Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tijarah Holding Ltd, a shariah-compliant blockchain development institution, to equip students with knowledge in financial technology (fintech), particularly blockchain.

The MoU was signed in a ceremony at the UMS Chancellery Building earlier today.

UMS Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Dr. Kasim Hj. Mansor, signed on behalf of the university, while Tijarah Holding Ltd was represented by its CEO, John Joseph Pellegrini.

During the ceremony, Prof. Kasim emphasized the rapid growth of fintech in Malaysia, driven by increasing demand from the tech-savvy Islamic majority population.

“Industry reports indicate robust growth in Malaysia’s fintech landscape, with over 300 fintech companies operating in various categories such as e-wallets, payments, lending, wealthtech, insurtech, and blockchain or cryptocurrency,” he stated.

He highlighted the expanding use of blockchain across industries and its potential to benefit Islamic financial institutions, aligning with zakat objectives.

Research on the potential of blockchain technology in enhancing Islamic financial management systems is growing. However, he noted a lack of focus on integrating this technology into Islamic financial management to make it functional.

“Much research focuses on countries like Indonesia. While Malaysia has seen growth in this area, in-depth studies remain limited.

“The Islamic finance sector in Malaysia still faces challenges, such as a lack of data on state-level websites and ineffective communication on social media platforms.

“This indicates the need for a better Islamic financial management system in Malaysia for user convenience,” he added.

Prof. Kasim also stressed the importance of human capital development to support fintech growth.

“In response, UMS is taking proactive steps by signing this MoU to contribute to human resource development in line with the university’s role as a higher education institution in Sabah.

“Collaboration with industry players allows universities to expose students to current practices and understanding in blockchain and fintech,” he said.

The ceremony was attended by Prof. Dato’ Dr. Jayles Yeoh, Tijarah Holding’s Head of Educational Development; UMS Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Student and Alumni Affairs, Prof. Madya Dr. Raman Noordin; UMS Registrar, Luqman Ridha Anwar; UMS Treasurer, Badrul Hisham Ismail; Dean of the Faculty of International Finance Labuan, Prof. Madya Dr. Geoffrey Harvey Tanakinjal; and Tijarah Holding’s Business Development Executive, Shahirah Sundu.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has launched a Strategic Business Unit (SBU) to support financial sustainability initiatives and act as a catalyst for innovative income-generating ideas.

UMS Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Kasim Mansor, explained that the SBU is a revenue-generation concept and a "game-changer" highlighted in the UMS Strategic Plan 2023-2027.

“This initiative represents a proactive step by UMS to intensify investment and revenue-generation activities across its Responsibility Centers (PTJ),” he stated.

The establishment of the SBU aligns with the government's directive for public universities (UA) to generate their own income in response to the phased reduction of annual management budget allocations for public universities.

“The SBU also aims to promote UMS’s products, services, and expertise, enhancing the university’s visibility locally and internationally,” Dr. Kasim added.

He emphasized that the selection of SBU units was based on their track record of revenue generation and the potential of these PTJs to contribute through competitive market activities, projects, or services.

“I am confident that with comprehensive policies, guidelines, and effective monitoring mechanisms, the SBU will meet its targets and provide returns on UMS's investments,” he remarked during the launch ceremony for the SBU.

At the event, six PTJs were designated as SBUs:

1. Pusat Luar UMS (PLUMS)
2. Pusat Minda Lestari (PML)
3. Penerbit UMS
4. Inkubator Institut Penyelidikan Marin Borneo (IPMB)
5. Galeri Azman Hashim UMS (GAH-UMS)
6. Pusat Pengurusan EcoFarm

The event was attended by UMS Treasurer Badrul Hisham Ismail and Director of the Investment, Endowment, and Waqf Center (CIEW), Dr. Borhan Sareya Abdullah.

The Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition (FSMP) at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is inviting science stream students to pursue studies in food science and nutrition at the university.

FSMP offers four Bachelor’s degree programs with honors, specializing in Food Service (UH6541001), Food Science and Nutrition (UH6541002), Nutrition (UH6541003), and Food Technology (UH6541004)

Dean of FSMP, Associate Professor Ts. Dr. Hasmadi Mamat, highlighted that all four programs are accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), with two receiving additional recognitions.

“The Nutrition program (UH6541003) is accredited by the Malaysian Allied Health Professions Council (MAHPC), while the Food Science and Nutrition program (UH6541002) received international recognition from the International Food Technologist (IFT) in December 2023,” he explained.

Dr. Hasmadi shared these details during an academic promotion event at Labuan Matriculation College (KML) recently.

The program aimed to introduce and promote FSMP's undergraduate offerings while inspiring matriculation students to explore food science and nutrition as a career path.

Director of KML, Mohd. Mahyuddin Mohd. Noordin, expressed gratitude for the initiative, stating that it provided valuable exposure to KML students.

“This promotion program not only enhances students' understanding of academic and career opportunities in food science and nutrition but also motivates them to prepare for university life.

“We hope such programs will continue in the future, and KML looks forward to exploring more collaboration opportunities with FSMP,” he said.

The event saw the participation of 1,260 students, who were given insights into academic programs, career prospects, scholarship opportunities, and student activities at FSMP through detailed briefings by program heads.

Also present were FSMP Deputy Dean of Academic and International Affairs, Associate Professor Dr. Wolyna Pindi, and KML Head of Student Management, Syahmun Yahya.

In a significant move to bolster pension saving awareness among young working adults in East Malaysia, University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has signed a Research Collaboration Agreement with Private Pension Administrator Malaysia (PPA).

The signing ceremonial took place at UMS recently.

The Research Collaboration Agreement was signed by UMS Vice Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Dr. Kasim Hj. Mansor, and PPA Chief Executive Officer, Husaini Hussin, in the presence of witnesses Luqman Ridha Anwar, UMS Registrar, and PPA Marketing Manager, Wong Mew Sum.

The partnership will see both institutions embark on a one-year research project titled "Enhancing Pension Saving Awareness and Intention Among Young Working Adults in East Malaysia”.

The research aims to assess current levels of pension saving awareness, identify influencing factors, and develop strategies to improve pension saving intentions.

East Malaysia's unique demographic and economic landscape provides an intriguing framework for this study, which is critical in ensuring financial security for the community in their later years.

Earlier, Kasim in his speech said, the collaboration marks a milestone in UMS ongoing efforts to contribute to society through research that addresses real-world issues.

“Today, we are focusing on the need to plan for one of the most important periods of our lives: retirement, and the necessity to plan for it through adequate pension provision.

“The task we have to perform is important, because our younger generations will be the backbone of tomorrow's economy, but many of them start their careers without knowing how to save for retirement,” he said.

Meanwhile, Husaini in his speech congratulate UMS for the commitment in uncovering insights to increase awareness and to empower the young working adults to be better prepared financially to secure their future.

Also present Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni) Assoc Prof. Dr. Raman Noordin; UMS Chief Librarian, Md. Sazali Md. Salleh; and the Dean of Faculty of Computing and Informatics, Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Hanafi Ahmad Hijazi.