The day’s agenda included a poster exhibition, showcasing research work by IBS’s postgraduate students.
KUCHING, 19 October – The Institute of Borneo Studies (IBS) recently hosted a well-attended Open Day event focused on postgraduate studies. Held at the Borneo Cultures Museum and co-organized with the Institute of Creative Arts and Technology (iCreaTe), the event provided an important platform to introduce IBS’s postgraduate programs, showcase research projects, and explore new opportunities for advanced studies on Borneo.
The event was honored by the attendance of UNIMAS Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Hata Rasit, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Prof. Ir. Dr. Siti Noor Linda Taib. Their presence underscored UNIMAS’s commitment to supporting postgraduate research and advancing understanding of Borneo’s cultural and environmental richness. The Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor spent time engaging with students and faculty, emphasizing the importance of fostering academic excellence and expanding the university’s research community.
With nearly 200 participants throughout the day, the IBS Open Day aimed to strengthen the postgraduate program’s mission of deepening understanding of Borneo through innovative research. The program also highlighted IBS’s role in cultivating a community of researchers committed to exploring Borneo’s unique heritage, environment, and socio-economic aspects.
The day’s agenda included a poster exhibition, showcasing research work by IBS’s postgraduate students. Viewed by both the Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, the exhibition provided students with the opportunity to discuss their work directly with attendees, sparking conversations about collaboration and research impact. This exhibition made it easy for participants to see the range of impactful research being conducted at IBS.
In the afternoon, two accomplished IBS alumni delivered talks sharing their professional journeys and the impact of their postgraduate studies. One of the speakers, Dr. Voon Jan Cham, an alumnus from the Class of 2002, spoke about how research and education at IBS have influenced his career and personal growth. His presentation encouraged current students to see how postgraduate studies can shape meaningful careers and contribute to societal advancement.
The program continued with a research seminar, where current IBS postgraduate students presented their research findings. This seminar was a prestigious opportunity for students to showcase their work to university leaders and fellow researchers. The topics covered were diverse and highlighted the relevance of IBS research in understanding Borneo’s cultural and environmental landscape.
From using rational emotive behavior therapy to address truancy in Limbang, to developing a digital heritage model for the preservation of the Kelabit Highlands, students presented research on a range of topics. Other projects examined Marudi’s carbon forests for economic sustainability, carbon forests for Indigenous food security, the impact of cross-border Gawai Nyobeng celebrations on Bidayuh knowledge, and local integration of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through CMS. These projects emphasized how postgraduate studies at IBS can significantly contribute to local and regional issues.
Throughout the day, the engagement of Prof. Dr. Ahmad Hata Prof. Ir. Dr. Siti Noor Linda reflected UNIMAS’s dedication to academic excellence and its commitment to nurturing the next generation of researchers. The Open Day successfully highlighted the university’s support for building research capacity and fostering a strong research community.
This Open Day was a testament to the Institute of Borneo Studies’ mission to promote research on Borneo and its commitment to cultivating a collaborative research environment at UNIMAS.
Photos by Fitzpatrick Anak Ricky Guing