RABU, 19 OGOS - Pendidikan Sains, Teknologi, Kejuruteraan dan Matematik (STEM) penting dalam mempersiapkan pelajar khususnya dan rakyat Sabah secara amnya bagi menghadapi cabaran global.

Naib Canselor Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Prof. Datuk ChM. Dr. Taufiq Yap Yun Hin berkata, ini kerana negara maju misalnya memberi tumpuan kepada STEM kerana STEM merangkumi setiap aspek kehidupan serta menyumbang kepada kemajuan ekonomi masa depan negara.

“Negara memerlukan bakat yang dilengkapi dengan pengetahuan dan kemahiran STEM untuk mengekalkan daya saing global negara.

“Justeru, kesedaran mengenai kepentingan STEM telah mendorong perubahan besar dalam sistem pendidikan negara, dengan banyak peralihan dibuat dalam proses memperkenalkan STEM di peringkat sekolah bagi memastikan sistem pendidikan setaraf keperluan global,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika berucap merasmikan pelancaran Program STEM4ALL@SABAH Pertandingan Dalam Talian Sempena Minggu Sains Negara Peringkat Negeri Sabah secara maya di Bangunan Canselori, pagi tadi.

Mengulas tentang Program STEM4ALL@SABAH Pertandingan Dalam Talian, Datuk Taufiq Yap menjelaskan penganjuran program tersebut adalah bertujuan untuk melahirkan insan berinovatif dan kreatif.

“Mengangkat tema “MySTEM During Pandemic COVID-19”, peserta perlu membentangkan dengan jelas dan berkesan bagaimana menghasilkan inovasi untuk menangani Pandemik COVID-19., dengan penulisan pendek dan pembentangan direkodkan dan dimuat naik ke dalam Youtube.

“Matlamat yang disasarkan melalui program ini adalah untuk menggalakkan pelajar menghadapi cabaran, melontarkan dan menguruskan idea baharu, menyelesaikan pelbagai masalah serta mengatasi kesukaran teknikal.

“Selain itu, penggalakan STEM melalui program ini akan mendorong pelajar membina pengetahuan sains dan teknologi, dan pada masa yang sama, rasa ingin tahu dan kreativiti sangat diperlukan untuk mendorong inovasi,” katanya.

Datuk Taufiq Yap turut berharap agar pelbagai program STEM seperti itu akan terus dilaksanakan bagi meningkatkan tahap kefahaman, minat dan sebaran maklumat berkaitan dunia STEM yang sangat sinonim dalam kehidupan seharian serta perkembangan arus kehidupan manusia sejagat.

Program tersebut yang berlangsung secara atas talian bermula pada 20 Ogos hingga 30 Oktober ini bukan hanya sekadar pertandingan tetapi turut diisi dengan siri bimbingan secara Webinar dalam talian kepada guru pembimbing dan peserta.

Hadir sama pada acara pelancaran program tersebut wakil daripada Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri Sabah, Rosaineh Suhaibul dan wakil dari Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia, Ainolwady Idris yang juga merupakan Setiausaha Minggu Sains Negara Peringkat Negeri Sabah.

Untuk maklumat lanjut hubungi U-Science Ums ditalian 088320000 sambungan 101042/103293 dan daftar penyertaan di https://tinyurl.com/y3umdj7z

RABU, 19 OGOS - Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) komited dalam membantu usahawan-usahawan kecil di Sabah menaiktaraf produk-produk yang diusahakan melalui satu sesi perbincangan kerjasama di antara penyelidik UMS dengan kumpulan usahawan tersebut.

Sesi perbincangan yang dikendalikan oleh Pusat Pengurusan Penyelidikan dan Inovasi (PPPI) di Dewan Kuliah Pusat ke-2, UMS itu melibatkan lebih 50 usahawan kecil yang dikenali sebagai PITCHBORNEO di bawah Sabah Techpreneur Association (SATA).

Menurut Timbalan Pengarah PPPI (Inovasi), Prof. Madya Dr. Homathevi Rahman, program tersebut diadakan adalah bertujuan untuk membantu usahawan PITCHBORNEO menaiktaraf produk-produk mereka dengan pemindahan ilmu atau teknologi daripada kepakaran penyelidik UMS.

“Program ini akan menggalakkan hubungan jaringan industri melalui penyediaan penyelesaian daripada penyelidik UMS kepada industri di Sabah.

“Selain itu, ini adalah sebagai platform untuk interaksi dan perpindahan teknologi yang dapat merapatkan hubungan kedua-dua pihak, serta menggalakkan penyertaan penyelidik UMS untuk memberikan penyelesaian berasaskan permintaan industri,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika menyampaikan taklimat pada sesi perbincangan tersebut.

Menurut Dr. Homathevi lagi, pihak SATA telah memajukan sebanyak 54 projek yang memerlukan intervensi daripada pihak UMS.

“Permasalahan usahawan-usahawan kecil tersebut telah dimajukan kepada setiap fakulti,pusat, dan institut di UMS, dan sebanyak 97 penyelidik telah bersetuju untuk membantu usahawan-usahawan tersebut.

“Penyelidik UMS akan membantu dari segi memberikan khidmat nasihat dan penambahbaikan bagi proses penghasilan dan pemprosesan produk, memberi bantuan dari segi strategi pemasaran, dan memberi cadangan dalam menaik taraf pembungkusan produk mengikut keperluan pemasaran,” ujarnya.

Dr Homathevi turut berharap agar program kerjasama tersebut dapat membantu dalam meningkatkan pengkomersialan produk-produk usahawan yang terlibat.

Sesi penutupan program setengah hari itu disempurnakan oleh Timbalan Naib Canselor (Penyelidikan dan Inovasi) UMS, Prof. Madya Ts. Dr. Ramzah Dambul, dan turut dihadiri Presiden SATA, Severinus Kitingan.

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.