MONDAY, 16 DECEMBER – The craft industry such as ceramics could be made into a cottage industry, indirectly producing competitive women craft entrepreneurs.

In order to realise the government’s intention to create a ‘One District One Industry’, a Rural Industry Development and Ceramic Crafts Manufacturing Entrepreneurs programme was organised by the School of Arts (SPS), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) in collaboration with the Department of Women’s Development Sabah and Brunei Youth Community Association Sabah.

A total of 22 participants consisting of women and single mothers attended the programme which was held for 10 days at the Seri Wawasan Hall Kg. Pimping, Membakut recently.

Datuk Arifin who is also the State Assemblyman for Membakut said expert advice from UMS academicians would help in realising his wish, seeing that the soil in Membakut were very suitable material for making ceramic crafts.

Also present were Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Dr. Shahril Yusof; SPS Dean, Assoc. Prof. Abdul Jamal Abd. Hamid; representative from the Department of Women’s Development Sabah, Salawana Arin and Brunei Youth Community Association Sabah, Ag. Mohd. Faizal Ag. Sahak. – CD

 

Media Division

Chancellery Department

FRIDAY, 13 DECEMBER – The Museum of Medicine, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) proved to be a symbol of aspiration and excellence in medicine towards making UMS one of Malaysian local universities to produce experts in the medical field.

Located at the Plastination Lab of the School of Medicine (SPU), the museum became one of the many attractions in UMS when it opened its doors to local and foreign visitors alike.

According to the Medical Museum Curator, Faranizah Taufick, visitors to the museum had been increasing every year since it officially opened in 2010.

“In the second term of this year alone, the museum has received over 1,000 visitors comprising primary and secondary school students from all over the state. We expect the number of visitors to increase every year,” she said.

She added that there were plans to improve the existing building to accommodate to the ever increasing visitors.

“At present we are charging an entrance fee of RM3.00 for visitors who are 18 years old and above, RM2.00 for 17 years old and below and free for UMS staff and students. It is possible that we increase the fee if the facilities are more informative and improved, in future,” she added.

In addition to the Medical Museum, SPU also has an Ibnu Sina (Avicenna) Resource Centre which contained human specimens which are utilised by medical students of SPU as a point of reference.

According to Faranizah, they intend to open the resource centre to the public as a place where they can visit such as the Medical Museum.

“Due to space constraint, the resource centre now is only limited to SPU students, we are planning to expand the existing space so that it can accommodate more students and visitors at any one time,” she said.

The Medical Museum is open everyday except Mondays and public holidays as early as 9.30 am until 4.30 pm. The Ibnu Sina resource centre is currently limited to the use of SPU’s students. – ZMD

 

Media Division

Chancellery Department

THURSDAY, 12 DECEMBER – Sabah waters became the venue of choice for turtle populations and migratory habitats and seen capable to enrich the marine ecosystem in the state.

TUESDAY, 10 DECEMBER – Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) welcomes student exchange programme from the United States of America to this EcoCampus university as an effort to develop and improve on education for both countries.

 

According to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UMS, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kasim Md. Mansur, UMS is ready to enrol students from the USA to further their studies in UMS thus creating a scientific research collaboration.

“Besides that, student and staff exchange among universities of these two countries would help in increasing cultural understanding among the people of these two countries,” he said.

He said this when officiating at the Handing Over of Books from the Library of America Series to UMS Library which was held at the Prime Collection Section.

At the ceremony, 100 books were donated to the library in the form of novels, poems, essays and dramas from well-known American writers. Among them were the Lincoln Anthology, Mark Twain, Henry David Thoreau and Parkman. The books were handed over by the US Ambassador to Malaysia Joseph Y. Yun to Senior Deputy Chief Librarian, Haji Zawawi Tiyunin.

Earlier, Joseph said that the handing over of books was an initial step towards fostering closer ties between America and UMS Library, and Malaysia generally.

“Malaysia and America has something in common, that is its populations are made up of different races and religions. Hence, prejudices and differences should not be a big issue but to find a common ground and improve on the existing cooperation,” he added.

Also present was the wife of the ambassador, Dr. Melanie Billings-Yun. – ZMD

 

Media Division

Chancellery Department

 

Photo: Musaab Umair, Corporate Relations Division