Individuals with special needs can now expect better access to quality healthcare, including regular screenings and specialised services tailored to their needs.

This improvement follows a recent partnership between Universiti Malaysia Sabah's (UMS) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and Special Olympics Sabah, formalised through a Letter of Intent (LOI).

Faculty dean Datuk Dr Mohd Yusof Ibrahim said the partnership is a major step towards enhancing the well-being of individuals with intellectual disabilities in Sabah.

He added that it advances inclusive health initiatives.

"The LOI marks a unified effort to address the health disparities faced by individuals with intellectual disabilities," he said.

"This collaboration focuses on improving healthcare access, increasing awareness of inclusive health practices, and implementing community engagement programmes that support this group,” he added.

He said that the partnership embodies the spirit of Malaysia Madani, where education and healthcare institutions work together to create an inclusive ecosystem for all, especially the marginalised.

"Through education, training, and research, this collaboration aims to ensure individuals with intellectual disabilities receive the health opportunities they deserve, paving the way for a more inclusive society," he added.

Special Olympics Sabah chairman Dr Jiloris Julian Frederick Dony expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stressing that it strengthens their mission to empower individuals with intellectual disabilities.

"This partnership will help them live healthier, more fulfilling lives. We look forward to working closely with UMS to bring meaningful change to our community."

Under the partnership, special athletes will benefit from regular health programmes and specialised clinical care, ensuring better healthcare access.

It will also equip healthcare professionals and students with the knowledge and skills to support individuals with intellectual disabilities effectively.

Additionally, the collaboration encourages research to address health challenges faced by this community, contributing to evidence-based healthcare practices.

This partnership aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in promoting good health and well-being for all.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) received RM 200,000 contribution for the implementation of research projects and the promotion of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) by the university.

The contribution was presented by the Chairman of Synerlitz, Tan Sri Dato’ Setia Mohd Anwar, to the UMS Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof. Ir. Dr. Rosalam Hj. Sarbatly, who represents UMS during an event held in conjunction with the Charity Golf Tournament for the 100MW Power Plant Project in Kimanis organized by Synerlitz (M) Sdn Bhd.

Also witnessing the symbolic handover of the mock cheque were the Sabah State Secretary, Datuk Seri Sr Hj Safar Untong, and the Chief Executive Officer of Synerlitz, Datuk Michael Lee.

UMS in a statement stated that the funds would be utilized by the UMS Preparatory Centre for Science and Technology (PPST), led by PPST Director, ChM. Dr. Newati Wid, to implement STEM research projects and initiatives to foster STEM culture among primary and secondary school students.

"UMS expresses its gratitude for this contribution, which is expected to have a significant impact on science and technology education and contribute to building a more competitive future generation," according to UMS statement.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) through Borneo Tourism Research Centre (BTRC), Faculty of Business, Economics and Accountancy (FBEA) in collaboration with the Sabah Birdwatchers Association (SBA), successfully organized the three-day Seabirds Identification Workshop recently.

According to BTRC Director, Associate Professor Dr. Balvinder K. Kler, the event which is also supported by the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) and JETAMA Sdn. Bhd. was part of UMS’s 30th anniversary celebrations.

“A total of 51 participants attended this workshop consisting of Sabahan tourist guides and independent birding enthusiasts including one participant from Singapore.

“The initiative aimed to enhance birdwatching skills while highlighting its importance as a niche ecotourism activity in Sabah,” she said.

She added that for this workshop, a well-known field ornithologist, David Bakewell was flown in for this course to train the participants at UMS.

“Day one was a packed programme covering the identification of terns, skuas and gulls in the morning, proceeding to the identification of shearwater, petrels, frigatebirds and boobies in the afternoon.

“A field trip to Mantanani island, off Kota Belud on day two did not disappoint as participants were delighted by large numbers of frigatebirds including Lesser and Christmas Frigatebirds just as they left the Kampung Rampayan Laut jetty,” she said.

Balvinder noted that since birdwatching is a lucrative niche ecotourism market in Sabah and there is a need for more birdwatching guides, SBA and UMS have collaborated since 2022 to encourage birdwatching as a hobby amongst students and locals to understand the value of habitat conservation.

“Identification workshops so far have included Shorebirds in 2022, Raptors in 2023, and this year on Seabirds.

“In line with the UMS slogan, "Leading Towards Innovative Societies", UMS continues to engage with NGOs like SBA to provide the avenue for our youth in the tourism industry to enhance their skills and knowledge.

“Several participants were younger guides who will receive Continuous Tourism Related Education (CTRE) certification from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) for this course,” she said, while adding that more birdwatching courses are in the works targeting community-based tourism players, as well as a forum with international experts next year.

Meanwhile, SBA President, Ron Pudin said SBA aiming to provide future birders with a better platform to pursue their interest, especially the junior or school levels exposure.

“This includes spreading the message that birdwatching is a healthy activity which promotes the well-being for individuals and families.

“We are very glad that the outing made a record of sorts as 52 in total which is the largest group of birders congregated on Mantanani island at one time,” he said while commenting on the second day trip to Mantanani Island.

On the final day, participants reviewed photographs taken during the field trip in relation to knowledge gained in class.

They also learnt more about the intricacies of the ebird app hosted by the Cornell Ornithology Lab, USA, which acts as a publicly available record of the value of a place as a birding location where enthusiasts contribute sightings, log species and numbers observed and keep checklists.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Open Science and international research collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the International School for Social and Business Studies (ISSBS), Slovenia recently.

The MoU, formalized during the Erasmus EU-funded Open Science Workshop, represents a significant milestone in fostering global academic partnerships.

The agreement was signed by UMS Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Kasim Hj. Mansor, and ISSBS Dean, Professor Dr. Kristijan Breznik.

Focused on integrating Open Science principles into academic and research practices, the partnership emphasizes open research data and methodologies as tools to accelerate innovation and foster transparency and accessibility in scientific research.

As part of the MoU, UMS and ISSBS will collaborate on developing frameworks for open research data management and knowledge science.

Other key initiatives include securing matching grants for joint projects, establishing postgraduate mentorship and student exchange programs, and organizing workshops and training sessions to enhance Open Science capacity building.

“This partnership reflects UMS’s dedication to fostering global collaboration and driving innovation through Open Science.”

“By prioritizing open research data and methodologies, we aim to deliver impactful scientific advancements and make knowledge accessible to a wider global community,” said Datuk Kasim.

Professor Kristijan Breznik echoed this sentiment, stating that ISSBS is thrilled to collaborate with UMS.

“Together, we aim to address critical challenges in Open Science and create meaningful initiatives that benefit researchers, students, and the global academic community,” he said.

The event was attended by UMS Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Professor Ir. Dr. Rosalam Hj. Sarbatly, who also serves as the Erasmus EU Open Science Institutional Leader for UMS.

UMS Registrar, Luqman Ridha Anwar, and capacity-building representatives from Europe, including the Netherlands and Finland, as well as from India, Malaysia, and Africa, were also present.

The representatives from UMS includes Chief Digital Officer, Professor Dr. Ag. Asri Ag. Ibrahim; Dean Faculty of Computing and Informatics, Associate Professor Dr. Mohd Hanafi Ahmad Hijazi; Deputy Director (Strategic) Research Management Centre, Associate Professor Dr. Fatimah Ahmedy, who also serves as the Erasmus EU Open Science coordinator for UMS and Director of Data Management and Artificial Intelligence Centre, Dr. Farashazillah Yahya.

Their participation underscores the partnership’s global reach and inclusivity.

Aligned with UMS’s strategic objectives under Key Results Area (KRA) 1 and 3, which focus on internationalization and research excellence, the MoU emphasizes collaborative research projects, co-development of academic publications, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

The collaboration between UMS and ISSBS represents a bold step forward in empowering researchers and students, fostering innovation, and positioning both institutions as leaders in global research.

By focusing on Open Science, particularly open research data, the agreement is set to create a sustainable framework for advancing scientific practices and reinforcing UMS’s reputation as a hub for impactful research in the Asia-Pacific region.