Dr Rafiq and Dr Marso exchanging MoU documents.
KOTA KINABALU: University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF) has formalised a partnership with Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Ekonomi (STIE) Bulungan Tarakan, North Kalimantan, through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The signing ceremony was held at UCSF’s main campus in Kota Kinabalu, with delegates from STIE Bulungan Tarakan traveling to participate in the event.
The MoU underscores a shared commitment to fostering academic collaboration, focusing on student exchange programs, visiting scholar initiatives, joint research projects and other forms of academic cooperation.
The event was attended by Datuk Asnimar, a member of UCSF’s Board of Governors, alongside other distinguished guests.
It highlighted efforts to strengthen ties between higher education institutions in Sabah and Kalimantan, both of which are integral to the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
Over 100 attendees witnessed the signing ceremony.
Following the signing, an International Seminar titled “The Relocation of Indonesia’s Capital City: Potential Impact, Issues, and Way Forward” was co-organised by UCSF and STIE Bulungan Tarakan.
Dr. Marso expressed hope that the collaboration between the two institutions would provide valuable insights for stakeholders and policymakers, supporting the broader vision of ASEAN, BIMP-EAGA, and SOSEKMALINDO. He added that research under this partnership would focus on managing the Heart of Borneo’s potential as an ecotourism destination, contributing to the realisation of a “single tourism destination,” a key program outlined in the BIMP-EAGA strategic framework.
UCSF Vice Chancellor Datuk Dr Rafiq Idris emphasised the significance of the partnership and said UCSF look forward to strengthening academic collaborations with institutions like STIE in North Kalimantan.
