UMS celebrates 20th anniversary with same aim

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KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has faced a colourful journey filled with struggles and barriers, which were overcome before celebrating its 20th anniversary yesterday.

However, the aim of UMS remains the same, which is to be recognised as an institution of higher education of international standard, said UMS vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Harun Abdullah yesterday.

Speaking at the university’s 20th anniversary, Dr Harun stated that attaining the international standard status would not be an easy feat but stressed that it was attainable with strength from the university’s management staff, academics and students.

At the same time, he also said UMS had already matured in facing the challenges associated to the academia.

He added that since the university’s inception, it had already produced 46,318 graduates comprising of intellectuals and specialists in the fields of science, technology, economy, computing, community and arts.

For the survival of the university, he stressed that efforts must be re-doubled and competitiveness improved through creativity, innovation and excitement so further glory can be achieved.

Dr Harun also said the university had always emphasised on working with the community and the findings and researches conducted had been shared with the community through its publications, lectures, product commercialisations as well as in the development of technologies that would benefit the community.

In his speech, the vice-chancellor also emphasised that UMS had successfully changed the state’s higher education landscape to a level that one could be proud of.

“UMS has become an education hub that has the mandate to produce a competent new generation capable of contributing new ideas and manpower to develop certain states,” he said.

He said with regard to Sabah, UMS was lucky to have access to the various resources the state had and to fully exploit them for researches as well as to carry out documentation works.

And in relations to the students at UMS, Dr Harun described them as the university’s strength.

“They are our main clients. Hence, as an institution, it is imperative for UMS to ensure that all utilities, infrastructures and facilities for teaching and learning have been put in place. Dynamic teaching, the dissemination of knowledge and mastery of disciplines must be emphasised,” he said.

Dr Harun also announced the launch of UMS Alumni Fund which will further boost the cooperation between the university’s alumni members and the university.

Also present at the event were Head of State Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Haji Juhar Mahiruddin and his wife Toh Puan Datuk Seri Panglima Norlidah RM Jasni.