SIBU: The conceptualisation of a technology research park at University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS) has stirred some interests among entrepreneurs and municipal councils from Korea and China.


Wong (third left) with UCTS board members.

This was revealed by the institution’s management board chairman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh during a board meeting last week.

Wong, who is also Second Finance Minister and Local Council and Community Development Minister, said this was an area where UCTS would like to work in relation to the set-up of the technology research park.

“The signing of ‘Friendship City’ pacts between Sibu Municipal Council and China have been very helpful, and we shall build on this link to see into the possibility of working out a partnership with regard to the technology research park,” he said, adding that Chinese and Korean investors were looking forward to the establishment of the park.

In last week’s board meeting, Wong also touched on soft and hardware development of UCTS, highlighting that the university college would continue to expand in phases.

“We shall build a hostel, a car park and a surau soon to cater for the immediate needs as UCTS continues to expand.

“It would also soon add more courses to its study programmes which include food technology, computer science, accountancy, architecture and mechanical engineering.”

Wong was confident that Sarawakian students, especially those from here and around the Rajang Basin, would stand to benefit from the commitment pledged by UCTS.

“Although UCTS is a private institution, its primary goal is not profit-driven but on providing world-class education to locals so that children of Sibu will have high-quality education right here at home.

“With the commitment from UCTS, parents will no longer have to worry about sending their children away from home to further their studies,” he said.

Apart from being an institution of higher learning, the establishment of UCTS will also support the human resource development slated for the expanding Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), stretching along the coastal regions that encompass Tanjung Manis, Samalaju, Baram and Kapit.