CM: Country needs lots of innovative individuals

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SHARING THE JOY: Taib sharing the joy of Unimas’ first physically-challenged graduate Ngu Nyok Ping (in wheelchair). Also seen are Khairuddin (third left), Unimas board of directors chairman Datu Dr Hatta Solhi (fourth right) and other award recipients.

KOTA SAMARAHAN: Local universities, especially Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), should immerse themselves in innovative endeavours in order to become effective agent of change for the country.

Unimas pro-chancellor Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said yesterday that this was important because institutions of higher learning had the responsibility to produce human capital that was innovative and creative.

Innovation and creativity, Taib said at Unimas’ 15th Convocation, were considered essential elements to bring the country towards its desired development targets and goals.

“Universities, through its innovative graduates and active participation of its academic staff in innovative and creative-related activities, could be the major stimulus for the country’s new economic model.

“Innovative and creative cultures in universities would help not only in  the academic aspect, it would also help to produce competitive human capital.

“Therefore, I hope to see universities acting as an effective agent to further develop the country,” said Taib at Dewan Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra.

Taib  said he was glad that Unimas had been actively involved in research and development (R&D), such as in green technology, information and communication technology (ICT), and sago-related industry.

He hoped that they could increase their R&D efforts in relation to local indigenous knowledge to benefit the  people.

“I would also like Unimas to utilise the alumni data to keep track of the employment data of its graduates as one of the indexes of the achievements of the university,” he said, adding that Unimas alumni should also help.

Meanwhile, Unimas vice chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Khairuddin Ab Hamid said in his speech that the university had identified five main research areas in relation to the development of Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

They were biodiversity and environmental management; emerging tropical and infectious disease; ICT development; renewable energy/green technology; and industrial design.

“Apart from that, Unimas would continue to encourage students to engage in community services and humanitarian relief activities to produce holistic graduates,” he said.

The university, Khairuddin revealed, was in the midst of introducing a new fundamental programme related to humanitarian work for SPM leavers.

If everything goes well it would see its first batch of students next year.