American Corner established at UMS Library
KOTA KINABALU: The establishment of an American Corner at University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) library is aimed at providing information about the United States of America.
This is the ninth American Corner established in Malaysia, after Penang, Kedah, Perak, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, Sarawak and Johor.
UMS vice chancellor Prof Datuk Dr D. Kamarudin D Mudin said the American Corner was set up following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy on September 23 this year.
He said the corner would house pictorial books, encyclopedia, current American magazines and journals and DVDs on American technology, as well as providing facilities such as iPads, iMac and 3D printers.
He added that the corner would also organize activities that benefit the UMS community and locals.
Kamarudin reckons the establishment of the American Corner at UMS library would further enhance the university's visibility among domestic and international communities.
“It is my hope that through this corner, UMS community will gain more information and knowledge about the United States, especially its society, culture and values,” he said when officiating at the launching of American Corner here yesterday.
Meanwhile, Counsellor of Public Affairs of the US Embassy in Malaysia, Bradley Hurst, said the American Corner is a partnership programme run by US Embassies around the world.
He said the American Corner would serve as the centre of connection with the community in Sabah.
Hurst said the US Embassy had organized various activities with UMS, including a drone workshop and a talk delivered by an IBM speaker on the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0.
Additionally, he said the embassy had been running the Fullbright English Teaching Assistance programme for the past five years where American university graduates were sent to work at secondary schools in Malaysia, Sabah included.
He said 15 teachers had been sent to Malaysia in the past year and 15 more would come in January under the programme.
Hurst said the American Corner also connected UMS students to programmes supported by the embassy and US government, such as getting students and faculties outside the main cities in Malaysia to participate in hosting American scholars and students who wished to come to Malaysia.
Hurst was representing the US Ambassador to Malaysia, Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir, at the event. Also present was UMS chief librarian, Dayang Rukiah Awang Amit.