The Faculty of Applied and Creative Arts, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, proudly celebrates the remarkable achievement of its academic staff and researchers at the Borneo International Technology Expo (Borneo InTEX) 2025. The expo serves as an important platform that highlights innovative research and creative solutions connecting academia, industry, and the community.

At this prestigious event, FACA researchers received multiple Gold and Silver Awards in recognition of their innovative and impactful research projects. The awarded works reflect the faculty’s strong interdisciplinary approach, combining art, culture, technology, design, and community engagement to address contemporary challenges and opportunities.

The recognised projects covered a wide range of areas, including immersive digital technologies, cultural heritage preservation, creative industry development, healthcare innovation, and community empowerment. These initiatives demonstrate how creative arts research can contribute meaningful solutions while expanding the boundaries of artistic and technological exploration.

This achievement highlights the dedication and excellence of FACA scholars in advancing creative research and innovation, further strengthening the faculty’s reputation as a leading centre for artistic scholarship and interdisciplinary collaboration. The success at Borneo InTEX 2025 reflects the faculty’s ongoing commitment to producing impactful research that benefits both academia and society

From 24 May to 25 June 2025, Professor Dr. Musdi bin Haji Shaanat from the Faculty of Applied and Creative Arts, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, served as a Visiting Professor at Yunnan University, China. During the one-month academic visit, he was attached to the Faculty of Built Environment, where he taught Foundation of Visual Communication to third-year students.

The class, conducted in English, introduced students to key concepts such as colour psychology, visual hierarchy, and cultural symbolism. Students responded enthusiastically, producing creative design works inspired by Yunnan’s rich ethnic culture, landscapes, and traditional patterns.

Beyond teaching, the visit also provided opportunities to explore the cultural and natural heritage of Yunnan, including the cities of Kunming and Dali. This academic exchange strengthened cross-cultural collaboration and highlighted how visual communication and design can connect diverse cultures through creativity and shared learning.

Students from the Faculty of Applied and Creative Arts, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, achieved outstanding success at the Kuala Lumpur Design Festival 2025 through the CMYK*L Design Competition. Design Technology students Connie Chong and Collin Chin won the Gold Award (Malaysian Students Category) for their project Jinjang Lantern Festival (Chap Goh Mei).

Selected from more than 250 entries nationwide, the project impressed judges with its creative reinterpretation of Jinjang’s cultural identity and its potential to revitalise community celebrations through design and tourism. The award was presented during the KLDF25 Gala Night, where the team received a RM3,000 prize.

Guided by mentors Noorhaslina Senin and Azwan Abidin, the students demonstrated strong creativity, teamwork, and dedication throughout the competition. This achievement highlights FACA’s commitment to nurturing industry-ready designers and showcases how Sarawak’s young creatives can shine on the national stage.

The Hydra Warriors team from the Faculty of Applied and Creative Arts, in collaboration with the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, proudly represented their faculties at the Sukan Air UNIMAS. Through strong teamwork, determination, and sportsmanship, the team delivered an impressive performance, bringing home four medals, 1 Gold, 2 Silver, and 1 Bronze.

This achievement reflects the dedication and collaborative spirit of the Hydra Warriors, highlighting the importance of unity, resilience, and active participation in university sporting activities. The success also demonstrates the strong camaraderie among staff across faculties at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, strengthening community engagement through sports.