The Natural Disaster Research Centre (NDRC) of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) reaffirmed its commitment to disaster preparedness by participating in a Table Top Exercise (TTX) and Field Training Exercise (FTX) recently held in Kundasang.

The training focused on landslide disaster management in Sabah and involved collaboration with various government agencies.

According to NDRC Director, Assoc. Prof. Ts. Gs. Dr. Carolyn M. Payus, the event consisted of two main parts: a TTX session discussing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of each agency, followed by an FTX session with full-scale simulations of command structure, operations, and search and rescue (SAR) activities by the involved agencies.

“Simulations like these are crucial as they serve as a platform to strengthen inter-agency operability and cooperation.

“This exercise will enhance mutual understanding and facilitate coordinated action among rescue teams, especially in critical situations like landslides in Sabah,” said Carolyn, who also participated in the training sessions.

Carolyn added that the training, which included 70 participants from various agencies, provided an opportunity for knowledge-sharing and allowed participants to improve their knowledge, experience, and expertise.

“This year, the Ranau district was selected as the operational site due to its vulnerability to disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, and floods.

“Thus, training like this is essential to boost the preparedness of agencies and volunteers in disaster management and to strengthen existing SOPs,” she added.

This integrated training was the result of a strategic collaboration between the Internal Affairs and Research Office, Chief Minister’s Department of Sabah, and the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA).

The main agencies involved included the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Ranau District Office, Civil Defence Force (APM), Sabah Fire and Rescue Department, Sabah State Health Department, Sabah Parks, and the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM).

Other technical and support agencies that participated in the exercise included the Sabah State Education Department, Sabah Information Department, Department of Mineral and Geoscience Malaysia, Malaysian Meteorological Department, Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia, RELA, Sabah State Welfare Services Department, Sabah State Water Department, Sabah Electricity Sdn. Bhd., and Sapura Secured Technologies.

Writing and publishing in high-indexed journals is essential for academicians, enhancing their visibility and credibility in the scientific community.

However, many academics and researchers face challenges such as high workloads, increasing responsibilities, and a lack of mentorship, making the journey to publication particularly daunting.

Young lecturers, in particular, may find it challenging to craft compelling manuscripts that meet the standards of Q1 and Q2 journals.

The competitive nature of securing research grants further complicates this landscape. Nevertheless, publishing in high-indexed journals contributes to university performance indicators (KPIs) and boosts global research visibility.

To support academics and researchers in overcoming these challenges, Persatuan Himpunan Ilmuan Universiti Malaysia Sabah (HiUMS) has organised a three-day workshop focused on Publishing in Hi-Impact Q1 and Q2 Journals.

Lead by Prof. Emeritus Dr. Lorna Uden from the University of Staffordshire, United Kingdom the event taking place from 19-21 October at the Sabah International Convention Centre in Kota Kinabalu brought together academics, lecturers and PhD candidates from both public universities, such as UMS and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), as well as participants from private institutions like Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU) and the Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL).

With an impressive publication record, Prof. Lorna has been recognised as one of the Top Scholars by ScholarGPS in 2024. She ranks among the top 0.5% of scholars worldwide due to her notable contributions.

Chairman of the workshop, Associate Professor Dr. Fauziah Sulaiman said the event aims to empower researchers with the skills and knowledge needed for successful publication in high-impact journals.

“Throughout the event, participants received comprehensive training on effective research methodologies and proposal writing in a supportive, mentoring environment.

“Under Prof. Lorna's guidance, participants engaged in detailed consultations that enhanced their understanding of research interests. She provided invaluable motivation and scaffolding, helping participants navigate the intricacies of article writing.

“Prof. Lorna emphasised the importance of linking any successful articles to the theoretical foundations relevant to the data obtained from their research,” she said.

Fauziah said the workshop's primary goal was to equip participants with clear strategies and insights for constructing high-quality papers well-suited for publication in reputable, high-index journals.

“Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vino from APU shared that the workshop fostered an energetic atmosphere, encouraging participants to generate ideas and draft papers effectively.

“Kamsia Budin from the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) emphasised the vibrant, hands-on experience of the in-person workshop, which offers unique benefits that online formats can't replicate. “Meanwhile Dr. Surya Sumarni from UiTM emphasised the importance of extending such activities to provide more opportunities for young lecturers to develop their writing skills. Such activities are invaluable for researchers and lecturers, as they enhance writing skills and increase the chances of publication in high-impact journals,” she added.

As a result of the workshop, participants are now actively engaged in developing quality papers, with optimism for successful publication in high-indexed journals in the near future.

The Centre for Postgraduate Studies, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has organized the Inaugural Borneo International Postgraduate Symposium (BIPS @ UMS 2024) with the theme “Contemporary Research: Valuing Inclusive and Sustainable Studies towards building Innovative Societies”.

Vice Chancellor of UMS, Professor Datuk Dr. Kasim Hj. Mansor stated that the objective of BIPS @ UMS 2024 is in line with the first, third and fifth lenses of the university.

“The first lens focuses on talent preparation, the third lens aimed at knowledge transfer and sharing while the fifth lens focuses on an enabling ecosystem by the university.

He said with the theme, the contemporary research must prioritize inclusive and sustainable research approaches, crucial in addressing societal challenges.

“This is also in-line with the hala tuju Sabah Maju Jaya, which emphasizes on Inclusive, Fair, Prosperous and Thriving as a way forward for our beloved state.

“The wealth of knowledge and expertise assembled here today is truly remarkable, and I have no doubt that over the course of the next two days, we will witness inspiring presentations, thought-provoking discussions and fruitful networking opportunities,” he said during his speech, represented by Dean of Centre for Postgraduate Studies, UMS, Professor Dr. Rossita Shapawi.

Kasim also stated that the postgraduate students and participants should take full advantage of the diverse array of presentations, workshops and panel discussions lined up.

He also expressed his gratitude for the hard work of the UMS Centre for Postgraduate Studies, strategic partners and sponsor namely Sabah Convention Bureau, Invest Sabah and Sabah Tourism Board, who have worked behind the scenes to ensure the success of the event.

A total of 60 participants, both physical and online, not only local postgraduate students but also international participants namely China, Indonesia and Bangladesh.

Bird watching and aves recording has become a new part of the educational programme for Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).

A dedicated annual bird watch event dubbed October BIG Day, which is held on the second weekend of every October, is set to spark the interest of bird watching and forest rehabilitation among UMS students.

This programme organised by UMS with the Sabah Bird Watchers Association (SBWA) is set to be an annual event for the university, said UMS through a statement issued by its Borneo Tourism Research Centre, Faculty of Business, Economics and Accountancy.

“The idea to have this programme is a continuation of the Winged Wonders Programme organised by Shangri-La Rasa Ria with the collaboration of BTRC and SBWA last month,” the statement read

It said that October BIG Day would not only encourage more students to learn more about birds but also be used as another form of tourism product, seeing how the UMS campus is often used as a bird migration point, it added.

Such activities also promote forest health and conservation, the statement read.

SBWA president Ron Pudin said this October BIG Day programme held worldwide is an opportunity for bird watchers to record the species of birds encountered via an eBird application, for a period of 24 hours.

“Today (Oct 12), UMS with SBWA, the Institute for Development Studies Sabah (IDS) and Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort, Tuaran, had this event at the ODEC beach of UMS and around the UMS Health Ecotourism forest area and hiking trail,” he said.

He said programmes like these were important because birds contribute to forest rehabilitation initiatives whereby with the presence of birds, researchers and scientists would be able to determine the health status of a forest.

They would also have an idea of the types of biodiversity present at a forest area and allow bird watchers to get to know the types of birds, specifically those endemic to Sabah, said Pudin.

“We hope participants will have an increased awareness and interest in birds watching and recording using the apps available,” he added.

He explained that they could function as community scientists and at the same time boost interest among locals and foreigners to come to Sabah for this purpose.

More than 50 participants among students and staff of UMS together with the SBWA and IDS members took part in this event.

They used binoculars to spot the birds before putting into record the types of birds they saw.

Also present were the faculty dean Associate Prof Dr Mohd Rahimie Abd Karim and BTRC director, Associate Prof Dr Balvinder Kaur Kler.