The Borneo Book Festival 2024 (PBB 2024) will be held from November 13 to 17 at Kinabatangan Hall III, Sabah International Convention Centre, from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

This year's festival is themed "Borneo Membaca" (Borneo Reads), which emphasizes the importance of reading in the development of knowledge and education in Borneo.

The main objective of the festival is to cultivate a love for reading among the people of Sabah and to expand the publishing market in the state. Several schools from around Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran, Penampang, and Papar are expected to attend the event.

The largest book festival in Borneo will feature over 90 exhibition booths, showcasing both international and local commercial and academic book publishers, as well as exhibitors of teaching aids and innovative products.

In addition to UMS Publisher, the organizer and exhibitor, other notable participants include Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei, PTS Publishing, Popular Bookstore, MAPIM, FIXI, The Patriot, Naseehat, and many other well-known publishers and book distributors.

The festival will also be filled with a variety of exciting activities for all ages. These include book talks, book forums, book launches, STEM workshops, theatre performances, coloring competitions, lucky draws, quizzes, and more. Visitors will also have the chance to meet local authors and redeem Madani book vouchers during the event.

According to UMS Publisher, the book festival provides an excellent platform for suppliers and publishers to showcase their latest works to the public, in line with the goal of promoting local academic reading materials.

Entry is free. For the latest updates on activities and events during PBB 2024, the public can visit the official Facebook page of the Borneo Book Festival or contact UMS Publisher for further inquiries at 088-3204500.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), through its Centre for Quality Assurance (CQA), recently organized the 2024 Convention of Innovation – Konvensyen Kumpulan Penggerak Inovasi (KKPI) as an effort to encourage an innovative and creative culture, or "KREANOVA," among university administrative and implementation officers, in line with efforts to improve service delivery effectiveness.

Held at the Gallery, Chancellory Building, the two-day convention attracted participation from 36 groups from various departments, faculties, centres, institutes, and divisions at UMS.

The categories contested included New Horizon for Innovative and Creative Groups (HB KIK), Lean Management, and Innovation Project Poster (A3 Project).

According to the CQA Director, Prof. Ir. Dr. Zainal Zakaria, cultivating innovation among officers is crucial to enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of university services.

"Administrative and implementation officers are the backbone of the organization; hence, initiatives like this are essential for inspiring innovative thinking that can have a substantial impact on the quality-of-service delivery at UMS.

"This innovation initiative has demonstrated a positive impact on cost savings and the efficiency of UMS's management.

"Data shows that the 36 innovation projects competed in the convention contributed to operational cost savings of RM58,230.60, with an average saving of RM4,479.20 per project, alongside a reduction in the number of complaints received, from 1,819 to 383, indicating the improvement in efficiency achieved," he said in his speech at the convention.

He also expressed hope that the successes achieved through the KREANOVA projects could benefit the broader UMS community and other organizations.

"We hope that the projects generated from this convention not only improve the service quality of their respective departments but can also be shared with the entire UMS community and external organizations.

"May this innovation culture serve as an inspiration to the UMS community as a whole," he added.

At the convention, the Titans team from the Faculty of Science and Natural Resources (FSSA) won the HB KIK category with their Smart Kit Cycle project.

The second place was won by Syzygium Tech from the Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture (FPL) with their Cassava Root Extracting Tool project, while ServIQ from the Centre for Promotion of Knowledge and Language Learning (PPIB) secured third place with their E-Counter: Flexible and Convenient project.

In the Lean Management category, the i-Xam team from the Academic Services Division (BPA) was crowned champion with their Online Final Exam Information Filling project.

The ProFit team from FSSA and the Fteam from the Faculty of Business, Economics, and Accountancy (FPEP) won second and third places, respectively, with their Preparation of Meetings (ProMeets) and Online Hotel Reservation projects.

In the Innovation Project Poster (A3 Poster) category, Syzygium Tech from FPL took the first place, followed by CAED Smart Tech from the Centre for Academic Excellence and Development (PPKA) in second place, and i-Star from BPA in third place.

A delegation from the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Pakuan, Bogor, Indonesia visited the Faculty of Business, Economics, and Accountancy (FBEA) at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) recently as the two institutions marking the beginning of an enriching academic mobility program aimed at strengthening ties between both universities.

The visiting group, comprising four faculty members and four students led by Postgraduate lecturers, Dr. Hari Muharam, is set to engage in several collaborative activities during their stay.

According to a statement by FBEA, the program's primary objective is to explore opportunities for joint research projects, publications, and mobility programs that could benefit both faculties.

“Meetings scheduled between the visiting delegation and UMS faculty members to discuss potential areas for research collaboration, as well as inbound and outbound student and faculty mobility programs.

“The exchange also aims to facilitate matching sessions to align both institutions' academic interests and goals for long-term partnerships.

“In addition to formal discussions, the delegation will participate in community service activities designed to foster social engagement and contribute positively to the local communities surrounding UMS,” according to the statement.

FBEA statement also noted that, as part of the itinerary, a field trip to Kundasang has been arranged, where the group will visit a successful business venture operated by a UMS alumnus.

“This visit not only highlights the entrepreneurial achievements of UMS graduates but also provides an opportunity for the visiting students and faculty to witness the impact of university education on local business success.

“The ongoing mobility program between Universitas Pakuan and UMS signifies a strong commitment to enhancing cross-border educational experiences and nurturing global academic partnerships.

Also present to greet the Universitas Pakuan delegation arrival, Deputy Dean of Research and Innovation, FBEA, Associate Professor Dr. Suddin Lada who was represent the Dean, and Deputy Dean of Student Affair and Postgraduate, FBEA, Dr. Jakaria Dasan.

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) recently conducted an official visit to Universitas Indonesia in Jakarta and Universitas Padjadjaran in Bandung.

FMHS UMS Deputy Dean (Academic and International), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fairrul Masnah @ Kadir, stated that the program aimed to benchmark academic and clinical fields, promote FMHS UMS, and encourage future collaborations between the institutions.

He noted that this visit provided UMS with an opportunity to gain valuable insights and witness the remarkable progress both universities have achieved since the pre-war era.

"Both institutions warmly welcomed us and showed exceptional hospitality.

"At Universitas Indonesia, we were impressed by the factors contributing to its status as the top university in Indonesia. The Department of Radiology has 18 radiology specialists, 90 percent of whom have single or multiple subspecialties, and it is equipped with the latest medical imaging technology.

"Additionally, the ophthalmology team has developed an innovative eye screening kit, comparable to well-known kits on the market," he said.

"Similarly, our visit to Universitas Padjadjaran revealed remarkable talent and medical facilities, particularly at the Cicendo National Eye Center in Indonesia, which has state-of-the-art surgical rooms, clinics, and screening and clinical assessment rooms," Fairrul added.

He made these remarks in a statement.

Both institutions also expressed high hopes of establishing collaborations with UMS in various areas, including research, publications, courses, as well as student and staff exchanges.

This collaboration not only reflects UMS's commitment to advancing medical education and practice but also strengthens academic ties between Malaysia and Indonesia, contributing to the global enhancement of education and healthcare standards.