UNIMAS Research Centres

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The Malaria Research Centre (MRC) was established as one of the two Centres of Excellence by UNIMAS in January 2006. This was in recognition of the major contributions to malaria research by Prof Balbir Singh, Prof Janet Cox-Singh and co-researchers at the Malaria Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. These two scientists joined UNIMAS in 1999 to establish laboratory-based research in the new Medical Faculty and with financial support from UNIMAS, they were instrumental in designing and equipping state-of-the-art research laboratories. The acquisition of research grants from Wellcome Trust, United Kingdom, the Malaysian Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment and UNIMAS, enabled them to train young scientists and establish an active group of researchers working on malaria.
Sarawak’s sago industry has a long tradition, and has contributed significantly towards the socio-economic development of the state and country. The present state government policy has been to expand and develop the industry, in order to make sago palm as a viable alternative crop to oil palm cultivation especially on marginal land. Thus Research and Development (R&D) efforts have been aimed to improve the sago industry in Sarawak.
The first of its kind in Sarawak and Malaysia, the Gamification Centre was launched on 1st August 2020, marking an exciting new beginning for its existing CreativeCulture initiatives and programmes. The centre focuses on developing research and developments in the field of Gamification of Learning, to advance thinking and competence. The Gamification Centre is located at the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, UNIMAS. The research lab is called MyCapsule Space, as it is uniquely designed to promote creative innovation and collaborative work, exploratory play and open learning - a rethinking space that challenges 21st century learning.
The UNIMAS Data Science Center was established on the 10th of March 2022. The center aims to be a leading center that creates research impact for a sustainable future by advancing in core Data Science areas. In fulfilling this goal, the center set as her mission to transform data science solutions into generic workbench through continuous collaboration between data scientists and domain experts; and to educate new generations of data-aware professionals through technology transfer and consultation services.

UNIMAS Research Institutes

The Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation (IBEC) was set up in July 1994 as one of the founding institutions within UNIMAS with the purpose of promoting research in two niche areas: Tropical Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation. Its teaching and research program are structured at the masters, doctoral and postdoctoral levels.
The Institute of Health and Community Medicine (IHCM) was founded in 1995 with the goal of studying diseases important in the region. The Institute’s founding member and its first director, Prof. Dr. Jane Cardosa, was instrumental in building up a world class laboratory with modern facilities with highly trained staff, to facilitate top notch research capacity in the land of Hornbills. Today, the institute is home to a team of talented researchers dedicated to investigating the causes and diagnosis of viral diseases of public health importance in the region. Most importantly, we have created and continue to strengthen links within our community and have contributed significantly to health issues relevant to the people of Sarawak.
Institute of Borneo Studies (IBS) formerly known as Institute of East Asian Studies (IEAS) was established on the 1st of March 1997 at the centre of University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) in Kota Samarahan. The role of the institute is to promote research in all relevant areas to ensure deeper and holistic understanding of the socio-political dynamics of the East Asian region in the global context by taking into account the social, cultural, religious, historical, and civilizational aspects. The focus of research at IBS is the island of Borneo and Malaysia in the context of South-east Asia and East Asia a region undergoing drastic transformation as a consequence of unprecedented economic development and globalization.
The Institute of Creative Arts and Technology (iCreaTe) was initially known as the Institute of Design and Ergonomic Application (IDEA) which was incorporated back in October 1996. In keeping with the thrust of university of being at the forefront of innovation, it was decided that IDEA would take on a bigger role and thus was renamed as the Institute of Design and Innovation (InDI) on 1st March 2011. On 23 February 2018, InDI then rebranded to Institute of Creative Arts and Technology.
Institute of Social Informatics and Technological Innovations (ISITI), formerly known as the Centre of Excellence for Rural Informatics (CoERI) is a research institute in University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) established in 2011. The institute aims to empower marginalized communities by developing and deploying innovative solutions catering to four niche areas: Community Sustainability, ICT for Development (ICT4D), Socio-Technical Innovation and Indigenous Knowledge Management. The institute is actively contributing to fourteen of the17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations with its community based research projects in the rural areas.
Institute of Social Informatics and Technological Innovations (ISITI), formerly known as the Centre of Excellence for Rural Informatics (CoERI) is a research institute in University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) established in 2011. The institute aims to empower marginalized communities by developing and deploying innovative solutions catering to four niche areas: Community Sustainability, ICT for Development (ICT4D), Socio-Technical Innovation and Indigenous Knowledge Management. The institute is actively contributing to fourteen of the17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations with its community based research projects in the rural areas.
Institute of Social Informatics and Technological Innovations (ISITI), formerly known as the Centre of Excellence for Rural Informatics (CoERI) is a research institute in University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) established in 2011. The institute aims to empower marginalized communities by developing and deploying innovative solutions catering to four niche areas: Community Sustainability, ICT for Development (ICT4D), Socio-Technical Innovation and Indigenous Knowledge Management. The institute is actively contributing to fourteen of the17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations with its community based research projects in the rural areas.