The talk held for the first time started off with an introduction by the Director of the Office for International Affairs (PHEA), Molly Donna Awang Sham.

The programme continued with a lecture by Tun Zaki who commented on the academic achievements of the students.

He announced that three international students would receive awards for academic excellence at the forthcoming convocation ceremony this November.

One of them is a student from South Korea who will receive the award after achieving a total of 3.97 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).

Two other students would received the Dean’s Award.

Meanwhile, Tun Zaki also talked on other issues related to language problems, social and student activities.

He also urged UMS to help students strengthen their grasp in the English language by creating programmes such as public speaking, introduce more group activities and Homestay Programme.

He made a suggestion to the international students that they need to learn and ultimately master the Malay language.

Also present were Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), Professor Dr. D Kamarudin D Mudin; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Associate Professor Dr. Ismail Ali; Dean of the Centre for Postgraduate Studies, Professor Datin Dr. Marian Abdul Latip; Dean for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language, Professor Dr. Vincent Pang; UMS Investment representative, Ramlan Awang Ali and Academic Services Division representative, Gahzali Nurilah.

For the record, students who attended the programme were from the People’s Republic of China, Brunei, Indonesia, Maldives, Fiji, Timor Leste, Tanzania, Oman, Zanzibar, Iraq, Vietnam and Cambodia.  – SS (fl)

Source: Mohd Khairuddin Ahmad, PHEA

By Feria Lee

TUESDAY, 20 OCTOBER – Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) through its Ethnography and Development  Research Unit (UPEP), Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Heritage (FKSW) in collaboration with the Northern Corridor Research Centre (NCRC) of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Kedah recently held the 3^rd Social Impact Assessment (SIA) Workshop at the Gallery, UMS.

The main objective of the workshop was to provide awareness on the current insight on SIA practices especially at Project Level said the Co-Chair of this 3^rd SIA Workshop, Dr. Gaim James Lunkapis in his speech.

“There has been an increasing awareness that in most or if not all project developments, there are human elements involved and that we need to take care of the social impact of every project,” he added.

Earlier, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation, Professor Dr. Shahril Yusof who officated at the opening on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Mohd Harun Abdullah in his speech said that assessment must be done in every aspect of development, citing the example of UMS and its road leading to its hospital that is still under construction.

“We need to build a dual-carriageway going to UMS Hospital to cater to the foreseeable traffic,” he said.

The one and a half day workshop also featured talks by experts such as Dr. Paul Porodong, Dr. Dayang Suria Hj Mulia, Dr. Ubong Imang and the Chairman himself who touched on ‘SIA as Stand Alone Report: Issues and Challenges’; ‘Social Impact Assessment of Project Development: Background and Criteria for Project Requiring SIA’ by Associate Professor Dr. Sharifah Norazizan Syed Abd. Rahman of UUM; ‘Participatory Activity on Output and Outcome Evaluation – Grouping’ by Mohd Khidir Majid and ‘Social Studies in EIA Systems in Sabah’ by Daisy Aloysius.

Also present at the opening ceremony were the Dean of FKSW, Professor Dato’ Hamdan Hj. Adnan; Head of UPEP, Associate Professor Dr. Rosazman Hussein; and Director of the Northern Corridor Research Centre (NCRC) cum  Co-Chair of the workshop, Associate Professor Dr. Rohana Yusof.

TUESDAY, 20 OCTOBER – Faculty of Psychology and Education (FPP) Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) in collaboration with Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Mat Salleh Ranau held a Rural School Community Programme recently.

According to the programme Supervisor, Dr. Siew Nyet Moi @ Sopiah Abdullah, the programme which aimed to strengthen the understanding of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects was attended by 48 Form Four Pure Science students of the school.

“It was also aimed at encouraging critical thinking, problem-solving ability, creativity and innovation as well as communication and cooperation between members of the group activities,” she told media.

It was clear that the involvement of students in each activity carried out was seen to be very encouraging, at the same time discover their creativity wholly especially in terms of problem-solving.

“The students also showed great team spirit and sharing of ideas to produce the best designs in three challenges given namely Water Tank, Paper Bridge and Earthquake Survival activities,” Dr. Siew further added.

The two-day programme was managed wholly by UMS postgraduate students for the Masters in Education Management. – ZMD (fl)

Source: Faculty of Psychology and Education

By Salbinous Saribun

The programme, which started this month is part of the entry requirements for undergraduate and graduate courses at the university.

“This annual programme was launched in 2006 for Professional Development (UCPD),” said the Chairman of UMS Investment Holdings Sdn Bhd, Datuk Ag. Buhtamam Ag. Mahmun in his speech to Batch 27 of IEPP students, yesterday.

Datuk Ag. Buhtamam who is a member of the Board of Directors UMS said, to date a total of 1,284 international students successfully completed this intensive English language preparatory programme.

“Most of them are from China but we also have students from other countries such as Turkey, Indonesia, Korea, Japan and Cambodia,” he said.

He also reminded the new students undertaking the programme to study hard and pass the required course to be eligible for the bachelor programme or master’s degree at the university.

Also present was the Dean of the Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language Learning, Professor Dr. Vincent Pang who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Mohd Harun Abdullah. – (fl)