By Christine T
KUCHING, Oct 20: i-CATS University College has received official recognition as a full-fledged university following a review by the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), with the recognition letter presented during a courtesy call by its minister, Dato Sri Zambry Abdul Kadir, to the Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, today.
Zambry said the ministry supported State-level efforts to establish higher education institutions aligned with their development visions and human capital needs.
“With the establishment of this institution as a full-fledged university, it will be able to expand the range of programmes it offers. The Ministry of Higher Education will support the programmes it introduces,” he told reporters after the courtesy call at DUS Complex today.
He said the ministry would work with the Sarawak government and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) to ensure new academic programmes meet requirements and obtain relevant approvals.
Zambry said Abang Johari had expressed interest in introducing courses that would address the State’s workforce needs, particularly in high-technology industries.
“There are locations that require 500 engineers, while another location has a similar requirement of approximately 500 engineers,” he added.
He said a strong higher education ecosystem would enable institutions in Sarawak to support the State government’s development agenda by producing skilled talent for key industries.
Zambry confirmed that the change in i-CATS’ status had already taken effect, allowing it to operate as a full-fledged university. He also acknowledged plans to establish a new campus.
“I would like to congratulate the people of Sarawak on having a visionary leader. One of the most important visions for any State is its vision for education, particularly in developing its human capital, which is of great importance,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zambry said the ministry had approved a law programme at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) following a special request from the Sarawak government, citing the need to increase the number of legal professionals in Sarawak and Sabah despite an existing moratorium.
He also noted that approval in principle for the proposed Fudan Research Centre in Sarawak had been granted in February this year.
On pending applications from Universiti Teknologi Sarawak (UTS), Zambry assured State authorities that the ministry would expedite the process while ensuring universities met the necessary application requirements.
Separately, on reports of riots in major French cities, Zambry said the government is monitoring the situation in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He said no Malaysian students had been reported injured so far, although some may have experienced disruptions to their movements, including travel to campus.
He added that, if the situation worsens, the immediate priority would be to move students away from affected areas, with any further measures coordinated with the Foreign Ministry. — DayakDaily
