Artificial intelligence (AI) will serve as a key driver in Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s (UMS) institutional transformation as the university moves to strengthen agile governance and modernise its administrative ecosystem.
UMS Registrar, Luqman Ridha Anwar, said the initiative reflects the university’s commitment to adopting a more responsive, data-driven approach in line with global technological developments and the rapidly evolving higher education landscape.
He said the concept of “A New Way of Working” had been introduced to enhance service delivery within the university by reducing bureaucracy, accelerating decision-making processes and encouraging innovation and collaboration among staff.
“An agile governance approach enables organisations to respond quickly to global and technological changes while improving administrative efficiency and institutional competitiveness,” he said.
He delivered the message during the Registrar’s Aspiration Ceremony 2026, which was held online via the Webex platform and attended by more than 1,000 UMS administrative staff.
During the address, Luqman also highlighted the growing importance of AI as a key enabler in higher education transformation, covering areas such as curriculum development, research, governance and talent development.
He urged university staff to equip themselves with technological competencies, particularly in collecting, organising and analysing data to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their work.
“All members of the university community must be prepared to master technological advancements so that tasks can be carried out more efficiently and effectively,” he said.
In the same address, he called on the entire UMS community to reduce work complexity, accelerate implementation and focus on impact in order to realise the university’s aspiration of becoming “The Brain of Borneo.”
Luqman also said the university’s achievements are not solely driven by academic staff but are strongly supported by administrative and operational personnel who serve as the backbone of the institution.
According to him, behind every award and recognition received by the university are many individuals who work tirelessly without expecting recognition, including general assistants, drivers, clerks, laboratory assistants, technicians and administrative officers.
“These individuals are the true unsung heroes who ensure the smooth operation of the university,” he said.
The address also reflected UMS’ continued commitment to strengthening its position at both national and international levels through improvements in service delivery and overall institutional excellence.
Source: Daily Express
