KUCHING: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), collaborating with Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), Old Kuching Smart Heritage (OKSHe) and Unimas Global, has launched the OKSHe-Unimas-SIT Global Problem Based Learning (gPBL) Programme.
Unimas said that the partnership with SIT was established in 2011 and reinforced in 2015.
“Since then, several programmes and activities have been organised between the two institutions, including gPBL, which is an ongoing annual programme.
“It is a student mobility programme initiated in 2015 with the goal of nurturing students’ problem-solving skills by exposing them to real life challenges.
“Every year, SIT welcomes students from Unimas and Unimas also receives SIT students for the same programme,” Unimas said on Monday (July 26).
The theme for this year is ‘Solutions that Cross Frontiers: The Sustainable Story of Perahu Tambang.’
“The gPBL this year involves local communities from Kampung Empila and Kampung Semerah Padi in Kota Samarahan and Kuching respectively.
“Through the programme, SIT students will be exposed to Sarawakian heritage and culture while working with Unimas students to solve engineering-related obstacles faced by the local community.
“This year’s edition will focus on the improvement of perahu tambang, locally known as penambang. We are honoured to collaborate with OKSHe for this year’s programme.
“OKSHe connects us with members of the Old Kuching community and has been actively involved in the planning and execution of the current programme.”
Meanwhile, Unimas vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi said as a community-driven university, Unimas was proud to be an institution that could provide beneficial platforms to its students and partners to identify and unravel real-life problems faced by the community and to train students in applying their knowledge to find the best solutions.
