MONDAY, 9 MAY – The Academic and Leadership Student Welfare Committee (JAKMAS) Residential College Tun Mustapha (KKTM) Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) recently organised a Speech Contest Residential College Tun Mustapha Cup 2016.

According to the Programme Director, Jennyfer Priscillasheal Jonius, the speech contest was held with the aim to scout for talents in speaking and communicating ideas among students.

“The competition also aims to trains and educate students to think critically and creatively, and be outstanding,” he said.

Meanwhile, KKTM Principal, Dr Mohamad Nizam Nazarudin at the closing of the contest said that the programme was recommended because it could promote the idea and practice of self-confidence amongst students to voice their views.

“This competition could also improve communication skills among students thereby increase their knowledge in public speaking such as speech contest,” he said.

A total of 12 orators of public and private universities around Kota Kinabalu participated in the competition held at the Residential College Tun Mustapha UMS. – (fl)

Source: KKTM

FRIDAY, 6 MAY – The Faculty of Psychology and Education (FPP) Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) recently held a Science and Technology Education Community Programme involving 48 students of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Kota Marudu and SMK Langkon.

According to the programme supervisor, Dr. Siew Nyet Moi @ Sopiah Abdullah, the programme was conducted by students from the Master’s in Education Postgraduate Programme to provide support to students in the rural areas by joining activities in designing as a way to solve problems creatively and in an innovative manner using the STEM concept.

“The postgraduate students act as coordinators, facilitators and assessors, whilst PhD and undergraduate students assisted as facilitator and evaluator to 10 groups for two STEM activities,” she said.

Two activities were conducted during the programme involving problem-solving and existing knowledge to test the creativity of participants.

“The first STEM activity centred around the Sungai Bandau, Kota Marudu bridge, which was dilapidated.  Students worked in groups and identify everyday life problems caused by the situation and submit new invention to overcome these problems.

‘Meanwhile, the second STEM activity centres around the El Nino phenomenon that is currently experienced by the country.  Through these activities, students apply their existing knowledge and past experiences to create a prototype with green technology concept to reduce the impact of El Nino towards the environment and on ourselves,” added Dr. Siew.

She said, as a whole, the programme achieved its objective when students themselves said the programme encouraged them to think out of the box to produce appropriate ideas to solve any problems raised.

Also present were representatives from SMK Kota Marudu, Yusniza Azali and SMK Langkon, Pang Poon King. – (fl)

Source: FPP

Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Professor Datuk Dr. Mohd Harun Abdullah said in the administration of the university for example, the officers would continue to find the best work process so as to avoid bureaucracy.

“For that, the Steering Committee on Quality and Innovation under the Registrar Department can give their support thus instilling the culture of innovation in every staff of the university,” he said in his speech at the University Excellence Awards 2015 held at the Main Lecture Halls 2, this morning.

He further added that to ensure UMS remain competitive and stay relevant, initiatives to improve the university’s image in the international arena should be done by aiming for worldwide recognition.

In the aspect of sustainability, today’s sophisticated world requires its community to think how environmental sustainability could be preserved for future generation.

“Therefore, we must take this opportunity to put UMS in the world map with the EcoCampus concept introduced three years ago.

“I hope the three keywords described above could change minds and attitudes to become excellent.

“Innovative, Relevant and Sustainable, besides UMS motto ‘Strive to Excel’ should be the mainstay as the foundation of UMS’ excellence,” he added. – MA (fl)

Photo: Johaidi Ismail

THURSDAY, 5 MAY – To support the sustainability of EcoCampus, the Student Affairs Department Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is continuing the Cycling Around Campus Programme that has started since February until today.

According to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Associate Professor Dr. Ismail Ali, this campaign was organised to encourage campus community minimise the use of motor vehicles inside the campus by using bicycles as an alternative transportation to attend lectures, mosque or even the library.

“Such programme can bring awareness to the campus community in respecting the environment by reducing the overloading of carbon monoxide emissions from the engines of vehicles.

“Besides that, this programme also aims to cultivate a healthy lifestyle by adopting cycling as a daily routine,” he said.

According to him, the campaign would be implemented at UMS Main Campus, UMS Labuan International Campus and the Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture, Sandakan coordinated by the Student Affairs Department in collaboration with the Sports Centre and UMS Residential Colleges.

To date, a total of 100 bicycles were distributed to three residential colleges, namely Residential College Tun Mustapha, Residential College Tun Fuad and Residential College E. – (fl)

Source: Student Affairs Department