KOTA KINABALU: Kolej Yayasan Sabah (KYS) students will now have the option to take up field-based Islamic studies offered by Kedah Kolej Universiti Insaniah (KUIN).
A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed between KYS and KUIN here yesterday, to make three full-time KUIN diploma programmes available at KYS.
Chairman of the Sabah College Foundation (KYS) board of directors Datuk Kamal DE Quadra and Insaniah University College (KUIN) Rector Prof Datuk Mohd Yusof Kasim represented their respective institutes in signing the MoA.
The signing, held at the Sutera Habour Resort, was witnessed by Kedah Education, Transportation and Works Committee chairman Datuk Tajul Urus Mat Zain and Yayasan Sabah director Datuk Sapawi Ahmad, representing Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman.
Under the agreement, KYS will conduct KUIN diploma programmes in Islamic Insurance, Islamic Banking, as well as Halal Food Service and Hotel Management.
Kamal said the MoA creates a pathway for students from religious schools in Sabah who wish to enhance their Islamic knowledge.
Noting that Sabah has 10 religious schools with about 10,000 students, he said the collaboration would open opportunities for the students to further their education in field-based Islamic studies without having to travel to other states or overseas.
“I believe with this joint effort, both institutes would be able to enhance quality of education and produce more Muslim graduates in society,” he said.
Kamal also expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, who is also chairman of the Yayasan Sabah Board of Trustees, for supporting initiatives carried out by KYS in achieving its vision and mission.
Meanwhile, Mohd Yusof said KUIN, a Kedah-based university, would assist KYS in planning its own home grown programmes to meet the current demand of education.
He said the academic ties between KUIN and KYS would benefit both institutes, allowing them to enjoy development and progress of the national education industry in a more competitive manner while at the same time contribute to the development of the education sector.
“KUIN will constantly assist KYS in planning and offering ‘home grown’ programmes in the near future,” he said.