Breaking Barriers Through UiTM Sabah BHEP’s Innovative Programmes

In any educational institution, the Student Affairs Department (Bahagian Hal Ehwal Pelajar - BHEP) plays an important role in ensuring that students have a fulfilling and supportive university experience. The Student Affairs Department at a branch campus organisation is no exception. BHEP UiTM Sabah Branch, currently headed by Datin Dr. Rafidah Binti Datuk Hj. Salleh, is committed to providing a high-quality education and supportive learning environment for its students. BHEP is also responsible for providing a wide range of services including counselling, academic support, health services and extracurricular activities to help students develop their leadership skills, as well as to ensure that they have access to a safe and conducive learning environment.

BHEP is accountable for providing various programmes and services that foster the development of students in different areas such as leadership, personal growth, and community engagement. These programmes include orientation initiatives, student organisations, volunteer opportunities, and leadership development schemes. Furthermore, the student affairs department delivers counselling services to support students in managing personal, academic, and emotional obstacles. These services comprise individual therapy, group counselling, and workshops on subjects such as stress management and mental health awareness. BHEP also enforces university policies and regulations that pertain to student behaviour and conduct, and is involved in investigating and resolving disciplinary cases, supervising student organisations, and promoting a safe and respectful campus atmosphere. Moreover, the department helps students prepare for their future careers by providing career counselling, job placement assistance, and opportunities for professional growth, for instance, resume workshops, networking events, and job fairs. For students residing on campus, the student affairs department is responsible for managing housing and residence life programmes, ensuring that they have a secure and supportive living environment.

UiTM Sabah branch has taken proactive steps to address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic through the Resident Studio (RS) Innovation Project. This project is a campus digital culture initiative aimed at promoting campus sustainability and improving the delivery of knowledge and student development activities through an innovative information delivery platform. With physical distancing measures in place, it was difficult for students to receive timely and accurate information about campus activities and events. The Resident Studio provided an efficient and effective solution to this problem. By creating the Resident Studio, the staff residence was able to centralise the dissemination of information to students.

This allowed students to receive the latest updates on campus activities, safety protocols, and other essential information related to their studies and campus life. It also provided an opportunity for students to engage with each other, share ideas, and collaborate on projects. The creation of the Resident Studio by the staff residence was a strategic move to enhance the student experience at the campus during the pandemic. By providing a platform for disseminating information and facilitating student engagement, the Resident Studio helped to build a stronger sense of community and support among students living on campus. The staff residence at UiTM Sabah branch conducts several segments live via Facebook to engage with students and provide them with information and entertainment. These segments are designed to cater to different interests and needs of students living on campus. Here are the segments by RS studio: ‘Radio Online: Santai Malam with DJ Roy’, ‘Mari Mengaji’ with Ustaz Fazri , ‘Info Kampus’ with Azry John & guest speakers, ‘Soal Jawab Agama with Ustaz Asley/Ustazah Majidah, ‘students’ activities , ‘Selami Jiwa’ with Norayati Nordin, Entrepreneurship segment with Encik Surail Abd Kahar and ‘Sharing is Caring’ with Puan Nurul. hungry while attending college. In addition to providing immediate relief from hunger, the in-campus food banks also provide non-perishable food items and personal items to needy students. The concept is like a one-stop centre where students can collect food and other items every Monday and Thursday. To ensure that resources are systematically distributed and to prevent shortages of supplies, inventory of food items are made and details of students receiving the items are recorded. So far, the food bank programme has been a big success and has significantly helped address the problem of food insecurity among UiTM Sabah students. Since its inception, it is estimated that 800 students have benefited from this noble cause. This would not have been possible without the contributions of UiTM Sabah’s strategic partners and supporters which include government agencies, private corporations, UiTM Sabah alumni and NGOs. For university students, who often face high costs associated with their studies, this food bank initiative is a godsend.

BHEP at UiTM sabah also recognizes the importance of supporting students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, many of whom have limited access to learning tools such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones. To address this issue, the organisation has been collecting donations and distributing these devices to students. The rector, Datuk Associate Professor Dr Hj. Abdul Kadir Hj. Rosline, distributed Tablets and Smartphones 1.0 under the Peranti Siswa Programme by The Ministry Communication and Digital to students on campus in early 2022, and BHEP staff have extended these efforts to other areas in Sabah. These initiatives are expected to have a positive impact on the learning outcomes of underprivileged students at the university.

Post pandemic, the issue of food insecurity among college students has become a growing concern. Many students struggle to afford regular and nutritious meals, which can impact their academic performance and overall well-being. HEP at a branch campus organisation plays a crucial role in easing students’ basic needs for food. UiTM Sabah Food Bank programme which was introduced in 2019 to help students from the low-income (B40) group or poor families to have access to food continued its noble purpose. The programme, managed by the BHEP helps to ensure that no student goes

In addition to the Food Bank Programme, BHEP’s most notable contribution is the innovative program called Dapur HEP or HEP Kitchen, which was pioneered by UiTM Sabah. It was launched during the Movement Control Order (MCO) to provide rice and other food provisions to stranded staff and students on campus. Today, it serves all students, especially those from B40 backgrounds, by collecting rice and cooking apparatus donations and distributing them to the residential college kitchens. Dapur HEP was the idea of Datin Dr. Rafidah, who was empathetic to the plight of students. In March 2022, the Vice Chancellor of UiTM, YBhg. Datuk Prof. Ts. Dr. Roziah Mohd Janor, acknowledged and officiated Dapur HEP. Dapur HEP staff, who are college residents, are responsible for managing and operating it. They oversee the cooking and serving of rice to the students, as well as maintenance tasks. At each of the three residential colleges (Mabul, Mantanani & Manukan colleges), three kitchen staff run the Dapur HEP. In the beginning, Dapur HEP relied on the generosity of alumni donors, who provided donations of rice. The kitchen started with only three rice cookers, but has since received various donations, including microwaves, snacks, and more rice, from individuals, organisations, and agencies like Yayasan Sabah Group, Qhazanah Sabah Berhad, Sahabat Bank Rakyat, Fizrix System Sdn. Bhd. and PuncakMas Resources. The kitchen was not just a noble idea during the pandemic, it has also expanded its purpose to provide rice twice a day to students from B40 families. Besides, non-resident students are also welcome to receive a daily allowance of rice. Donations still continue to pour in to support the welfare of students. If you are interested to contribute, kindly contact Mr. Luqman Abdul Shukor at +6013-4697372 or +088513890. BHEP is open to receiving additional contributions to support the welfare of its students.

by Jenny Mosikon and Dr. Alice Wong Su Chu