KOTA SAMARAHAN: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) will introduce five new masters programmes by coursework starting September or October.
Vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Kadim Suaidi said the move is at supporting the goals of the federal and the Sarawak governments, thus ensuring the role of UNIMAS continues to remain relevant.
“UNIMAS is targeting about 15 to 20 students for each new programme intake and we need the expertise. So if we can reach 15 students for each programme, it can be carried out,” he said at the Amanat Naib Canselor 2023 themed ‘Empowering Communities for a Sustainable World’ held at DeTAR PUTRA, UNIMAS, today (Feb 14).
The programmes are Master of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture; Master of Education Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages), Faculty of Language and Communications; Master of Internal Medicine, Master of Surgery (Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, ORLHNS) and Master in Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Kadim said the masters programmes are open to all.
“For example, programmes involving the Faculty of Medicine and Health Science are certainly open to all medical doctors, especially those currently serving with the Ministry of Health (MoH).
“However, so far the five programmes have not been implemented because we will start the new student intake in September or October.
“This is also based on our academic calendar, but the matter has already been announced and approved,” he said.
He said the university is offering 27 masters programmes so far to approximately 1,800 students and with the addition of the five programmes, there will be a total of 32 master programmes offered by the university.
“The addition of the masters programmes through coursework is also in line with the theme of this year’s mandate,” he explained.
Kadim emphasised that UNIMAS has the advantage and capacity to offer early childhood education programmes at degree level commercially with hybrid learning and teaching mechanisms.
Therefore, the Faculty of Cognitive Science and Human Development (FSKPM) has identified the Sarawak Aminuddin Baki Institute, the Sarawak Social Welfare Department, SeDIDIK, and those related to short courses under ProCEL for either non-executive or executive employees.
“As an effort to create experts and lecturers in the field of early childhood education, FSKPM has also held its first meeting together with the National Child Development Research Centre (NCDRC) which aims to create an early childhood education programme at UNIMAS at the diploma, bachelor’s degree and postgraduate levels and create a human development research hub,” he said.
Also present was UNIMAS’ board of directors chairman Tan Sri Datuk Seri Sulong Matjeraie.
