KOTA SAMARAHAN: A total of 112 students from SMK Engkilili were given first hand exposure to university life and STEM opportunities during an educational visit to UNIMAS yesterday (Aug 17).
Accompanied by eight teachers, the students visited the Faculty of Resource Science and Technology (FRST) to gain a closer look at university facilities, research activities and potential career pathways in science and technology.
The programme began with a welcome address by FRST dean Prof Dr Ts Faisal Ali Anrawali Khan, who introduced the faculty’s six academic programmes and highlighted various university study pathways and career opportunities in STEM.
He also showed the students that pathways towards careers in science are within their reach without having to leave Borneo.
The briefing was followed by a video presentation showcasing the faculty’s research achievements and campus facilities.
The students then took part in a guided tour of several teaching and research laboratories, where they were exposed to the practical application of scientific knowledge.
At the Biotechnology and Chemistry Teaching Laboratories, they viewed scientific equipment and learned how laboratory experiments can be applied to agriculture, industry and environmental management.
The group also visited the Zoology Museum, where they viewed various specimens and learned about wildlife conservation and Sarawak’s biodiversity.
The visit continued at the Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory, where the students were introduced to in vitro techniques used to grow and propagate plants under controlled conditions, particularly for agriculture and forestry.
At the Aquatic Vertebrate Laboratory, they learned about aquatic ecosystems and research efforts to protect aquatic organisms and manage water resources sustainably.
The programme aimed to give rural students a closer understanding of opportunities in science and technology while encouraging them to pursue higher education and STEM related careers.
UNIMAS said programmes such as the visit were part of its continued efforts to bring higher education opportunities closer to rural students across Sarawak and Borneo.
