KUCHING: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, have officially launched the 2026 Sustainable Land Use and Natural Resource Management (SLUSE) Joint Field Course, reaffirming their long-standing academic collaboration in sustainability science and field-based education.

According to a statement by UNIMAS, the programme welcomes 39 students and three lecturers from the University of Copenhagen to Sarawak, where the field component will be conducted in six villages in the Sarikei region.

“The initiative focuses on sustainable land use, natural resource management and community engagement within real rural contexts,” it said on Wednesday.

UNIMAS Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit described SLUSE as a strong example of an interdisciplinary academic programme with transdisciplinary implementation involving communities, while also reflecting the principles of transnational education between Malaysia and Denmark.

“This collaboration reflects the spirit of civilisational exchange and mutual learning. When Nordic sustainability expertise meets Borneo’s rich biodiversity and community knowledge systems, we create meaningful, real-world learning and solutions that goes beyond the classroom,” he said.

He emphasised that the programme integrates academic frameworks with local knowledge systems, enabling students to engage directly with community-based natural resource management, agro-ecosystem practices and rural livelihood issues.

University of Copenhagen Associate Professor Dr Xiaoye Tong and Associate Professor Marieve Pouliot were also present during the function, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to sustained academic partnership with UNIMAS.

The academic framework and field methodology for the 2026 cohort were outlined by SLUSE-Malaysia Coordinators Associate Professor Dr Wong Swee Kiong and Dr Siti Nurbaidzuri Raily@Reli.

The SLUSE Joint Field Course aligns with the UNIMAS Strategic Plan 2026–2030, particularly in advancing transdisciplinary education, biodiversity research and global academic engagement.

The collaboration continues to support joint research, field-based learning and postgraduate academic cooperation between Malaysia and Denmark. -UKASnews