KOTA SAMARAHAN: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) is introducing three new postgraduate programmes under ‘Strategic Priority 1: Life-Wide Transformative Education’ as part of its 2026 strategic agenda.
The programmes, namely Master of Science in Food Safety Management, Master of Family Medicine, and Master of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, were announced during the Vice-Chancellor’s 2026 address.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit, said Strategic Priority 1 serves as the foundation for empowering a comprehensive learning experience that transcends academic boundaries and real-world realities.
“This priority marks a shift from education that is syllabus-bound to a flexible and adaptive transformational journey.
“Our ultimate aim is to develop holistic human capital encompassing knowledge mastery, skills, values and strong character,” he said at DeTAR Putera, UNIMAS, today (Feb 13).
Central to the strategy is the launch of the SmartFlex Ecosystem (SFE), which will cultivate new scholarship and strengthen institutional capacity.
Three priority fields have been identified – Sustainability, Gerontology and Indigenous Knowledge – to enhance UNIMAS’ academic impact at the regional, national and global levels.
Ahmad Hata added that the university will expand into transdisciplinary and future-forward domains, including the implementation of dual degree and joint degree programmes with international partners.
Two programmes from the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology have been identified for this initiative.
Recognising evolving learning trends, Ahmad Hata stressed that education today is no longer limited to lifelong learning but embraces life-wide learning.
“Our students are not only young learners, but also professionals and industry players who will lead sustainable change in society,” he said.
In 2026, UNIMAS is targeting the development of 60 microcredential courses for coursework-based master’s programmes in collaboration with local and international universities, followed by 10 additional courses adapted from Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA)-accredited programmes complete with e-certificates.
To enhance academic credibility, preparations will begin next year for five new programmes with international accreditation.
The university will also initiate compliance efforts towards ISO 21001 certification under the Educational Organisations Management System (EOMS), alongside pursuing one Malaysian Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (SAMM) involving two laboratories at the Faculty of Resource Science and Technology and the Faculty of Engineering.
“These measures will reinforce UNIMAS’ position as a competitive and contemporary institution with strong scholarly value,” Ahmad Hata said.
