BY NATASHA JEE and ALEXANDRA LORNA
KUCHING: The new campus for i-CATS University College, expected to be completed within four years, is set to become the most advanced technology university campus in the region.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state government has identified a 250-acre site for the project, with construction scheduled to commence next year.
“Construction of the new campus will begin next year, and we hope that it will be completed within four years. Once completed, it will be the most advanced technology university campus in the region,” he said.
He said this during the i-CATS University College’s 27th Convocation Ceremony held at Hikmah Exchange Event Centre here today (Nov 8).
Abang Johari, who is also the Chancellor of i-CATS University College, said the construction of the new campus aligns with the state government’s goal of providing free tertiary education to all Sarawakian students at the state-owned universities, beginning next year.
“With free education, it is now up to you to study hard and build a prosperous and advanced Sarawak for the future,” he said.
He added these developments are also aimed at preparing youth to meet the state’s growing high-tech and energy sectors.
“Sarawak is targeting four frontiers to transform the state into a prosperous economy — renewable energy, low-carbon gas production, Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS), and semiconductor and high-tech industries,” he said.
On a related note, he said the university has grown beyond being a small institution focused only on creating and generating knowledge, becoming a key component of Sarawak’s human capital development ecosystem.
“Today, i-CATS functions not merely as a centre of learning but as a catalyst for state development — building competency, nurturing the future workforce and bridging students’ abilities with real-world needs.
“Focus areas such as aerospace, renewable energy, hydrogen, automation, hospitality, agricultural technology and professional services are no longer optional — they are the state’s sectors of the future.
“Therefore, with its expanding international network, including scientific collaborations with institutions in Turkey, China, Australia and Indonesia, i-CATS is establishing a global presence,” he said.
He also said the state’s strength does not lie solely in its abundant resources, but in its ability to produce a people who are self-reliant in their own knowledge.
“i-CATS embodies this direction and Sarawak is not merely a consumer of knowledge, but a creator of expertise,” he said.
It was previously reported that the new campus of i-CATS University College will be built in Trombol, Telaga Air.
The RM300 million campus will be equipped with state-of-the-art learning facilities and laboratories designed to produce highly skilled graduates, positioning Sarawak as a hub for modern education.
