Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) through its International Relations Programme, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSK), hosted a visit by Professor Dr. Omer Kurtbag of Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey, from 25 to 29 August 2025.

FSSK Dean, Professor Dr. Asmady Idris, said the purpose of the visit was to evaluate the International Relations Programme, including its course structure, lecturers, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate offerings, and facilities, with the aim of enhancing the programme’s quality to meet international standards.

“Professor Omer's visit has also opened up opportunities for academic cooperation, including student and faculty exchanges, which will further strengthen UMS’s internationalisation agenda.

“His insights and recommendations are invaluable as the faculty works to improve teaching and research quality,” he said in a statement, here, today.

During a courtesy visit to UMS Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Kasim Mansor, both parties discussed efforts to upgrade the existing Letter of Intent (LoI) to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UMS and Erciyes University.

The session also saw the official launch of Malaysia–Turkiye Relations: Sabah Chapter, marking another milestone in strengthening academic and cultural ties between the two nations.

As part of the programme, Professor Omer met with two second-year students from UMS’s International Relations Programme, who are recipients of the Türkiye Scholarships (TIES) and will participate in a short-term academic exchange programme in Turkey.

He also delivered a lecture titled “The Evolution of Turkish Foreign Policy in the Middle East and Asia: Recalibrating Strategic Depth”, which was well received by both students and lecturers. The lecture provided new perspectives on Turkey’s strategic approach to global politics.

“Graduates from UMS’s International Relations Programme exhibit strong employability, with many securing positions in both the public and private sectors in recent years,” Professor Omer remarked during his closing speech.

Also present at the event were postgraduate students and members of the International Relations Club (HA15) FSSK.

A total of 61 second-year students from the Civil Engineering Programme, Faculty of Engineering (FKJ), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) participated in Survey Camp 2025, which was held recently at the Hutan Lipur Kawang Nature Centre, Papar, Sabah.

The camp, led by FKJ lecturer Sr. Ts. Br. Dr. Asmawan Mohd Sarman, was primarily aimed at bridging classroom theory with real world field practices.

According to Dr. Asmawan, the camp was designed to provide students with a clear understanding and practical exposure to land surveying techniques using modern equipment such as total stations and levelling instruments.

He said it also emphasized essential soft skills such as teamwork, communication, leadership, and problem solving under challenging conditions.

“Surveying is the foundation of all civil engineering projects. This camp not only hones technical skills but also builds the physical and mental resilience needed to face real world challenges,” he said.

Throughout the camp, participants engaged in various tasks such as open and closed traverse, levelling, tacheometry, and contour mapping.

“These activities required accuracy in data collection, precise calculations, and strong collaboration among team members.

“Each student was given the opportunity to operate the equipment, record readings, and verify survey results.

“Beyond technical aspects, the camp also taught students time management, logistical planning, and decision-making under pressure skills that are essential for their future careers,” he said.

Hutan Lipur Kawang was chosen as the venue due to its challenging natural terrain, which tested the students’ ability to adapt to real world conditions.

Camp Director Azrin Azahari shared that apart from strengthening technical skills, the camp fostered closer bonds among students and tested their ability to adapt and work effectively as a team.

“This program not only enhanced students’ knowledge of civil engineering but also nurtured teamwork and resilience.

“FKJ hopes that similar programs will continue to be organized to produce graduates who are not only technically competent but also equipped with soft skills and resilience to excel in the dynamic field of civil engineering,” he said.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), through law lecturer from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Marja Azlima Omar, has outlined the importance of two key legal principles, ‘in loco parentis’ and strict liability, which can be applied in addressing school bullying cases.

The principle of ‘in loco parentis’, derived from Latin meaning “in the place of a parent”, places a legal duty on teachers and schools to act in the best interests of students, particularly in matters of safety and supervision.

“Over the years, numerous court cases have reinforced this principle. In the context of school bullying, this duty involves ensuring a safe environment and taking proactive measures to prevent harm, injury, or tragedy,” Marja explained.

According to her, under the law of tort, a breach of the duty of care amounts to negligence. However, for cases where bullying is recurrent or known to occur frequently in certain schools, the concept of strict liability may also be considered.

Strict liability holds a party responsible for harm without the need to prove negligence or fault. In the education context, this means that if bullying is proven to be widespread, the school can be held liable even if reasonable preventive measures were taken.

“In simple terms, once bullying is proven to have occurred within the school environment, the law can place responsibility on the institution. This shifts the focus from solely blaming the perpetrator to also evaluating the protection systems and safety measures in place,” she added.

Marja further stressed that this approach is consistent with Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which Malaysia has ratified.

“This article obliges governments to take legislative, administrative, social, and educational measures to protect children from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury, abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

“This international commitment further strengthens the obligation of schools to act proactively in ensuring the safety of children under their care,” she said.

She emphasised that the intention of this explanation is not to accuse or blame any particular school, but to raise public awareness of the existing legal and rights-based frameworks in place to protect students.

“Bullying should never be tolerated or accepted as tradition. When the law recognises the duty of care, concepts such as strict liability, and obligations under Article 19, it equips society with the means to ensure that schools remain safe spaces for all students,” she concluded.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), through its Faculty of Computing and Informatics (FKI), has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Kota Kinabalu High School (KKHS) recently to establish a strategic partnership focused on advancing digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) education and promoting Sustainability Technology.

The signing ceremony, held at the FKI UMS recently marks the beginning of a collaborative journey toward developing a formal Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), which aims to solidify a long-term partnership in academic training, research, and community development with a shared vision of nurturing digital talent and driving sustainable innovation.

The LoI was formally signed by the Dean of FKI, Associate Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Hanafi Ahmad Hijazi and Chairman of the KKHS Board of Governors, Datuk Ben Lim Kiat Kong.

Through partnership, both UMS and KKHS will focus on five strategic areas of collaboration aimed at equipping educators and students with future-ready skills and values.

The first area is AI Education and Training, where UMS will conduct a series of digital and AI-related workshops, courses, and training sessions for both KKHS teachers and students, covering the foundational knowledge in AI, machine learning, and data science.

In addition, the partnership will advance Research and Development (R&D) Projects by initiating joint research activities that involve educators and students from both institutions, where the initiatives will explore real-world applications of AI across a diverse range of sectors, including education, tourism, agriculture, healthcare, sports, and environmental conservation.

AI Competitions and Hackathons also will be jointly organized by both institution to encourage creativity, teamwork, and innovation, with the hope that through engaging digital and AI-based challenges, students will develop practical problem-solving skills in a dynamic and collaborative environment.

The fourth strategic area will be touching on the effort to champion AI for Community Development, with digital and AI-driven projects designed to enhance local communities, where the initiatives will focus on areas such as smart cities, environmental monitoring, and improvements to public services including education, tourism, agriculture, healthcare, and transportation.

Lastly, the partnership will promote AI Awareness and Ethics to emphasize ethical innovation and explore AI’s societal impacts by hosting seminars and discussions that highlight the responsible use of artificial intelligence which will be led by UMS experts.

Meanwhile, Ben Lim in his speech during the event, underscored the vital need to future-proof education in an age defined by rapid technological advancement and global challenges.

“This collaboration is a forward-thinking initiative that equips our teachers and students with critical digital skills and a mindset of innovation and responsibility.

“The education must evolve to meet the demands of the 21st century, where AI, automation, and digital transformation are reshaping every industry and aspect of society.

“Traditional classroom models must be complemented with cutting-edge digital learning, hands-on experience, and ethical awareness to cultivate adaptable, tech-savvy individuals who are prepared for tomorrow’s opportunities and challenges,” he said.

Mohd. Hanafi in his closing statement also conveyed his strong confidence that the collaboration between UMS and KKHS is not merely an academic agreement, but a strategic investment in the future of education and society.

“This partnership reflects our shared vision of preparing the next generation for a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

“By investing in AI education and ethical innovation at the secondary school level, we are not only shaping future scientists and engineers, but also responsible global citizens.”

“Aligns with Malaysia’s broader ambition to become a regional leader in AI and digital transformation, early exposure to AI concepts, hands-on learning, and ethical frameworks will empower students to navigate and contribute meaningfully to a world increasingly driven by intelligent systems and data-centric decision-making,” he said.

Mohd. Hanafi also expressed his optimism that the partnership would serve as a model for future collaborations between universities and secondary schools, fostering a culture of lifelong learning, interdisciplinary research, and community-driven impact.

Also attending the event Vice Chairman of the KKHS Board of Governors, Tan Sri Datuk Lim Pau Chang and Adviser Datuk Hiew Thien Choi.