KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and Huawei Technologies Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Huawei Malaysia) have announced the opening of the ICT Academy Lab located at the Faculty of Computing & Informatics, UMS.

The setting up of the lab is part of the efforts to strengthen Malaysia’s digital talent ecosystem which is part of Huawei Malaysia’s efforts to nurture a rich ICT talent pool in line with accelerating Malaysia’s digital transformation goals.

The launching ceremony was held on April 17, with UMS represented by its Vice Chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Hj Mansor, while Huawei Malaysia was represented by Vice-Chancellor of Huawei Asia Pacific Academy and Director of Huawei Malaysia Public Affairs and Communications, Oliver Liu.

Universities are known for students pursuing knowledge and innovation and to achieve this, the right tools and resources to facilitate the learning process are needed.

The ICT Academy Lab is designed to enhance the learning experience of the students which will help to train them in a real-world environment to acquire high level of Huawei certifications.

The lab is also equipped with Huawei’s smart classroom solutions in order to support university in teaching, holding workshops and technical discussions, sharing and exchanges with industry by using hybrid method.

Commenting on the collaboration, Kasim noted that the partnership aligns with UMS’ strategy of supporting the ministry’s policies on integrating Industry 4.0 elements in education.

“With the establishment of the Huawei ICT Academy Lab, UMS has implemented a range of successful programs in various ICT fields, such as telecommunications, Big Data, IoT, Cloud Computing and artificial intelligence.

“As of today, a total of 710 UMS graduates have followed the HCIA (Huawei Certified ICT Associate) Program, and 330 UMS graduates have been recognized as Huawei ICT Associates (HCIA) from the latest ICT fields, including Datacom, AI, Big Data, Cloud Computing, Storage, 5G and Security.

“With this achievement and the management efficiency of the Huawei ICT Academy, UMS has been awarded the ‘Outstanding Achievement Award’ four years in a row (2019-2022),” Kasim said.

Meanwhile, Liu said that Huawei is delighted to be a part of this wonderful effort by UMS to nurture ICT talent.

“I believe this initiative will help students improve their digital skills and become more competitive in this highly dynamic and demanding ICT industry as well as in the job market.

“Huawei aims to showcase and share our leading technology solutions and innovations with students and cultivate world class talent for Malaysia and the region.

“We hope this lab will be one of the main hubs for technology development for students,” he said.

Also present during the event were the Dean of the Faculty of Computing and Informatics, Assoc Prof Ts Dr Mohd Hanafi Ahmad Hijazi, UMS Chief Digital Officer Prof Ag Asri Ag Ibrahim; Director of Huawei Enterprise (East Malaysia), Jason Dengjie; Partner Development Director of Huawei Enterprise Malaysia, John Zhang, and Human Resource Director of Huawei Malaysia, Choh Yau Meng.

The Faculty of Business, Economics and Accountancy (FBEA), Universiti Malaysia Sabah feasted with compassion for this Hari Raya.

The faculty's administration department headed by the Dean, Associate Professor Dr. Mohd. Rahimie Abd. Karim together with the Head of Administration, Jumiati Pajakkai organised a donation drive that lasted for two weeks.

According to Rahimie, this was in line with the faculty's intention to be imperative to feed the needy before festive celebration.

He said, as the festive season approaches, the faculty members once again came together to show their support for the less fortunate.

“The faculty donated a substantial amount of goods to the local orphanage, Rumah Anak Yatim As-Sakinah located at Papar.

“The orphanage, which houses over 33 children, relies heavily on the government as well as the community to provide food, clothing, and shelter to the children,” said Rahimie.

Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of the orphanage, the manager, Ustaz Ahmadie Andan expressed his gratitude and appreciation.

"We would like to thank the Faculty of Business, Economics and Accountancy for their kind and generous donations.

“The children will have a wonderful festive season thanks to the support of the faculty," he said.

The faculty members who donated to the orphanage expressed their satisfaction in giving back to the community, particularly during the festive season when many families are struggling to make ends meet.

One donor said, "It is heart-warming to know that we can contribute to the wellbeing of these children, particularly during a time when many of us enjoy plenty."

The donation to the orphanage is just one of many community services that demonstrate UMS commitment as a whole and the faculty specifically in helping those in need.

UMS Vice Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Dr. Kasim Hj. Mansor has also expressed his appreciation for the donation drive organised by the faculty administration staff stating that such acts of kindness contribute greatly to the community's wellbeing.

“The festive season is a time for family, friends, and giving.

“The donation to the orphanage is a true reflection of the faculty's spirit of generosity, compassion, and kindness towards those less fortunate.

“It is hoped that the faculty's example will inspire others to give back to the community during this time of the year especially after a huge economic hit after the pandemic,” he said.

The 3rd Borneo Quality of Life Conference, themed "Quality of Life Across All Ages," will take place at Universiti Malaysia Sabah from May 23rd-26th, 2023. The conference will also be held partially online, allowing participants from across the globe to join.

The conference will bring together scholars, practitioners, and individuals passionate about quality of life and well-being to discuss ways to improve the quality of life in the region, with a particular focus on human rights. The conference aims to foster a community of scholars, individuals, and groups dedicated to improving the quality of life in the region.

The conference will cover a wide range of topics related to quality of life, including issues such as hunger, food security, sustainable agriculture, noncommunicable diseases, poverty, education, decent work, and economic growth. Discussions will also centre around sustainable living environments, promoting good health and well-being, human capital development, and decent work and economic growth.

With an impressive lineup of speakers including Professor Datuk ChM. Ts. Dr Taufiq Yap Yun Hin, Professor Dilip V. Jeste, and Dr Ravivarma Rao Panirselvam, this conference promises to be an enlightening and thought-provoking event for anyone interested in improving the quality of life and well-being in the region.

The conference also promises a wide range of interesting topics, including a keynote speech by Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival Director, Jude Day titled “Film in Sabah”, a symposium topic of statelessness, education, and quality of life that will feature many expert speakers on the matter, and another symposium entitled “Traditional Ritual Responses To The Covid-19 Pandemic In Sabah” which will have three esteemed speakers that cover the topic. 

This conference is a unique opportunity for scholars, practitioners, and individuals to come together to share their knowledge and experiences, collaborate on innovative solutions, and form a community dedicated to making a positive difference in the world.

Registration for the conference is open now. Don't miss this chance to be part of a community that is committed to improving the quality of life for all ages in the region.

For more information about the conference, please visit the conference website at https://bqolc.ums.edu.my/

Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin and his consort Toh Puan Norlidah R.M. Jasni spent time with the staff and students of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) during a fast breaking ceremony at the UMS Islamic Center on Saturday.

Juhar, who is also UMS Chancellor, together with UMS Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor had witnessed the presentation of zakat donation amounting to RM34,500 by the Sabah Islamic Religious Council (Muis) to UMS during the event.

The donation was presented by Muis senior assistant secretary of the zakat and fitrah division, Saffruddin Manshuruddin, to UMS board of directors chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

Juhar also witnessed the handing over of zakat wakala amounting to RM40,000 from Bank Islam Berhad to UMS, presented by Bank Islam Sabah director Baria Sarudin.

A total of 1,198 students and 24 UMS staff are eligible to receive the zakat distribution, with student zakat assistance for the asnaf group including selfsupport, study and dormitory fees as well as assistance to undergo industrial training.

Attendees at the event also listened to a Ramadan tazkirah session delivered by the State deputy mufti Datuk Abdul Manap Lakaribah before breaking of fast.

Juhar then performed Maghrib, Isyak and Tarawih prayers at the UMS mosque together with about 300 UMS staff and students.