KOTA SAMARAHAN, June 18: About 660 new students of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) took their pledge as students of Unimas’ Centre of Pre-University Studies (PPPU) 2019/2020 session in conjunction with its Student Welcoming Week.
The programme was held for four days, from June 14-17, and it was officiated at by vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi.
For the 10th cohort, PPPU offers three programmes: Foundation in Life Sciences, Foundation in Physical Sciences, and International Foundation in Science (IFS).
Both the Foundation in Life Sciences and Foundation in Physical Sciences programmes have been awarded full accreditation by the Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA).
IFS is a new programme offered, starting from the 2018/2019 session, and this programme is open to Malaysian and international students. This is one of the initiatives by Unimas to share knowledge with a wider population.
In a statement, Unimas said its students who enrolled in these three programmes would study in PPPU for two semesters. This is a preparation for students to further their undergraduate studies in Bachelor’s programmes in the science-based faculties in the university.
PPPU has so far produced highly competitive undergraduate students. In 2018, Franklin Lingga Abun, an alumnus of PPPU, was offered a 10-year contract (2021-2031) as an Automotive Technology Expert for BMW Group in Austria. Franklin is an undergraduate of the Unimas Faculty of Engineering following his completion of the foundation course in PPPU.
Another PPPU alumni, Freddy Luke Kenidy, won the Best Debater Award in Debat Diraja 2018. He is currently an undergraduate in the Unimas Faculty of Medicine and Health Science.
PPPU’s alumni achievements are not only limited to the academic field.
In the Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) 2018 national sports event, Abner Loo Chun Lik won gold in the Team Tenpin Bowling category while Adam Fabian participated in karate.
Loo’s excellent achievements in both sports and academic fields have earned him the Best Pre-University Student Award in the Majlis Apresiasi Gemilang Mahasiswa Unimas (MEGAH) 2019.
The programmes in PPPU are not merely test-oriented courses as students will be exposed to leadership, entrepreneurship and community values, such as through PPPU’s annual activities, Asasi Back To Community Open Day, which allows students to interact with the wider community.
In addition, PPPU has successfully organised four Unimas ‘Scienceploration Camps’ for SPM leavers and secondary school students.
The programme aims to inculcate interest in Science and Mathematics among the participants through appealing activities and experiments.
The objective of this programme is in line with the requirements and implementation of the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 to enhance the knowledge and skills in STEM Education (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics).
In order to reinforce Unimas’ image in serving the local community, PPPU staff travelled across Sarawak from Kuching to Lawas to promote the field of Science and Mathematics through the 2019 Unimas Pre-University Trans-Borneo Roadshow and 2019 TEGAS Project Of Dream Realised (PRO-DR) Roadshow.
Along with the call for Industrial Revolution 4.0, students need to be empowered with knowledge of science and technology to become more competitive and opportunistic in order to face the challenges of this era of digitalisation. — DayakDaily
