KUCHING: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) will be publishing a book featuring the pioneers of the higher learning institution.
It will comprise short stories, reflections, narrations, anecdotes and accounts of its staff who were involved in the getting the university up and running more than two decades ago.
Those pioneering Unimas were the ones serving during the first five years of its establishment.
The varsity’s founding vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohamad Zawawi Ismail, who served the varsity for eight years from 1992 to 2000 stressed that it is high time a book is being worked on to further detail the experiences during the early years of Unimas.
The expected date of the book’s publication is targeted to be on Dec 24 this year which will coincide with the university’s anniversary day. This is for its digital copy while the printed copy is expected to be available in January or February next year.
Unimas became the eighth university to be established in Malaysia and was incorporated officially on Dec 24, 1992.
With about 30 academic staff, the university opened its doors to the first batch of 118 students on Aug 8, 1993.
Now the university enrols some 4,000 new students each year and currently has about 16,000 students as of Oct last year.
Current vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi said the varsity has set an enrolment target of 18,000 students for the 2021-2025 period.
He said the campus can accommodate 18,000 students and it will focus on enrolling more of those doing post-graduate studies.
Earlier this year, the university achieved a milestone by ranking first in Malaysia and 28th in the world for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality in Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2021.
In June, it was shortlisted in THE Awards Asia’s Outstanding Leadership and Management Team, and Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year categories.
