Unimas first in the country to use Quick Response Code

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Idris showing the QR Code identification that is implemented in Unimas. On the left is Mohamad Kadim.

Idris (fourth left) greeting a conference participant during his arrival to declare open Unimas Silver Jubilee Conference 2017. Also seen (from left) are Siti Hamisah, Hatta and Mohamad Kadim. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi

KUCHING: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) has become the first university in the country to use Quick Response (QR) Code for identification purposes on campus.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said he was most attracted by the usage of the QR Code in Unimas, which went to show the high level of capability and innovativeness of the public university.

“I was made to understand Unimas only took one month to implement digital student identification using QR Code. This is something that we are proud of and we want to see more universities use this digital student identification.

“I was promised by Universiti Malaysia Perlis (Unimap) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to deliver (this) in November and December respectively, but to my surprise, Unimas came with it in October,” he said during a press conference after declaring open the two-day Unimas Silver Jubilee Conference 2017 at Pullman Kuching yesterday.

Idris said with this QR Code, university students do not have to carry their student identification card anymore as their “smart phone will take care of your identification in the university”.

“Secondly, it can be used when you go to university libraries, when you enter the facilities and for attendance during lectures or to pay anything on campus. What you can do with QR Code is endless.”

Unimas vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi said every student and staff of Unimas has been given a unique identification through the QR Code, and the usage is currently limited to attendance.

“We are going to extend the usage in phases including for shopping on campus. We are going to involve the merchants and restaurants on campus. We think we can make it a system to conduct trading, so to speak, on campus.”

On another note, Idris said all new students enrolling with Unimas starting this year will be evaluated using the Integrated Cumulative Grade Points Average (ICGPA) assessment system.

Through the ICGPA system, students will be evaluated holistically using the ‘spider web approach’, which is an approach available only in Malaysian universities.

“They evaluate not only your CGPA but also your communication skills, practical skills, entrepreneurial skills and ethics. The graduates from Unimas in four years’ time will be holistic students and balanced graduates. You’re ahead of all the others in the country as you have fully implemented the system.

“As for other universities, maybe they implemented for half of the faculties or students but Unimas, they implemented it fully.”

During the event, Idris witnessed the launching of a book entitled ‘The eBorneo Knowledge Fair’. The ebook showcases how research in the areas of Information and Communication Technology by Unimas is contributing towards sustainable development among indigenous communities in Bario, Ba Kelalan and Long Lamai in Sarawak, Buayan and Larapan in Sabah, Pos Sindurut, Pos Lenjang in Kuala Lipis, Pahang and Pos Gob and Pos Bala in Gua Musang, Kelantan.

Among those present were Higher Education director-general Datin Paduka Ir Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir, Unimas board of directors chairman Datu Dr Hatta Solhi, Unimas deputy vice-chancellor (student affairs and alumni) Prof Mohd Fadzil Abd Rahman, deputy vice-chancellor (research and innovation) Prof Dr Kopli Bujang, deputy vice-chancellor (academic and international) Prof Dr Wan Hashim Wan Ibrahim and director Research and Innovation Management Centre Prof Dr Lo May Chiun.