UCSF Organises First Birdwatchers' Guide Course

10 April 2026

KOTA KINABALU: University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF) has organised the inaugural Birdwatchers' Guide Course in Sembulan, Kota Kinabalu. Around 20 participants from across Sabah successfully completed the three-day programme.

Attendees hailed mainly from Kota Kinabalu, Kota Belud, Ranau, Tambunan, Kudat, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, and Telupid.

Certificates were presented at the closing ceremony held at the Nature Inspiration Art Gallery (NIAG) on the UCSF campus.

The course was organised by UCSF in collaboration with the Sabah Tourism Board and Sabah Birdwatchers Association (SBWA).

It forms part of the PKAN (Program Khas Anak Negeri), coordinated by UCSF's Teaching and Learning Factory and Lifelong Learning Unit.

Roger Rajah, Deputy President of SBWA and master trainer for the course, said: "I thoroughly enjoyed conducting the course Discover the Birds of Borneo: A Birdwatcher’s Guide. The participants were enthusiastic, engaged, and actively involved throughout all five modules—from the basics of birding and optics to exploring the rich birdlife of Sabah and understanding different perspectives of what it means to be a birder."

"Their participation made the sessions lively and easy to deliver, creating a very positive learning environment. As an introductory course, I believe the content is sufficient to build a strong foundation."

UCSF Vice-Chancellor Datuk Dr Rafiq Idris added, "The programme was intended to provide an avenue for bird guides and related stakeholders to gain basic knowledge of birding activities, including the do’s and don’ts while guiding tourists, among other aspects."

"More related courses will be introduced based on market needs in the near future as a measure to support birding as a niche market in the tourism sector."

Datuk Dr Rafiq continued: "It is a symbol of our commitment to nature appreciation, sustainable biodiversity management, and environmental protection. More activities will be organised in the near future, and I hope they will benefit the communities and the region."

SBWA President Ron Puddin stated, "The successful completion of UCSF's first Birding Course, which commenced on 7 April and concluded today, marks a significant turning point in Sabah’s progressive journey toward strengthening nature appreciation and conservation efforts."

" This initiative reflects a growing commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable biodiversity management in the region."

Sabah Tourism Board CEO Julinus Jeffery Jimit said, "Developing human capital, especially soft skills in this area, is vital to ensure value-for-money experiences for all visitors to Sabah, particularly in avian tourism."