a press conference after attending the closing ceremony of Sarawak Aerospace Transformation Forum 2025 at Raia Hotel and Convention Centre Kuching here today.
On another note, Kadim stated aerospace programme would not be the only one that will be placed in the new campus, stating that i-CATS is a technical university.
“The focus of the academic programmes is more on the technical education and training, such as engineering, computer science, information technology (IT), aerospace engineering and engineering energy.
“Besides that we also offer humanities programmes such as economics, business, accounting and others. So there is balance that can be seen,” he added.
He then stated that the state government have high expectation on i-CATS for the new campus, as it place faculties that solely focus on the technical and engineering fields.
“This is what we need now, the need for workforce or manpower in high-end industries.
“And lately, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg have always talked about high technology.
“So we can assist the state government through the academic programmes, in hopes that it will help the effort towards the development of Sarawak as a whole,” he said.
Recently, Abang Johari said the development of the new campus would cost about RM300 million, to be equipped with the latest modern learning technology.
“At the same time, it will be equipped with a state of the art lab to produce the right graduates that will upgrade Sarawak as a centre for modern learning,” he said.
