Written by Dr Nicholas Gani
The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH) celebrated an inspiring achievement at the recent Borneo International Technology Expo 2025 (Borneo InTEX25) held on 27-28 August 2025 at the Raia Hotel, Kuching. The faculty’s academics and researchers garnered outstanding recognition for their innovative projects, securing Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards in a showcase that highlighted creativity, research excellence, and real-world impact.
Borneo InTEX25, organised by UNIMAS, serves as a premier platform for researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs from across the region to present transformative ideas and solutions. The event is not only a celebration of innovation but also a testament to the university’s growing prominence in the research and innovation ecosystem of Borneo and beyond.
FSSH’s success this year underscores the Faculty’s dedication to advancing knowledge while addressing societal needs in Sarawak and the wider region. The award-winning projects reflect the faculty’s strengths in heritage, community development, indigenous knowledge, and digital innovation, reaffirming its role as a driver of interdisciplinary solutions for contemporary challenges.
Three presenters from FSSH won the Gold Award, and they are:
Dr Regina Garai with the project ‘ROOTS to RESILIENCE: An Educational Framework for Indigenous Food Heritage and Sustainability Among the Iban of Rural Sarawak’(co-researchers: AP Dr Wong Swee Kiong, and Professor Datu Dr Neilson Ilan Mersat)
Puan Nurul Huda binti Marwan, with the project ‘Model Perancangan Penggantian Kepimpinan Kesatuan Sekerja di Sarawak: Isu, Cabaran dan Pendekatan Holistik’ (co-researchers: Junaidah Binti Selhi, Elisawati binti Efindi, Mohamad Suhaidi B. Salleh, Awang Mashabi bin Awang Mohamad & Dayang Asmah binti Awang Hamdan)
and Dr Farah binti Zaini, with the project‘Strengthening Land Rights with AURA: A Rule-Based GeoAI Tool’ (co-researchers: Adibah binti Yusuf, Nurul Huda binti Marwan, Rosita bt. Hamdan, Nurlaila binti Ali & Ishamina binti Ismail)
Additionally, Dr Nicholas Gani won the Silver Award for the project ‘Community-Based Model for Sustainable Heritage Management’,while Dr Bemen Wong Win Keong won the Bronze Award for the project ‘From Policy Gaps to Practical Solutions: A Framework for Community Learning Centres (CLCs) in Sarawak’s Oil Palm Plantations’.
In addition to the awards and projects mentioned above, several faculty members also contributed significantly as co-researchers in projects, including those submitted by other faculties and institutes, all of which proudly secured Gold Awards at Borneo InTEX25. Professor Gs. D. Tarmiji Masron was part of the award-winning projects ‘The Geography of Crime: Exploring Property Crime in Kuching Across Time and Space”, submitted by Universiti Malaysia Sabah, and ‘CrimeCheck: A Web-Based GIS Crime Mapping Solution for Assault Crime in Kuala Lumpur’, submitted by the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology.
Puan Noor’ain binti Aini and Dr Farah binti Zaini contributed to “Modul Inovasi Sabun Daripada Minyak Masak Terpakai: Sayangi Alam, Jimat Belanja dan Jana Pendapatan’, submitted by the Faculty of Language and Communication.
Dr Adibah Yusuf contributed to three Gold Award winning projects:‘At the Heart of the Home: Interior Partitions in Sarawak River Malay Houses of the Brooke Era’(Faculty of Built Environment),‘Data Based Entry System II’ (Faculty of Applied and Creative Arts), and the aforementioned ‘Strengthening Land Rights with AURA: A Rule-Based GeoAI Tool’.
Meanwhile, Professor Dr Poline Bala was project leader for ‘Localizing Global Goals: A Strategic Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals within Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad’, submitted by the Institute of Borneo Studies.
These Gold Award achievements highlight the strong interdisciplinary spirit of FSSH researchers, whose expertise continues to enrich collaborations across faculties, institutes, and partner organisations.
The diversity of projects recognised at Borneo InTEX25 reflects FSSH’s multidisciplinary focus, spanning labour studies, indigenous knowledge systems, heritage management, education, and the application of cutting-edge technologies. These achievements highlight how social sciences and humanities can drive positive change, complementing scientific and technological advancements with people-centred insights.
The success at Borneo InTEX25 stands as a milestone for FSSH, showcasing the faculty’s continued excellence in the humanities and social sciences. By forging strong connections between academia, community, and industry, FSSH reaffirms its commitment in advancing knowledge that matters and creating impact that lasts.
FSSH – A Partner for Social Change