Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), through its Corporate Communication Centre (PKK), reached out to the rural community in Kampung Sayap, Kota Belud, by distributing 60 food aid baskets to single mothers, bedridden elderly, and people with disabilities.

Dr. Jakaria Dasan, Director of PKK UMS, explained that the visit aimed not only to provide assistance but also to promote education-based tourism and engage in activities with the local community. He emphasized that under the leadership of UMS Vice Chancellor, Professor Dr. Kasim Mansor, the university encourages its staff to actively engage with communities and share knowledge that is relevant and beneficial to them.

“The outreach efforts in rural areas like Kampung Sayap are designed to enhance the understanding of the Komuniti Madani concept among UMS staff,” he said. “In Kampung Sayap, the community displays the core values of Komuniti Madani, with strong associations working together to advance the development of their village.”

Among the activities conducted by PKK UMS staff alongside the community were making roofs using coconut leaves for the Pondok Malius at Puncak Gloria, pounding and sieving rice, and creating beadwork crafts.

Dr. Jakaria further mentioned that PKK UMS plays a crucial role in organizing official university events and managing public relations and publicity through media partnerships. “Visiting Kampung Sayap and interacting with its residents has been a valuable and impactful experience for PKK staff,” he said. “Programs like this allow our staff to enhance their communication skills with communities outside the university.”

Aming Gamburus, Chairman of the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) of Kampung Sayap, expressed gratitude for UMS’s continued commitment to community service programs in their village. “We are fortunate that UMS consistently chooses Kampung Sayap for their outreach programs,” he said. “This connection ensures that those of us living in rural areas do not feel left out of the progress. The ongoing presence of UMS motivates the children in our village to aim high in their education and pursue university degrees, especially at UMS.”

During the visit, PKK UMS also conducted a session titled ‘What is a Scam?’ to raise awareness among the Kampung Sayap community about the dangers of scams, which often target the elderly and rural populations.

A young entrepreneurs group are seeking to form collaborations with Universiti Malaysia Sabah's (UMS) Institute of Biotechnology and Research to explore opportunities to create new industries in Sabah.

The Sabah Young Business and Industry leaders Network (Sybil), led by its chairman James Wong Kein Peng, met with UMS researchers and exchanged insights and ways to develop various industries including food security enhancement, agrifood industry, cosmetics and skills training opportunities, among others.

"At Sybil, our goal is to identify research, innovative ideas and expertise that can generate new opportunities and commercial ventures for business owners in Sabah," said Wong during the visit to the institute.

During the discussion, UMS researchers presented their expertise, technology solutions, knowledge and identified diverse potential areas for project collaborations such as tissue culture, biofertilisers, biomass processing, aquaculture, biofuels, microalgae tech, workshops and training opportunities.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has identified five strategic lenses aimed at driving the university's excellence in fulfilling its vision and mission.

These five lenses include talent development, strengthening research, innovation, and commercialization, knowledge transfer and sharing, internationalization, and enhancing the enabling ecosystem.

According to UMS Vice Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Kasim Mansor, the talent development perspective focuses on two main activities: world-class academic programs and student development.

For the second lens, ten strengthening activities will be implemented to accelerate excellence in research, innovation, and commercialization.

These activities include the creation of ten living labs, increasing publication excellence, and enhancing research clusters.

The third lens, knowledge transfer and sharing, reflects UMS's significant responsibility to empower the community and industries through knowledge-sharing programs.

“This is a crucial value-add as research outcomes and knowledge are returned in forms that benefit society and industry,” he said.

For the fourth lens, Internationalization, UMS aims to enhance the university's global competitiveness, strengthen partnerships with international institutions, and expand student mobility programs.

The final lens, the Enabling Ecosystem, refers to supportive mechanisms that contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of management in achieving the university's goals. For UMS, this includes financial sustainability, governance and service efficiency, enhanced digital technology, and a sustainable campus.

During the event, a luxury book titled Kembara Antartika: Pengalaman melalui Penyelidikan was launched to commemorate UMS's 30th anniversary this year. The book highlights the Antarctic journey of UMS researcher Professor Dr. Justin Sentian, who conducted a study on climate change titled Tropospheric Ozone Variations and Halocarbons in the Antarctic Peninsula under Extreme Weather Conditions, which has been recorded in the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR).