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Kota Kinabalu: Universiti Malaysia Sabah Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor stressed that educational institutions are central to producing a new generation that is knowledgeable, skilled, competitive, ethical and community-oriented. 

“Sabah’s progress depends heavily on human capital development, which is why institutions must align their curricula with the State’s strategic sectors.

“They must also strengthen applied research and innovation while enhancing collaboration between industries and the government,” he said in his keynote speech during the Post–17th Sabah State Election (PRN17) Seminar titled “New Socio-Political Dynamics and the Direction of the State Economy”.

Kasim said that the State still faces challenges in rural and interior regions with limited educational infrastructure and resources as they face social and economic constraints which contribute to cycles of poverty and marginalisation. 

“As such, education must be positioned not merely as a mechanism for academic attainment, but as a strategic tool for inclusive development and social equity,” he stressed.

Educational institutions have a responsibility to function as agents of community empowerment, he said. 

This involves extending their role beyond campus boundaries through outreach programmes, community-based learning initiatives and research that directly engage local communities.

Kasim also addressed the development gap between urban and rural areas, stating that educational institutes can reduce the gap by serving as conduits for transferring innovation, sustainable practices and solutions, as well as small-scale technologies to rural communities. 

“This will help enhance productivity and income generation at a grassroots level, ensuring that knowledge creation within academic institutions translates into tangible socio-economic benefits for society,” he added. 

He emphasised that education institutions also function as spaces within society for nurturing informed debate, intellectual pluralism and evidence-based policymaking where complex socio-economic issues can be examined rigorously and objectively.

“These institutions are able to unpack the underlying causes of developmental challenges and propose innovative, context-sensitive solutions grounded in empirical evidence rather than partisan interests,” he said.

Kasim also highlighted the importance of academic freedom and institutional autonomy when it comes to sustaining critical discourse especially in this period of political transition. 

“When scholars are empowered to conduct independent research and express informed opinions without undue constraint, universities can contribute more effectively to public understanding and democratic governance,” he said. 

He stressed that post-PRN17 Sabah requires more mature, inclusive, accountable and values-based political governance.

With this context, he said education assumes a central roles in shaping not only the competencies of the workforce, but also the political consciousness, ethical foundations and civic responsibilities of society.  

“Education must nurture politically literate citizens who think critically, respect diversity and uphold social unity,” he said.