KUCHING: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) received the thumbs-up from Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh for its ability to attract more than 300 papers and abstracts for the Unimas Silver Jubilee Conference 2017 (USJC2017).
“The ability to attract and assemble more than 300 papers and abstracts internationally is a testimony that you’re good and these abstracts and papers are going to be published in Scopus and ISI-indexed journal which is the testimony of the capacity and capability of Unimas,” Idris said when declaring open the USJC2017 at Pullman Kuching yesterday.
The USJC2017 attracted national and international researchers from countries as far as the US, UK, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, Pakistan, Nigeria, Japan, Saudi Arabia, France as well as neighbouring Singapore, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Papua New Guinea.
Best paper awards were presented to the researchers in recognition of their contribution to the USJC2017.
2017 is a special year for Unimas as this is the 25th year of its establishment as a university. The USJC2017 is the highlight of a series of events organised by Unimas throughout 2017 to celebrate its formation.
Idris noted that the eco-system provided by the state government will enhance the dynamism of Unimas in coming up with more translational researches that will generate impact to the communities, increase income of the small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs), increase productivity and functioning of the state government and protect the biodiversity of Borneo.
“I’m proud that Unimas is able to create translational researches and projects that are benefiting society. From my observation, I can see potential projects that can be translated in the near future. Unimas is soaring upwards.”
Idris said he was happy because the works done by Unimas over the last 25 years had been able to make an impact on the lives of the local communities such as in terms of clean water supply, energy generation, communications and online learning.
“In a short period of 25 years, Unimas has transformed a lot. Unimas has improved its QS Asia (University) ranking from 261 to 247. Of course, with the transformation that is ongoing, we do believe that one day you can challenge Oxford and Cambridge universities.”