Universiti Malaysia Sabah has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Changgih Designs, a Sabah-based social enterprise. 

The Dean of the Faculty of Business, Economics and Accountancy (FBEA), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd. Rahimie Abd. Karim signed on behalf of UMS, and Director; Allen Dawson signed on behalf of Changgih Designs.  

The signing ceremony was witnessed by the co-founder of Changgih Designs, Bethany Dawson, Director of Borneo Tourism Research Centre (BTRC) UMS, Dr. Balvinder K. Kler, and Director, Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation UMS, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fiffy Hasnidah Saikim.

Dr. Mohd. Rahimie was pleased to note that various collaborations between the two parties have continued since June last year, including training sessions for the artisans.  

He said such collaborations fit well into the newly coined UMS slogan, “Leading Towards Innovative Societies.”  

“UMS was pleased to be associated with a social enterprise that advances women to support their families and develop them as leaders in their community. 

“As the anchor university in Sabah, UMS aims not only to produce graduates but has a responsibility to provide guidance and innovative solutions which uplift local communities.  

“FBEA was one of the early faculties established from the onset in 1995 and offers a range of programs including accountancy, entrepreneurship, economic planning and development, finance and banking, monetary economics, hospitality management, international business, marketing, labour economics, and tourism management.

“Academic staff not only teach but also conduct research which aims to contribute to wider goals for nation building,” he said while delivering his speech at the event.   

Meanwhile, Dr. Balvinder, in her welcome remarks, shared the story of how she discovered Changgih Designs in June 2020 during the lockdowns in her search for apparel that could uplift the senses. 

“I came across their website selling bright, colorful, reusable face masks, overthrows, and infinity scarves with Sabah-based motifs – and purchased a few items online, including a bright orange overthrow. 

“In April 2022, I met Bethany for the first time and was fascinated by the story of this social enterprise which supports women artisans who sew and one of the key activities of tourists on holiday – shopping for souvenirs,” she said.

Having grown up in a house with a Singer sewing machine and a mother who sewed, Balvinder was moved to offer assistance.  

“In line with BTRC’s vision to ensure destination communities benefit from tourism knowledge, plans were put into motion culminating with today’s signing ceremony. 

“A 3-minute video montage documenting the various activities also play during this ceremony,” she added.

Changgih Director, Allen, thanked UMS and said he looked forward to this collaboration. 

Bethany shared that their team and the growing success of Changgih could not have been possible without the loyal support of their staff and artisans, who are like family. 

She also thanked BTRC for their support which provided much-needed motivation to carry on post-pandemic. The Dawsons are an American couple based in Sabah.

Through this LoI, the multidisciplinary team of lecturers at the faculty will collaborate to provide business knowledge transfer and advice on social entrepreneurship, as well as engagement through seminars and training for the artisans. UMS students will have the opportunity for internships.  

For the records, Changgih Designs was co-founded by Bethany and a friend in 2015.  It has grown into a reputable social enterprise in Sabah with over 30 artisans and five full-time staff. 

Their culturally inspired collections of handbags, wallets, accessories, scarves, and clothing are made by local artisans. 

Besides the local market, Changgih Designs targets its products as souvenirs for tourists visiting Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. 

Also present during the LoI signing ceremony were the management officers of FBEA and several members of the Changgih Design team.

University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is collaborating with the Engineering Department of Cambridge University, London in the field of material engineering and nanomaterials.

The collaboration was established through a visit led by the UMS Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Prof Ir Dr Rosalam Sarbatly to Cambridge University on Wednesday.

The UMS delegation was welcomed by Cambridge University's Professor of Material Engineering, Prof Dr Vikram Deshpande.

According to Dr Rosalam, the discussion is aimed at the exchange of expertise between the two universities in line with the UMS' plan to develop a nano research center in the next three years.

"Professor Dr Vikram himself is excited to receive the invitation to contribute his expertise to UMS through this center.

"UMS will not only focus on research in the field of nano engineering, but this center will be a platform for the study of nano materials related to applications in the field of environment, medicine and agriculture," he said after a meeting held at Trumptington St.

During the visit, Dr Rosalam and Dr Vikram also shared the latest research that emphasised the production of advanced materials.

Dr Rosalam, who is also a chemical engineer, shared about the production of nanofibre materials that are used to produce advanced membranes for air and water filtration and wound healing.

"Among the techniques used to produce this advanced material on a large scale includes melt-blown by embedding functional materials to produce advanced material products with certain properties," he said.

ISTANBUL, TURKIYE – Hospital Universiti Malaysia Sabah (HUMS) created history when it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with HiSAR Hospital Intercontinental Istanbul Turkiye which concentrated the energy of HUMS professionals as well as research and innovation in the field of health.

The ceremony which took place here on Monday (8 May 2023) saw Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) represented by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Dr. Kasim Hj. Mansor and Registrar, Luqman Ridha Anwar; while HiSAR was represented by the General Manager, Emir Kavak and the Chief Physician who was also a member of the Executive Board of Hisar Hospital, Associate Prof. Dr. Hilmi Aksoy.

The ceremony was also witnessed by the Sabah Governor cum UMS Chancellor, Tun Dr. Haji Juhar Datuk Haji Mahiruddin and his wife, Datuk Seri Pangima Hajah Norlidah Tan Sri R.M Jasni.

According to Dr. Kasim, the MoU cooperation will be effective for three years.

“It is one of UMS’ attempts to strengthen the professional expertise of HUMS medical experts.

“This is to ensure that HUMS can deliver services at a first-class and international level,” he said.

He stated that the MoU’s provisions include, among other things, the requirement that HUMS experts participate in a mobility programme at the HiSAR Hospital and that the two hospitals collaborate on medical research projects.

“HUMS and HiSAR will hold other collaborations that are deemed appropriate from time to time according to mutual agreement by both parties,” explained Dr. Kasim.

Also present were the Consul General of Malaysia in Istanbul, Tengku Mohd Dzaraif Raja Abdul Kadir, and UMS Board Member, Samasuddin Hj. Yusof.

THE HAGUE, NETHERLAND - A delegation from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Kasim Hj. Mansor held bilateral talks with the Malaysian Ambassador to the Netherlands, PYT Datuk Nadzirah Osman, at the Malaysian Embassy in The Hague, recently.

The discussion focused on the strategic partnership between UMS and higher education institutions in the country in the fields of water resource management, smart agriculture, oil and gas and commercialization of products through synergistic cooperation between universities, government and industry.

According to Kasim, among the universities in the Netherlands that have been identified as potential strategic partners of UMS include IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Leiden University and Delft University of Technology.

He said that the universities have strengths and advantages that can be a source of reference to UMS in their respective fields of expertise.

"IHE Delft Institute for Water Education has expertise in water resources management, Leiden University in smart agriculture research and biotechnology, and Delft University of Technology has produced various commercialization of products as a result of the research of their students and lecturers.

"Previously, UMS has had a relationship with the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education as early as 2012 and this university is actively conducting joint research with Leiden University to produce a grouper fish vaccine for food security purposes.

"We also hope that cooperation will be forged with Delft University of Technology since UMS has a strategic plan to develop its own commercialization hub to help university students commercialize products resulting from research and innovation," he said.

At the discussion, Nadzirah also shared about the role of universities in the Netherlands that contribute towards the successful commercialization of products through funds and facilities provided by the industry.

It is seen as an effort to increase the competitive level as well as guarantee the sustainability of a product published by the university for the companies involved.

The bilateral discussion was also attended by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation) of UMS, Professor Ir. Dr. Rosalam Hj. Sarbatly and the Head of the Chancellery of the Malaysian Embassy to the Netherlands, Dr. Mohd. Norhisyam Mohd Yusof.