KOTA SAMARAHAN: The UNIMASpreneur Carnival this year saw a strategic shift towards an innovation and technology-driven student entrepreneurship ecosystem at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).
Organised by the UNIMAS Entrepreneurship Centre (UEC), the two-day carnival, held from Dec 12, attracted about 4,000 visitors, involved 10 faculties and featured more than 300 business booths by students and strategic partners.
The event was the largest student entrepreneurship carnival ever organised by the university, reflecting the rapid growth and maturity of the UNIMAS entrepreneurship ecosystem, which has evolved from a traditional sales-based model into a platform integrating innovation, technology and market alignment.
Unlike previous editions that focused mainly on sales activities and basic entrepreneurial exposure, this year’s carnival placed emphasis on student ideas and products with real commercialisation potential.
High-impact programmes featured included the Sales Booth Competition, Business Idea Pitching Competition, TikTok Business Challenge and e-Sportpreneur Competition, alongside innovation exhibitions and industry talks covering financial literacy, digital technology, artificial intelligence (AI) applications and the importance of proper business registration.
Student leadership development was also strengthened through the appointment of the UNIMAS Student Entrepreneurship Club (KESISMA) as the main programme manager, providing students with hands-on experience in managing entrepreneurship activities and coordinating industry participation.
The carnival was supported by strategic partners, including the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) as co-organiser, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), Zurich Takaful Sdn Bhd and LACUNA Business Resources.
The collaboration exposed students to real market demands, regulatory compliance requirements and opportunities to scale innovations commercially.
The event also saw the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNIMAS and LHDN, aimed at strengthening tax literacy and promoting legitimate and sustainable business development among student entrepreneurs.
