SIBU: Sarawak is taking initial steps to establish a medical faculty at Universiti Teknologi Sarawak (UTS) as part of long-term plans to strengthen the state’s higher education landscape.
Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, said five experts would be appointed in January 2026 to conduct a feasibility study and propose the most suitable approach to set up the faculty.
“The appointed experts would also submit recommendations to the government on the necessary steps to begin establishing the faculty,” he was quoted as saying in a TVS’ report at the Education Development Programme 2025 Appreciation Ceremony at a hotel here on Wednesday.
Dr Annuar said encouraging interest had also come from a leading university in the United Kingdom that was keen to collaborate on developing the proposed medical faculty.
He described the initiative as a major plan he had been working on intensively in recent weeks and hoped it could be realised.
Dr Annuar also said UTS had reached full capacity, with student numbers rising from about 1,000 previously to more than 5,000.
He added that efforts would now focus on strengthening UTS’ ranking and academic standing at both state and national levels.
