Huge govt allocation for education, human capital devt
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah State Government has prepared a huge allocation for education and human capital devvelopment, said Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Arif.
He said that RM400 million had been prepared by the Sabah State Government to develop human capital in Sabah and for the education of children in the state.
There is also computer assistance for eligible students, he said when speaking at the 29th Sabah Institute of Art (SIA) Convocation Ceremony held at Kompleks JKKN Sabah’s auditorium on Saturday.
Mohd Arifin, who is also Sabah’s Education Exco, urged the graduates of SIA to adopt lifelong learning.
“Your learning does not stop here, after completing your Diploma, because I am confident you have dreams and some of you may decide to further your study at a higher level while some may want to improve their skills in the working environment,” he said.
A total of 32 students from five diploma programmes offered at SIA graduated at the event.
Also present was SIA President Professor Dato Sri Dr Wilson Yong Tung Yung who hoped the Sabah State Government can consider providing land to SIA to build its campus.
Wilson said that SIA had been established since 1990 and had nurtured over 3,000 local talents in design and music.
“But the school is still renting premises and has relocated four times in the past 34 years,” he said.
“We hope the government will seriously consider providing land for the construction of a campus for the school. Education is a longterm endeavour, and we earnestly hope that the government or kindhearted individuals can provide assistance,” he added.
SIA offers diploma programmes in Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Architecture and Music Studies and currently uses part of the UCSF building as its campus.
“I extend heartfelt thanks to Yayasan Sabah and UCSF for their generosity,” said Wilson.
He added that SIA had consistently strived to elevate its academic standards, aligning with the current trends in technological advancement by integrating artificial intelligence into its curriculum and shortening the three-year course into two years to better cultivate talents.
He also said that SIA is also actively preparing to apply for university status and this endeavour had received a written supply from Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor.
Wilson also shared that SIA is working with the Malaysia Examination Council (MPM) to set up a Malaysian University English Test (MUET) examination centre and learning centre in China.
“This endeavour represents a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to expand educational opportunities and foster international partnerships.
The establishment of a MUET examination centre in China will not only provide Chinese students with access to a globally recognised English proficiency test but also serve as a gateway for them to pursue higher education opportunities in Malaysia and other English-speaking countries, such as Singapore,” he said.
He explained that by offering the MUET examination in China, they aim to facilitate greater mobility and exchange among students, educators, and institutions across Malaysia and China. Wilson said that currently, they have already established eight MUET examination centres in China, including Chengdu University, Fuzhou University, Shandong Women’s College, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing University of Finance and Economics, Changsha Yinglan Vocational School, Hangzhou Xipei Education and Training School, and Wuhan Tiange Education Technology Centre.
At the same time, SIA is also working with New Era University to establish a franchise degree programme and offer a broader range of academic interests and career aspirations, he said.
SIA is also collaborating with Zhejiang University of Science and Technology (ZUST) to establish a ZUST-SIA Silk Road International Institute (ZUSSRRI) to offer bachelor’s degrees and post-graduate programs which is already recognized by the Zhejiang Province government, he added.