- nabalunews
Exploring UCSF collaboration for bird guide certification at STB
20 August 2024
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Tourism Board (STB) is in discussions with University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF) to establish formal training and certification programmes for aspiring bird guides and other tourism professionals.
During a meeting on Tuesday, UCSF representatives, led by Board of Directors Chairman Datuk Dr. Mohd Yaakub Johari, engaged with STB Chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai to explore various tourism-related concepts.
The discussions centered on community empowerment, emphasising the importance of upskilling and reskilling rural residents, as well as leveraging the increasing popularity of birdwatching activities.
Also in attendance were STB's chief executive director Julinus Jeffrey Jimit, UCSF's vice-chancellor Dr. Rafiq Idris, and Sabah Institute for Development Studies (IDS) senior research associate Jesi Majungki.
During the meeting, Joniston shared STB's recent participation in the Rutland Global BirdFest and outlined plans to incorporate birdwatching into community-based tourism initiatives to enhance their appeal.
He noted STB's ongoing collaboration with the Sabah Birdwatchers Association to develop the birdwatching scene further and stressed the importance of offering proper certification for bird guides.
In response, Mohd Yaakub and Rafiq noted that some UCSF students are experienced birdwatchers, and tourism hospitality is among the courses offered by the institution.
They proposed that UCSF could partner with STB to offer short courses with proper certification, stressing the institution’s commitment to quality assurance.
Julinus highlighted the need for further discussions between STB, UCSF, and the Sabah Birdwatchers Association to explore this collaboration as a strategic step forward.
Emphasising STB's Dedication to Rural Tourism, Joniston highlighted the increasing enthusiasm within rural communities and stressed the essentiality of providing courses that equip them with the necessary skills for success in the tourism industry.
Joniston reaffirmed Sabah's commitment to rural tourism, noting the rising interest among rural communities and the importance of offering courses to enhance their skills.
“Tourism should benefit all sectors, not just luxury hotels. Skilled manpower is crucial for rural tourism success.
“At STB, we embrace partnerships that support our vision and empower rural communities,” he stated.
The meeting also involved discussions about collaborating with IDS to conduct research on Sabah's tourism sector, aiming to develop a comprehensive master plan.
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