MONDAY, 17 AUGUST - Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) held a registration and introduction session for new students of UMS in-house English language program, Progressive English Program (PEP).

According to UMS Vice Chancellor, Prof. Datuk ChM. Dr. Taufiq Yap Yun Hin, this is the sixth cohort and it will be conduct fully online for the first time, with a total of 24 students from China have attended and registered, and the duration of the program is for twenty one weeks.

“This PEP Program registration is the second program receiving their new batch of international students after UMS Foundation for Science and Technology which had their registration from the 3rd to 7th of this month.

“This is the 6th group since the PEP program was launched at UMS in August 2018.

“However, this program has gone through many improvements and evolutions over the year, with the first English language program was named the Intensive English Language Program (IELP) started in 2004 which conducted by the Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language Learning.

“Then it is changed to the International Students' Foundation Program (ISFP) and has now been substantially improved and named the Progressive English Program (PEP),” he said.

Datuk Dr. Taufiq Yap added that, the emergence of the Covid-19 Pandemic which causes almost worldwide blockade of movement did not limit UMS from continuing the recruitment of international students by pursuing online studies and virtual learning platforms.

“Various adaptations of technology and applications have been made in promoting a more interactive and effective virtual academic learning platforms as the “new normal”.

“Although Remote Online Teaching and Learning may seem new to us all, UMS believes the younger generation are arguably digital natives, whom are able to easily adapt to such a digital transformation, with minimal hassle,” Datuk Dr. Taufiq Yap said.

He also noted that this sixth group of PEP program will be held virtually in terms of lectures, tutorials and final exams.

“After completing this program, students who pass any of the accepted language proficiency certificates will continue their studies at the undergraduate or postgraduate level at UMS.

“The university is also currently planning to introduce this program to other foreign countries in the future, since this programme right now focusing on recruitment from China student,” he said.

Besides the introductory session with Datuk Dr. Taufiq Yap, the 24 student involved also having the discussion and registration session with Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic and International), Prof. Dr. Rasid Mail; Director of the Centre for Internationalisation and Global Engagement (PPPG), Prof. Dr. Ho Chong Mun; PPIB Dean, Associate Professor Dr. Lai Yew Meng; and several lecturer.

FRIDAY, 14 AUGUST - Kampus Kita FM Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) with frequency of 91.1 FM, under the slot ‘Bersama Pakar Perubatan’ has brought in for the first time a medical student during the knowledge sharing session.

Hosted by Arnawih Ginsing, the radio show invited Shivendra A/L Ravi, a medical student from Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), to shared his medical knowledge and perspective as a university student with a topic entitled ‘Ayuh Kawan-kawan, Mari Kita Tangani Stress sebagai Pelajar Universiti. 

According to Shivendra, the stress among students is unique and not the same from one student to another.

For example, he said someone who lives nearby will suffer less financial constraint compared to those who reside further.

“A student with an 'extrovert' personality is likely to fair better socially in contrast to an 'introvert' person.

“It is important to cope stress efficiently to ensure healthy mental state,’ informed Shivendra.

He also mentioned that two major ways that students could adopt in managing their stress are to invest time in passionate hobbies and lead a healthy lifestyle.

‘Diverting yourself away from the stress by doing activities that you love not only helps to get yourself away from the stress, but allows ample time for your body, mind and soul to rest and calm.

A well-rested physical and psychological states permit oneself to be focused and re-organise works, hence we are more disciplined and effective,’ added Shivendra.

He urged his peer colleagues to stay active, eat healthily and maintain sufficient quality sleep.

‘Serotonin, an emotional-controlled hormone is heavily influenced by the physical exercise, balanced diet and the amount of sleep, while disturbing these would affect this hormone production.

It is also important to maintain good relationship with friends and peers, as they are your trusted persons for you to express your concerns and fears,” Shivendra said.

He added that performing these coping mechanism are made feasible if oneself emphasises on time management.

‘I believe that one of the most basic skills that a student has to acquire is time management.

It is one of the most efficient techniques to remediate and reduce the level of stress,’ Shivendra said at the end of the talk.

This bold initiative was initiated through a collaborative effort by Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Heritage and the Department of Medical Education, FMHS.

Meanwhile, the Head of Department of Medical Education, FMHS, Dr. Fatimah Ahmedy explain that this bold initiative was initiated since 2018 through a collaborative effort by Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Heritage and the Department of Medical Education, FMHS.

 ‘This is a great platform for UMS to showcase our quality medical students, which aligned with the university vision, these medical students are moulded to be the next generation of doctors for the society.

“Hence training them as the peer health coaches under direct mentoring by the faculty would enhance their confidence towards that objective,’ said Dr Fatimah.

The radio programme producer, Norhazimah Radik also agreed that such approach allows positive promotion to the university and the radio show.

We believe this would garner more listeners especially from the younger generations as they feel more related while appreciate the expertise and knowledge shared in the radio talk,” Norhazimah concluded.

WEDNESDAY, 11 MAC - UMS Team bagged the 1st Runner Up at the Huawei ICT Competition Malaysia Final 2019-2020 in Kuala Lumpur, recently (5 Mac 2020).

Top Three winners Liew Chun Khai, Lim Tze Min and Zachary Benjamin Goh Yu Liang from the preliminary state of Huawei ICT Competition that held on 12 -13 December 2019 were selected to follow the Malaysia Final preparation Training that led by a senior lecturer from UMS Faculty of Computing and Informatics, Dr Tan Soo Fun. 

According to Dr Tan Soo Fun, the final leg of the Malaysia Final journey brought seven team finalists to Kuala Lumpur, who included 21 students from the seven universities, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Universiti Malaya (UMS), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Taylor's University and Universiti Tun Abdul Razak (UNITAR). 

“The competition, launched in November last year, aimed to nurture local ICT talents and develop the next generation of ICT leaders in Malaysia. 

“It aims also to promote the national ICT competitiveness, innovation and creativity, a staple to build a knowledge-based economy,” she said in a statement here, today. 

Dr Tan Soo Fun said UMS also received the Outstanding Achievement Award of Huawei ICT Academy Malaysia, which was presented by the Vice President of Huawei Malaysia, Mr David Li.

“This award is to recognise UMS outstanding performance in ICT talents development. 

"The award was received by the Dean of UMS Faculty of Computing and Informatics, Prof Dr Abdullah Gani,” she said.

WEDNESDAY, 18 DECEMBER - A group of 85 Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) students of the Public Speaking Class under the Centre for Co-Curriculum and Student Development (PKPP) visited ‘Sekolah Dalam Hospital’ (SDH), Hospital Wanita dan Kanak-kanak Sabah (HWKKS), Likas recently as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility Programme under UMS Siswa-Siswi Prihatin (UMS-SPRINT).

Consisting mainly Year One students who were undertaking their co-curriculum subject this semester; the undergrads learned to draft Working Papers and performed related tasks leading to the programme.  They donated textbooks and workbooks for primary and secondary students besides decorating the classroom, wrapping of text books, making and gifting of handmade keychains and fruits with motivational quotes attached for children at the paediatric ward of the hospital.

The visit started with a briefing and a Question and Answer session by Asfar Abdul Hamid, the first teacher posted to teach at SDH, HWKKS. 

“The main reason SDH was formed is to give opportunity for the children who could not attend normal school session to have an education like normal children do”, he said.

For Mohd Shah Mizal bin Mohd Sharizal, 20, who is taking Sociology and Social Anthropology Programme at the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Heritage (FKSW), UMS, this visit was a first for him and commented that the children were delighted to spend time with them.

“Despite their health condition, the children at the ward were active and excited to interact with us,” he said.

This visit was also joined by UMS international undergraduates from Gabon, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, and Timor-Leste.

An international student from Pakistan, Hafiz Abdul Rahman s/o Muhammad Mushtaq, 21, who is studying Mechanical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, UMS had mixed feelings about the children at the ward.

“I enjoyed the short but quality time with them and getting to know them better”, he expressed.

The visit was led by instructors of Public Speaking, Mohammad Norazmi Haris for Section 1 and Feria Lee for Section 2.

By: Mohamed Nasseir Bin Mohamed Hamzan & Abdul Qawi Bin Kamran (Year 1 students)