Seminar on Commercialisation of University Research Results: Postgraduate Role held at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Islamic Centre recently was able to create a platform where researchers and entrepreneurs get to share ideas and experiences as well as room for collaboration for mutual benefit.

The seminar organised along with Faculty of Business, Economics and Accountancy (FBEA), and Innovation and Commercialisation Management Centre (PPIP) not only involves discussion forum, but also opens opportunities to many creators which has successfully commercialised their product to showcase the results of their innovation to the participants.

 
According to statement from FBEA, other reasons the program was held is to foster a culture of innovation and commercialisation among postgraduate students.

“This seminar also aims to push collaboration and exchanging knowledge by creating a platform for researchers and entrepreneurs to share ideas and experiences, other than the chance to expand the work network by developing a stronger relationship between university and industry.

“Introducing new inventions to a wider audience is one of the main focuses of this seminar, including new innovation produced by students and university researchers.

 
“This effort also pushes innovation and business development by encouraging students to explore commercialisation opportunity and business development,” according to the statement.

Other focus of the seminar was also to increase awareness upon commercialisation issues.

“By providing information and guidance on challenges and opportunities in commercialisation of research results, the seminar hopes to give benefits to university in fostering a culture of innovation and commercialisation among postgraduate students.

“The seminar expected to be an effective platform in pushing more cooperation between university and industry, as well as empowering postgraduate students to keep on inventing and innovate,” statement from FPEP UMS.

In conjunction with the seminar, among those present was Director of PPIP, Prof. Dr. Jidon @ Adrian Janaun; Chief Executive Officer Eternity Mode Sdn. Bhd, Gesiri Gambung; and representative from Sabah Creative Economy & Innovation Centre (SCENIC), Ulianti Sarjuni.

Faculty of Business, Economics, and Accountancy (FBEA), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) stay committed in assisting the advancement and competitiveness of entrepreneur through research along with innovation related with local business.

Through a final presentation program by students from the course “Integrated Marketing Communication,” students were involved in presenting their results along with the involvement of business entrepreneurs based on Sabah’s local products.

By bringing the theme, “The 2^nd Product Development and Promotional Campaign Competition for BG31903 Integrated Marketing Communication Pitching to Judges”, the final presentation program that was held at FPEP consists of 93 Year-Two students, which then formed 13 groups to present their results.

According to Senior Lecturer FPEP, Dr Siti Nor Bayaah Ahmad who is in charge of the course, other aims of the programme is to attract students from marketing program to create as well as produce new and innovative packaging ideas.

“This programme also generates effective digital communication to assist local entrepreneur in expanding their products at local and national level.

“Other than that, this effort also opens up opportunities to Year-Two students of Marketing Program involved to use their knowledge and skills that they have learned to create ideas that are unique and creative, aligned with the aim of marketing program which is producing knowledgeable, high-quality, and competitive graduate.

“In addition, this is one of the focuses in realising the founding aspirations of UMS as a place to gain knowledge to help local communities in improving socioeconomics dan fostering entrepreneurship values among UMS students,” she said.

Siti Nor Bayaah also informed, this idea presenting programme involves seven lecturers from diverse FPEP program along with four local entrepreneur which acts as competition judge.

“The four entrepreneurs were Juddy Lasisu, owner of Aurora Mutiara Enterprise which creates product from dried fruits and plants; Rosalia Anthony, founder of Ohakakita Food Sdn Bhd, a product related to condiments, “sambal tausi” dan “sambal tuhau”

“Vellarry Maydelina Yong, owner of  Oupus Organis which produce cream products based on bambangan fruit; and Sainah Asoh, owner of Tumuna Enterprise which just got into yam powder product, yam slices and Pensiangan coffee.

“Students involved has researched, applied and suggesting new packaging also launched digital marketing through Tik Tok application as to promoting the products of these businesswomen,” she said.

She also expresses appreciation towards the local businesswomen on their gift donation to the winners of every category that was presented by every student group.

“Involvement by local entrepreneur has given opportunities to students to interact with them by ideas presentation and promoting their work to industry just like what is happening outside of university.

“This allows them to gain valuable experiences which are applying the idea of creative product packaging and real scenario of promoting and not depends on theoretical only,” she said.

She also hopes that the effort can be continued in the future with more involvement from micro entrepreneurs, small and average together with university students in creating creative output for their organisation.


Among those who were present, Deputy Dean of Student Affairs FPEP, Dr. Noor Fzlinda Fabeil; Marketing Program Leader, Dr Brahim Chekima; and Senior Lecturer FPEP, Charlie Albert Lausin who is also conducting the Integrated Marketing Communication course.

Aware of various challenges faced by graduate students upon entering career world, Career and Student Entrepreneurship Development Centre (PKPKP) Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) organised SME Bank Career Day programme @UMS.

According to the Director of PKPKP, Associate Professor Ts. Dr. Sidah Idris, the programme offers room and exposure for students about diverse job opportunities as well as identifying interest and skills related to banking.

Sidah said other than that, the programme also aims to help and guide students in terms of planning their career path based on their own aspirations and potential.

“This programme assists students to understand the needs of industry and building useful professional networks.

“In collaboration with SME Bank, this programme exposed in detail about industrial training programme and Graduate Talent offered by SME Bank.

“I believe this programme will give great benefit to students in the preparation of themselves upon entering the career world with more confidence and well-equipped,” she said.

In the programme, a total of 60 students coming from various academic programmes joined the programme which also provides resume preparing workshops as well as interactive oriented activities.

“I hope that all participants get to make the most of the opportunities available today. Use each session as a platform for acquiring knowledge, asking questions, and build networking that will help in your career path later,” Sidah adds.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and the Sabah State Tourism Board, under the supervision of International Society for Quality-of- Life Studies (ISQOLS) will be organising the 22nd ISQOLS Annual Conference 2024 on 25th to 28th June 2024, at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC).

The conference aims to improve quality of life and will bring together people from diverse areas of interest, including academia, the arts, health, education, business, politics, justice, religion and the environment.

The 4-day-long event will include preconference workshops, plenary lecture sessions, presentations and discussion sessions whereby participants from different backgrounds will work together to produce a set of resolutions, to help improve quality of life in the region.

Conference chairperson, Professor Dr. Helen Lasimbang said that the decision for ISQOLS to hold its 22nd annual conference here in the beautiful land below the wind, is because past president Elizabeth Eckermann was born in Sabah and she envisioned and successfully bid for an ISQOLS Conference in Sabah.

“Sadly, she passed in 2019, and it is in her memory that this conference is hosted in the land of her birth. This year’s theme ‘Human Happiness and Wellbeing in an Uncertain World’ reflects both the changes that have occurred in our world post-pandemic, but also the unique capacity for post traumatic growth and quality of life improvement.

“For this, the organisers hope to gather scholars from all corners of the world, from different disciplines, with different methodological and theoretical perspectives, and following different approaches, but with one common goal: generating research-based knowledge to contribute to the well-being in societies,” Helen said.

Plenary lectures will be delivered by distinguished international speakers, including world renowned experts on quality of life Simon Eckermann, Senior Professor of Health Economics at Wollongong University Australia; Andrew Clark, Chaired Professor from Paris School of Economics and Director of the National Centre for Scientific Research CNRS; Mohsen Joshanloo, Associate Professor in Psychology at Keimyung University South Korea and Honorary Principal Fellow of Centre for Wellbeing Science of University of Melbourne, and Jannie Lasimbang, Chairman of the Rural Development Corporation.

The conference organisers would like to invite registration from members of the public, academics, organisations and anyone else who is interested. Registration details and other information can be found on the website: www.isqols.org