KUCHING - Swinburne Sarawak Institute of Technology has been invited by the Minister of Education Senator Tan Sri Musa bin Mohamad to apply to become a full-fledged university in Sarawak.

Making the announcement on his arrival at Kuching International Airport from Kuala Lumpur yesterday, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Industries Dato Sri Adenan Haji Satem thanked the Minister of Education for giving Swinburne Sarawak the opportunity to become a full-fledged university.     "There are of course terms and conditions to be met before being granted a full university and Swinburne Sarawak has until May 2003 to meet and comply with these terms and conditions," said Adenan who is holding a watching brief for education in Sarawak.

Fielding questions from the press, Adenan said he was happy with the invitation and served as good news for Sarawak.   Swinburne Sarawak Institute of Technology is owned by Swinburne Sarawak Sdn Bhd and started two years ago. The present population is about 400 students.     Asked further on a permanent campus for Swinburne Sarawak, Adenan said, "We will cross the bridge when we come to it. Once the student population increases, we will look into it. For now it is just an invitation to apply to become a full university."