KUCHING: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) will establish a Research Endowment Chair with the full support of the Sarawak Government as a strategic step to strengthen the university's research ecosystem and elevate its position to the international stage.

UNIMAS Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Ahmad Hata Rasit said, Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg has expressed agreement to establish Research Endowment Chair for three main areas, namely Biodiversity Nexus, Biomedical Engineering and Bioinnovations, and Sarawakian History.

“We will discuss further with the Sarawak Premier to assist in improving UNIMAS research so that it further enhances our position at the international level because it is his hope for UNIMAS to become a global-class university.

“InsyaAllah, we have had a meeting just now and the Sarawak Government led by the Sarawak Premier will provide us with some funds to propel us directly to the international stage,” he said.

He told the media this after a courtesy call on the Sarawak Premier at the Satria Pertiwi Complex, here, on Thursday.

The courtesy call was led by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of UNIMAS, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Sulong Matjeraie.

Explaining further, Professor Dr. Ahmad Hata said the establishment of the Research Endowment Chair also includes the establishment of a new institute with a global, futuristic and transdisciplinary concept.

In the same meeting, Professor Dr. Ahmad Hata also shared the progress of the establishment of the UNIMAS Faculty of Law, which has now reached the Ministry of Higher Education for consideration at the Federal level and now requires a letter of support from the state government for approval by the cabinet.

Meanwhile, he added that UNIMAS also informed Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari of the significant improvement in the university’s position in the Times Higher Education ranking (THE) which jumped significantly from 401 in 2023 to the 101–200 group this year.

In the meantime, he said, the UNIMAS Convocation Ceremony will take place from 3 to 6 November and the Sarawak Premier as the Pro-Chancellor of UNIMAS is scheduled to attend on 4 November to celebrate the graduates.

Also present during the courtesy visit were Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International), Professor Dr. Fitri Suraya Mohamad Hapni Joblie, Assistant Vice-Chancellor Professor Assoc., Professor Ts. Noraziah Datuk Abdul Wahab, Chief Digital Officer, Professor Dr. Wan Hashim Wan Ibrahim and Director of the Endowment and Wakaf Division, Dayang Nor Hajijah Awang Daud. -UKASnews