KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has reaffirmed the importance of English proficiency as a critical skill for Sabah’s younger generation to remain competitive globally while staying rooted in local identity.
UMS Vice Chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Hj Mansur, said programmes like English Week play a vital role in shaping confident and articulate graduates.
“English is no longer just an academic subject, it is a gateway to knowledge, innovation and global opportunities,” he said in a speech delivered by UMS Chief Librarian Zawawi Datuk Hj Tiyunin.
At the same time, he said, we want our students to use this skill to contribute meaningfully to Sabah and the nation.
He added that UMS remains committed to nurturing holistic graduates who are not only knowledgeable but also effective communicators.
The English Week 2026, held from April 20 to 24 at the U-Science Foyer, culminated yesterday with a prize-giving ceremony attended by university students and participants from secondary schools around the city.
Meanwhile, Organising Committee Chairman John Mark Storey, in his welcoming remarks, described the programme as an effort to make language learning more engaging and relevant.
“We wanted to move beyond textbooks and create a space where students can express themselves confidently, whether through performance, storytelling or digital content,” he said adding that the participation from both university and school students shows that interest in English is strong when learning is made interactive and meaningful.
Storey stressed that students who read regularly develop a strong sense of language, which informs their written and oral communication skills as well as the capacity for sustained reading.
Throughout the week, participants competed in a range of activities including Reading with Feeling, Sing-a-Song, Pitch It, Why I Read, and a TikTok Challenge, highlighting both creativity and communication skills.
In the closing ceremony, highlights of the week’s activities were showcased, including selected top TikTok Challenge entries, before winners received their certificates and special awards.
Storey also noted that involving secondary school students helps ease their transition into higher education.
“This is also about building confidence early, giving school students a glimpse of university life and encouraging them to see themselves here in the future,” he added.
Among those present were PPIB Deputy Deans Dr Budi Anto Hj Mohd Tamring and Dr Daron Benjamin Loo, together with English Language Cluster Coordinator Dr Anna Lyn.
The event concluded with a group photo session involving VIPs, organisers, judges and participants, marking the successful close of a programme that underscores UMS’s ongoing role in advancing language competency in Sabah. – Henry Bating
Zawawi and Storey pose with participants and judges following the English Week prize-giving ceremony.
