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Kota Kinabalu: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has made history by welcoming more than 850 international mobility students this year — the highest number since the university’s establishment.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor said the presence of international students, including both full-time and mobility participants, has enriched the campus community through the exchange of cultures, traditions, and global perspectives.

“Students from various countries bring unique experiences that help strengthen friendship, understanding, and mutual respect within the global academic community.

“Cultural differences are not barriers; instead, they are strengths that unite us,” he said at the International Night Dinner held here recently.

He was represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) Prof Dr Rossita Shapawi.

Kasim added that this year’s celebration coincided with the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit, serving as a reminder of the importance of regional cooperation and people-to-people connections among member countries.

“To students from Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, and Timor-Leste, your presence reflects the spirit of ‘Asean Unity in Diversity’.

“Strong regional ties begin with community relationships, including those built on campus,” he said.

He added that the event not only celebrated cultural diversity but also recognised the contributions of international students in strengthening cross-border educational ties.

During the event, international students from Japan, China, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Brunei Darussalam presented various cultural performances. The ceremony also included the presentation of completion certificates to 42 students from Changsha University, China, who had completed their mobility programme.

Rossita also presented four faculty awards, namely, the Internationalisation and Mobility Engagement Programme Award for the Faculty of Business, Economics and Accountancy, the Collaborative International Learning Mobility Programme Award for the Faculty of Education and Sports Science, the Global Mobility Impact Programme Award for the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, and the Global Blended Mobility Award for the Biotechnology Research Institute.

Also present at the event was the Centre for Internationalisation and Global Engagement Director, Prof Dr Wardatul Akmam Din.