KOTA KINABALU: The State Government is looking forward and moving in tandem with the global concern and commitment towards sustainability and the green agenda.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Afdal said this target could be achieved by 2030 and University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF), a green university owned by Yayasan Sabah, would be committed to make its vision and mission a reality.
“I believe this move is not only visionary but futuristic in nature. UCSF has a very challenging task to fulfil its mission of becoming a new model of a green university that is relevant to Sabah.
“I have been informed that UCSF has articulated its own green concept and philosophy to set its future development direction.
“I like to see that UCSF incorporates its rather unique green philosophy and, elements of the United Nation’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) in all its academic programmes.
“In this way UCSF can significantly create the much desired impact and contribute to a more balanced development of the state and nation.
“By doing this UCSF could also develop as a centre of excellence in green initiatives and help pioneer, advocate and spur the green economy agenda of the state,” said Shafie. He was speaking at the UCSF’s inaugural convocation at the Yayasan Sabah Auditorium, here, Saturday.
Shafie further said Yayasan Sabah is well known globally for its commitment to conservation, especially the conservation of tropical rainforests.
“These conservation areas, about seven times the size of Singapore include the famous Danum Valley, Maliau Basin (the lost world), Imbak Canyon, Silam Coast Conservation Area and Taliwas Forestry and Recreation Area.
“We Sabahans and Malaysians in general, should be justifiably proud of our very vital and strategic contribution to the global drive towards conservation and maintaining the health of planet Earth.
“UCSF should fully leverage on these conservation areas as world-class living labs for teaching and learning, research and potential sources of sustainable value-added products.
“It is my hope that this noble effort embarked upon by Yayasan Sabah and the State will draw more attention and collaborations among various parties, both from national as well as global players who can not only acknowledge Sabah’s proactive role and its success stories in sustainable development, but constructively support for a greener economy,” he said.
In another development, Shafie said the approach towards sustainability has to be adaptive to the reality of changing world filled with disruptions.
He urged the people committed towards preserving crucial capacities like resources as well as core values and relationships including the multi-ethnicity of Sabah.
“This requires us to integrate ecological health, economic welfare, social empowerment and cultural creativity in an enduring and expansive manner.
“I hope that UCSF will be able to drive sustainable development with a strong ethical values among its students and staff,” said Shafie.
Shafie also hoped the university would continue to produce graduates that can either join the workplace or have confidence as well as necessary skills to go into entrepreneurship so that they can contribute to the development of the State.
About 274 graduates from the pioneering batch received their scrolls and three graduates received UCSF’s excellent awards.
The graduates were from three faculties, namely, the Faculty of Natural Science and Sustainability (FNSS), Faculty of Management and Entrepreneurship (FME) and Faculty of Arts and Creative Media (FACM).
