Institute of Borneo Studies UNIMAS (IBS) has organised a research colloquium on 28 February 2025 which started at 8.30 am and closed at 12 noon. The colloquium was graced by our honoured guests the Nusantara Chair-Holder Datu Dr Hj Sanib b. Said, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation Prof Ir Dr Hjh. Siti Noor Linda Taib, Head of Chair Professor Dr Mohamad Jais and Dr Ahmad Adzlan Fadzli from Research, Innovation and Enterprise Centre (RIEC). In his address, Datu Dr Sanib revisits the background of Nusantara research grants and its achievement since the chair was established in the Institute in 1998. He also announced 2 new research topics for the upcoming year: The first is on the urban renewal and regeneration of Malay kampung in Kuching, and the other is theoretical and paradigmatic concepts of civilizational and tribal in the historical discourse of Sarawak society. Announcement for the new themes will be done in the second part of the year.
In her speech Prof Linda expressed her hope that researchers can use the findings of their studies to advance the well-being of Malay and Bumiputera societies in Sarawak and to disseminate the findings to respective stakeholders.
The main objective of the colloquium is to provide opportunity for researchers to present the current findings of their research. There are six ongoing research presented in the colloquium which covered diverse fields and topics in local history (Panglima Sadam and Panglima Seman), language and linguistic (Melanau Rejang), literature (Hikayat Panglima Nikosa), social issue (dropout Malay students) and economics (financial literacy). In addition, there was also a presentation of 5 new proposals from the grant recipients of the current year. Noticeably, the Nusantara grant has evolved in its study field to other disciplines such as science, medical, architecture and finance.
Through the colloquium, researchers were given opportunity to listen to topics from various disciplines of knowledge and also networking with researchers from different faculties. Researchers have also received feedbacks regarding the findings and proposals and ways to improve from the honorary guests. Overall, participants were pleased with the occasion which ran smoothly and in a collegial manner.
Photo by : Dabif https://www.flickr.com/photos/188448095@N06/albums/72177720324133873