The Faculty of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development (FCSHD), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), hosted UNIMAS x SG Exchange 2025 on 13 May 2025 in collaboration with Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore. The international inbound mobility programme welcomed 24 students from Temasek Polytechnic and 18 Cognitive Science students from UNIMAS, offering an engaging platform for cross-border learning, cultural exchange, and shared academic inquiry.
Organised by the Cognitive Neuroscience Club (CNC), the programme reflected the faculty’s ongoing commitment to internationalisation and student-centred learning. Activities were designed to foster dialogue, introduce sustainable practices, and provide participants with insights into campus life and academic offerings at UNIMAS.
Introducing FCSHD: A Student-Led Academic Exchange
The programme opened with Show and Tell: Uni Edition, led by Sajne Saravanan, President of CNC. The session offered an overview of the faculty’s academic structure, introducing the four undergraduate programmes—Cognitive Science, Human Resource Development, Counselling, and Psychology—and their associated student organisations. A short video showcased campus life at UNIMAS, followed by an interactive question-and-answer segment.
Temasek Polytechnic students demonstrated high levels of engagement throughout the session, reflecting a shared curiosity about academic pathways and co-curricular experiences at FCSHD.
Sustainability Through Practice: Soap-Making Workshop
A key component of the programme was a hands-on sustainability workshop on soap-making, conducted by CNC facilitators. Participants learned to repurpose used cooking oil into eco-friendly soap—a practical exercise that highlighted the principles of Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
Working in small groups, students from both institutions collaborated under the guidance of UNIMAS student facilitators, learning the steps of the soap-making process while discussing the environmental impact of everyday habits. The workshop offered an accessible and creative way to promote sustainability, with active participation from both students and visiting faculty from Temasek Polytechnic.
Exploring Campus: From Classrooms to Laboratories
Following the workshop, students participated in a guided tour of FCSHD and the wider UNIMAS campus. The tour included a visit to the Neuroscience Lab, where final-year students introduced the brain wave detection system used in their research. Other stops included the FCSHD Library, the student common areas, and learning spaces within the faculty.
The broader campus tour featured major university landmarks such as the Chancellery Building and the Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’kub Library (PeTARY), as well as passing visits to the Faculty of Applied and Creative Arts (FACA) and the Faculty of Education, Language, and Communication (FELC). Despite the warm afternoon, students remained actively engaged, expressing interest in the university’s academic environment and infrastructure.
Looking Ahead
The visit concluded with a group photo at PeTARY, symbolising the spirit of collaboration and shared learning that defined the exchange. UNIMAS x SG Exchange 2025 not only strengthened institutional ties but also provided students with meaningful opportunities for intercultural interaction and applied learning.
UNIMAS extends its sincere appreciation to Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore, for their partnership and looks forward to continued collaboration in future academic exchanges.
Contributed by Sajne Saravanan/Cognitive Neuroscience Club