HOSPITAL SOON FOR UMS MAIN CAMPUS

AWARD.....Juhar presents Ong Sheu Li with the Excellence Award in Research (science) while Harun (second right) looks on.

By : CHOK SIM YEE

KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) will soon have a hospital in the main campus here to provide training and learning opportunities for medical and health sciences students.

UMS vice chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Harun Abdullah said the University-Family Partnership in Community Wellness Programme (PUPUK) pioneered by the Medical School has shifted the paradigm of rural medical education.

UMS, as he said, was the first university that required each medical student to monitor the health of a family in Sikuati, Kudat from first to the fifth year of education.

This approach would familiarize the future doctors to serve in rural areas, as well as to reduce the psychological issues of doctors who could not adapt themselves when they were instructed to work at rural areas, he said in his  speech at the 14th convocation dinner of UMS here on Friday.

The event was graced by the Head of State Tun Haji Juhar bin Haji Mahiruddin, who is also UMS chancellor and his spouse Toh Puan Hajah Norlidah Datuk R.M. Jasni.

In addition, he said Saridah Roslih from Kg Matunggong, Kudat has now been accepted to work with the International Development and Refugees in Bangkok.

This proves the government’s effort  in raising the standard of living in Sabah, starting from one family, one graduate, he said.

He said UMS now has 13 schools spread across three campuses, with one each in Kota Kinabalu, Labuan and Sandakan.

On September 27 this year, Harun said the university received good news that the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) had recognized Borneo Marine Research Institute of UMS as having the potential to become Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HicoE).

In 36 days, he said UMS would be celebrating its 18th anniversary and it would be wise the rethink the transformation plans that were being planned for the university.

Harun stressed that UMS researchers needed major funds for the university to be on par with the latest technology.

“I believe the reason why Japan and South Korea are the leaders in innovation is the assistance of funds from giant corporate that aims to strengthen higher research.

He urged UMS alumni, who have strategic communication networks with international giant corporation to assist in sourcing more research funds for UMS.

The event also saw the presentation of various awards to graduates who have shown outstanding performance. (BP)