Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has charted a new milestone in its innovation journey with the launch of three pioneer start-up companies under the Start-Up and Spin-Off (SUSO) Policy which held recently.

This initiative serves as a manifestation of the university’s commitment to translating academic expertise into high impact solutions for society and the economy.

The three companies launched are U Agro Resources Sdn. Bhd., focusing on sustainable aquaculture technology; Geo-Rintis Consultant & Services Sdn. Bhd, offering geo-mapping consultancy services; and EcoInnovate Solutions Sdn. Bhd, dedicated to the development of green technologies for communities and industries.

Their establishment marks a bold step for UMS towards becoming a regional leader in the university driven innovation ecosystem.

According to UMS Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Ir. Dr. Rosalam Hj. Sarbatly, the launch reflects the university’s ongoing efforts to cultivate a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability among its academic community.

“Our academics are not only generating knowledge, but also creating solutions that bring direct benefits to society and the economy,” he said.

The policy provides a structured framework enabling researchers to establish legitimate business entities with institutional support, in alignment with UMS’s mission of sustainable development, knowledge transfer, and community empowerment.

With the establishment of these companies, UMS is expected to open new avenues for research collaboration, job creation, and commercialization, thereby further strengthening Sabah’s position as a hub for sustainable technology and knowledge-based enterprise.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) through its International Relations Programme, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSK), hosted a visit by Professor Dr. Omer Kurtbag of Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey, from 25 to 29 August 2025.

FSSK Dean, Professor Dr. Asmady Idris, said the purpose of the visit was to evaluate the International Relations Programme, including its course structure, lecturers, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate offerings, and facilities, with the aim of enhancing the programme’s quality to meet international standards.

“Professor Omer's visit has also opened up opportunities for academic cooperation, including student and faculty exchanges, which will further strengthen UMS’s internationalisation agenda.

“His insights and recommendations are invaluable as the faculty works to improve teaching and research quality,” he said in a statement, here, today.

During a courtesy visit to UMS Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Kasim Mansor, both parties discussed efforts to upgrade the existing Letter of Intent (LoI) to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UMS and Erciyes University.

The session also saw the official launch of Malaysia–Turkiye Relations: Sabah Chapter, marking another milestone in strengthening academic and cultural ties between the two nations.

As part of the programme, Professor Omer met with two second-year students from UMS’s International Relations Programme, who are recipients of the Türkiye Scholarships (TIES) and will participate in a short-term academic exchange programme in Turkey.

He also delivered a lecture titled “The Evolution of Turkish Foreign Policy in the Middle East and Asia: Recalibrating Strategic Depth”, which was well received by both students and lecturers. The lecture provided new perspectives on Turkey’s strategic approach to global politics.

“Graduates from UMS’s International Relations Programme exhibit strong employability, with many securing positions in both the public and private sectors in recent years,” Professor Omer remarked during his closing speech.

Also present at the event were postgraduate students and members of the International Relations Club (HA15) FSSK.

A total of 61 second-year students from the Civil Engineering Programme, Faculty of Engineering (FKJ), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) participated in Survey Camp 2025, which was held recently at the Hutan Lipur Kawang Nature Centre, Papar, Sabah.

The camp, led by FKJ lecturer Sr. Ts. Br. Dr. Asmawan Mohd Sarman, was primarily aimed at bridging classroom theory with real world field practices.

According to Dr. Asmawan, the camp was designed to provide students with a clear understanding and practical exposure to land surveying techniques using modern equipment such as total stations and levelling instruments.

He said it also emphasized essential soft skills such as teamwork, communication, leadership, and problem solving under challenging conditions.

“Surveying is the foundation of all civil engineering projects. This camp not only hones technical skills but also builds the physical and mental resilience needed to face real world challenges,” he said.

Throughout the camp, participants engaged in various tasks such as open and closed traverse, levelling, tacheometry, and contour mapping.

“These activities required accuracy in data collection, precise calculations, and strong collaboration among team members.

“Each student was given the opportunity to operate the equipment, record readings, and verify survey results.

“Beyond technical aspects, the camp also taught students time management, logistical planning, and decision-making under pressure skills that are essential for their future careers,” he said.

Hutan Lipur Kawang was chosen as the venue due to its challenging natural terrain, which tested the students’ ability to adapt to real world conditions.

Camp Director Azrin Azahari shared that apart from strengthening technical skills, the camp fostered closer bonds among students and tested their ability to adapt and work effectively as a team.

“This program not only enhanced students’ knowledge of civil engineering but also nurtured teamwork and resilience.

“FKJ hopes that similar programs will continue to be organized to produce graduates who are not only technically competent but also equipped with soft skills and resilience to excel in the dynamic field of civil engineering,” he said.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), through law lecturer from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Marja Azlima Omar, has outlined the importance of two key legal principles, ‘in loco parentis’ and strict liability, which can be applied in addressing school bullying cases.

The principle of ‘in loco parentis’, derived from Latin meaning “in the place of a parent”, places a legal duty on teachers and schools to act in the best interests of students, particularly in matters of safety and supervision.

“Over the years, numerous court cases have reinforced this principle. In the context of school bullying, this duty involves ensuring a safe environment and taking proactive measures to prevent harm, injury, or tragedy,” Marja explained.

According to her, under the law of tort, a breach of the duty of care amounts to negligence. However, for cases where bullying is recurrent or known to occur frequently in certain schools, the concept of strict liability may also be considered.

Strict liability holds a party responsible for harm without the need to prove negligence or fault. In the education context, this means that if bullying is proven to be widespread, the school can be held liable even if reasonable preventive measures were taken.

“In simple terms, once bullying is proven to have occurred within the school environment, the law can place responsibility on the institution. This shifts the focus from solely blaming the perpetrator to also evaluating the protection systems and safety measures in place,” she added.

Marja further stressed that this approach is consistent with Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which Malaysia has ratified.

“This article obliges governments to take legislative, administrative, social, and educational measures to protect children from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury, abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

“This international commitment further strengthens the obligation of schools to act proactively in ensuring the safety of children under their care,” she said.

She emphasised that the intention of this explanation is not to accuse or blame any particular school, but to raise public awareness of the existing legal and rights-based frameworks in place to protect students.

“Bullying should never be tolerated or accepted as tradition. When the law recognises the duty of care, concepts such as strict liability, and obligations under Article 19, it equips society with the means to ensure that schools remain safe spaces for all students,” she concluded.