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KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is planning to increase its intake of international students to be in line with the majority of education systems around the world.According to the university's Vice Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr Mohd Harun Abdullah, it is also part of their effort to make it easier for students to pursue their studies at UMS.

"We have a culturally diverse student population at UMS. We have international students from China, Indonesia and South Korea just to name a few," he said, expressing his pride over the university's first intake of Cambodian students.

Harun said this in his speech delivered by UMS International Student Affairs Centre Acting Director Molly Donna Datuk Ag Sham during the Intensive English Preparatory Programme (IEPP) welcoming ceremony at the university's Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Monday.

The programme, he explained, would help equip the students in their preparation for their next stage of education at UMS besides giving them an opportunity to socialise with the rest of the local and international students.

According to him, this would be the best time for students to embrace wider, richer, more international and multicultural worldview with the shared destiny of an internationalised future.

"Embrace differences and be open to them, stay true to what is right and prepare yourselves to be global citizens.

"Global citizenship means feeling a sense of responsibility for the impact that your choices will have on others – locally and across the boundaries of nation, race and religion.

"It means experiencing other cultures and learning new languages. It means becoming independent-thinking, culturally-aware individuals who are prepared to make a difference in the world," he said, adding that the capability of communicating proficient English can help students play a better role as global citizens.

Harun also advised them to strive in achieving excellence in their studies, be well-disciplined as well as to mingle with the rest instead of just being confined to their own classmates and friends from their own country.

"This will help you learn more about the people, their cultures and at the same time improve your skills, knowledge and understanding," he said, adding that students will feel more confident and motivated to learn more through the application of English.

Meanwhile, UMS Link Holdings Sdn Bhd Group General Manager Ramlan Awang Ali said English is the most widely spoken language in the world for business and industry.

"The advancement of the Internet and communication technology has resulted in the need to effectively communicate in English," he said, adding that their confidence in English will be able to assist them in their future careers.

Towards this end, he said Malaysia and Sabah in particular consist of multi-ethnic and multi-religious communities with an open, caring and friendly disposition.