Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is set to lead the Sabah Higher Education Nexus (SHEN), a consortium that promotes strategic partnerships between higher education institutions in Sabah, the government, industry, and the community.

According to Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Ts. Mustapha Sakmud, UMS is seen as the ideal institution to spearhead this initiative.

“SHEN will drive collaborative development among all participating institutions, enhance institutional resilience, and contribute to an innovative and competitive higher education ecosystem.

“The Nexus approach fosters synergy between various sectors and higher education institutions with different focus areas.

“This means smaller or emerging institutions will benefit from this approach through resource-sharing initiatives, expertise from more established institutions, interdisciplinary collaboration, and broader research grant opportunities.

“SHEN is a management innovation that adds value to all involved institutions, enhancing visibility and credibility, economic and community development, and curriculum innovation,” he said.

He made these remarks at the inauguration of the Leadership Forum Embracing Change: Leadership Strategies for Continuous Innovation, organized by UMS and the Malaysian Higher Education Leadership Academy (AKEPT) recently.

Mustapha added that several strategies could help realize this initiative, including ensuring a clear vision for the direction of innovation, practicing flexible and adaptive leadership, and engaging stakeholders.

He noted that empowering academics and administrators to innovate, promoting lifelong learning, and fostering a culture of collaboration were also essential steps.

“Ultimately, innovation plays a crucial role in a dynamic environment where change must be managed effectively.

“In other industries, organizational collaboration has proven to enhance competitiveness and resilience, and the same approach can be applied by educational institutions through shared goals and a commitment to mutual growth, ensuring sustainability and excellence in higher education for Sabah and Malaysia,” said Mustapha.

The Sabah Higher Education Nexus (SHEN) program recorded 94 participants from 10 organizations.

Also present were AKEPT Director Professor Dr. Harshita Aini Haroon, UMS Registrar Luqman Ridha Anwar, and Dean of the Faculty of Psychology and Social Work, UMS, Prof. Dr. Mohd Dahlan Haji Abdul Malek.

The Natural Disaster Research Centre (NDRC) of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) reaffirmed its commitment to disaster preparedness by participating in a Table Top Exercise (TTX) and Field Training Exercise (FTX) recently held in Kundasang.

The training focused on landslide disaster management in Sabah and involved collaboration with various government agencies.

According to NDRC Director, Assoc. Prof. Ts. Gs. Dr. Carolyn M. Payus, the event consisted of two main parts: a TTX session discussing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of each agency, followed by an FTX session with full-scale simulations of command structure, operations, and search and rescue (SAR) activities by the involved agencies.

“Simulations like these are crucial as they serve as a platform to strengthen inter-agency operability and cooperation.

“This exercise will enhance mutual understanding and facilitate coordinated action among rescue teams, especially in critical situations like landslides in Sabah,” said Carolyn, who also participated in the training sessions.

Carolyn added that the training, which included 70 participants from various agencies, provided an opportunity for knowledge-sharing and allowed participants to improve their knowledge, experience, and expertise.

“This year, the Ranau district was selected as the operational site due to its vulnerability to disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, and floods.

“Thus, training like this is essential to boost the preparedness of agencies and volunteers in disaster management and to strengthen existing SOPs,” she added.

This integrated training was the result of a strategic collaboration between the Internal Affairs and Research Office, Chief Minister’s Department of Sabah, and the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA).

The main agencies involved included the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Ranau District Office, Civil Defence Force (APM), Sabah Fire and Rescue Department, Sabah State Health Department, Sabah Parks, and the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM).

Other technical and support agencies that participated in the exercise included the Sabah State Education Department, Sabah Information Department, Department of Mineral and Geoscience Malaysia, Malaysian Meteorological Department, Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia, RELA, Sabah State Welfare Services Department, Sabah State Water Department, Sabah Electricity Sdn. Bhd., and Sapura Secured Technologies.

Writing and publishing in high-indexed journals is essential for academicians, enhancing their visibility and credibility in the scientific community.

However, many academics and researchers face challenges such as high workloads, increasing responsibilities, and a lack of mentorship, making the journey to publication particularly daunting.

Young lecturers, in particular, may find it challenging to craft compelling manuscripts that meet the standards of Q1 and Q2 journals.

The competitive nature of securing research grants further complicates this landscape. Nevertheless, publishing in high-indexed journals contributes to university performance indicators (KPIs) and boosts global research visibility.

To support academics and researchers in overcoming these challenges, Persatuan Himpunan Ilmuan Universiti Malaysia Sabah (HiUMS) has organised a three-day workshop focused on Publishing in Hi-Impact Q1 and Q2 Journals.

Lead by Prof. Emeritus Dr. Lorna Uden from the University of Staffordshire, United Kingdom the event taking place from 19-21 October at the Sabah International Convention Centre in Kota Kinabalu brought together academics, lecturers and PhD candidates from both public universities, such as UMS and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), as well as participants from private institutions like Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU) and the Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL).

With an impressive publication record, Prof. Lorna has been recognised as one of the Top Scholars by ScholarGPS in 2024. She ranks among the top 0.5% of scholars worldwide due to her notable contributions.

Chairman of the workshop, Associate Professor Dr. Fauziah Sulaiman said the event aims to empower researchers with the skills and knowledge needed for successful publication in high-impact journals.

“Throughout the event, participants received comprehensive training on effective research methodologies and proposal writing in a supportive, mentoring environment.

“Under Prof. Lorna's guidance, participants engaged in detailed consultations that enhanced their understanding of research interests. She provided invaluable motivation and scaffolding, helping participants navigate the intricacies of article writing.

“Prof. Lorna emphasised the importance of linking any successful articles to the theoretical foundations relevant to the data obtained from their research,” she said.

Fauziah said the workshop's primary goal was to equip participants with clear strategies and insights for constructing high-quality papers well-suited for publication in reputable, high-index journals.

“Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vino from APU shared that the workshop fostered an energetic atmosphere, encouraging participants to generate ideas and draft papers effectively.

“Kamsia Budin from the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) emphasised the vibrant, hands-on experience of the in-person workshop, which offers unique benefits that online formats can't replicate. “Meanwhile Dr. Surya Sumarni from UiTM emphasised the importance of extending such activities to provide more opportunities for young lecturers to develop their writing skills. Such activities are invaluable for researchers and lecturers, as they enhance writing skills and increase the chances of publication in high-impact journals,” she added.

As a result of the workshop, participants are now actively engaged in developing quality papers, with optimism for successful publication in high-indexed journals in the near future.

The Centre for Postgraduate Studies, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has organized the Inaugural Borneo International Postgraduate Symposium (BIPS @ UMS 2024) with the theme “Contemporary Research: Valuing Inclusive and Sustainable Studies towards building Innovative Societies”.

Vice Chancellor of UMS, Professor Datuk Dr. Kasim Hj. Mansor stated that the objective of BIPS @ UMS 2024 is in line with the first, third and fifth lenses of the university.

“The first lens focuses on talent preparation, the third lens aimed at knowledge transfer and sharing while the fifth lens focuses on an enabling ecosystem by the university.

He said with the theme, the contemporary research must prioritize inclusive and sustainable research approaches, crucial in addressing societal challenges.

“This is also in-line with the hala tuju Sabah Maju Jaya, which emphasizes on Inclusive, Fair, Prosperous and Thriving as a way forward for our beloved state.

“The wealth of knowledge and expertise assembled here today is truly remarkable, and I have no doubt that over the course of the next two days, we will witness inspiring presentations, thought-provoking discussions and fruitful networking opportunities,” he said during his speech, represented by Dean of Centre for Postgraduate Studies, UMS, Professor Dr. Rossita Shapawi.

Kasim also stated that the postgraduate students and participants should take full advantage of the diverse array of presentations, workshops and panel discussions lined up.

He also expressed his gratitude for the hard work of the UMS Centre for Postgraduate Studies, strategic partners and sponsor namely Sabah Convention Bureau, Invest Sabah and Sabah Tourism Board, who have worked behind the scenes to ensure the success of the event.

A total of 60 participants, both physical and online, not only local postgraduate students but also international participants namely China, Indonesia and Bangladesh.