THURSDAY, 14 JANUARY – Ten students from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) completed the UMS-UUM Mobility Programme yesterday.

The students comprised of five students from UUM stayed at UMS Campus for one semester, whilst five students from the Faculty of Psychology and Education UMS were at UUM Campus, Kedah since last September.

The students were feted at a ceremony held at the Seminar Room of the Faculty of Psychology and Education, which was also attended by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Associate Professor Dr. Ismail Ali.

In his speech, Dr. Ismail praised the efforts and cooperation of the two universities to ensure that both parties benefited through this mobility programme.

He further said, the programme would not only strengthen the academic field of both universities, but also provide opportunity to the participants to acquire knowledge that was not based purely on academic.

“Those students who were involved indirectly became an ambassador of the university, allowing them to promote the uniqueness of the university and its culture throughout the programme.

“As such, this programme should be continued in future  thus supporting the intention of the Ministry of Higher Education to produce holistic graduates as emphasised in the 10^th Shift of the Malaysia Education Development Plan (Higher Education),” he added. – (fl)

TUESDAY, 12 JANUARY – Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) representative emerged 2^nd runner-up in the Women Category at the Inter-Malaysian Universities Folk Song Festival (MAKUM), recently.

Puteri Norain Faradina Nordin, a third year student of the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Heritage (FKSW) UMS took the third spot through her rendition of the song Laksamana Mati Dibunuh and Sireh Pinang.

She received RM500 cash, a trophy and certificate.

The winner was a representative from University Malaya (UM) bringing home cash prize of RM1,500 whilst representative from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) was announced the 1^st runner-up and received cash prize of RM1,000.

They both received a trophy and certificate.

As for the Men Category, again UM emerged the winner followed by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) as the runner-up and UiTM third.

The same prize was also offered for the Women Category.

The festival, held at the Experimental Theatre UPM was also participated by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT). – ZMD (fl)

Source: Norhana Nordin

MONDAY, 11 JANUARY – Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni) of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Associate Professor Dr. Ismail Ali wanted the Students Welfare Committee (JAKMAS) to go down to ground level and help university students.  He said, this was because JAKMAS was formed  to be the link between  university and students, in facing their life everyday at the campus.

At the same time, he urged JAKMAS to always be at the forefront when the university faces challenges especially those that occur at he residential colleges.

“JAKMAS is the link between the university management and students.  They must be at the forefront when students face a particular problem at the dorm,” he said.

He was speaking at the presentation of the Student Welfare Committee of Labuan International Campus (KAL) Academic Session 2015/2016 at Bilik Seri Menanti, UMSKAL Tower Building, recently.

At the event, Dr. Ismail who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Mohd. Harun Abdullah presented appointment letters to 20 JAKMAS representatives, nine from Beta Residential College and 11 from Alpha and Mutiara Residential College.

Also present were Deputy Director of UMS Labuan, Associate Professor Dr. Geoffrey Harvey Tanakinjal representing the Campus Director, Associate Professor Dr. Murnizam Haji Halik and Head of Student Affairs Department, Azmi Jumat. – SS (fl)

Source: Azri Onn

MONDAY, 11 JANUARY – Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) will continue in its efforts to strengthen the agricultural sector for the benefit of the local community and state.

Vice-Chancellor of UMS, Professor Datuk Dr. Mohd. Harun Abdullah in his latest entry on his Facebook page stated that agriculture will be one of the thrust areas that would be strengthened at UMS.

According to him, strengthening agriculture would encourage more young locals to get involved in agriculture as agricultural entrepreneurs who not only can have a lucrative income but that could provide more job opportunities to the community.

“We hope this effort would be a catalyst to the country towards producing adequate food resources and could be exported to other countries to increase national income,” he said.

His statement was uploaded after his official visit to UMS land at Apin-apin, Keningau and dairy farm, recently.

Commenting on the visit, he was attracted by the concept of ‘Zero Discharge’ applied at the Dairy Farm owned by Datuk Yap Yun Fook.

“InsyaAllah, UMS will work with Datuk Yap in the near future to realise the concept of EcoFarm at the Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture in Sandakan, thus intensifying cooperation between industry and the university,” he concluded.- (fl)

Source: Official Facebook page of the Vice-Chancellor
Pictures: Ernest Berinus