KOTA SAMARAHAN, 4 OCTOBER 2021: The organizer, UiTM Sarawak of the 1st International Conference on Design for Sustainable Living (ICDeSL) 2021 had invited the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Sarawak, YB Datuk Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, to be the Conference Patron and to be the guest of event to officiate the opening ceremony at 11 am on 14 December 2021. ICDeSL 2021 will be held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), Kuching, from 14th to 15th of December 2021. During the courtesy visit, YB Datuk Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah was delighted that UiTM Sarawak Branch is organizing international conferences and events to promote tourism. He believed that this event is timely to attract foreign tourists when the travel restriction is lifted later.

This conference aims to provide an avenue for academicians, non-academicians, practitioners of government and private agencies in Sarawak to foster and transform their thoughts, ideas and researches into output with potential commercial value to help in the COVID-19 pandemic recovery process for the natural science, engineering and technology, education, humanities and social science-related industries. “The sharing of thoughts, ideas and researches are expected to embrace a sustainable and resilient growth pathway for the Sarawak economy”, expressed by YB Datuk Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. In addition, the objective of this conference is aligned with the UiTM 2025 strategies thrust, as illustrated by Vice Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi MARA, Professor Ts. Dr. Hajah Roziah Mohd Janor, which UiTM aims at becoming a Globally Renowned University.

The international conference is divided into 4 tracks: A) Natural Science, B) Engineering and Technology, C) Humanities and Social Science, and D) Educational Innovation. These tracks are among the several megatrends that will help shape the state’s digitalized economy to build more efficient and live-able urban environments. According to Conference advisor cum Rector of UiTM Sarawak, Prof Dato Dr. Jamil Haji Hamali, the main objective of this conference is for local and international participants from both academia and industries to present their authoritative knowledge and the most up-to-date research findings related to the scientific and societal approaches in combating disease outbreaks.

The conference organizing Chairperson cum Deputy Rector of UiTM Sarawak, Professor Dr. Firdaus Abdullah further highlighted welcoming the submission of papers related to innovative technology-driven solutions that cater to a diverse population with varying access to technology. This conference will help academia and scholars to adapt to the rising and social requests for knowledge expansion, innovation, and research proficiency according to the 4 tracks. The papers presented at this conference will shed some light on the issues and challenges as well as opportunities related to community development transformation and human sustainability.

This conference also offers concurrent event, namely Creative and Innovative Projects Presentation, to forecast and share the ideas or products related to any of the aforementioned tracks. “This event is just in time to introduce and explore emerging innovative ideas and technologies that will be beneficial to the development of sustainable living and smart cities in the state”, added by the Conference organizing co-chair, Professor Dr. Khong Heng Yen. The conference is open to all academicians, government and private agencies personnel, industry players and students of higher learning institutions and schools (individual or group). Several awards will be awarded such as Platinum Award, Inspiring Award, Gold, Silver and Bronze E-certificates.

The two-day international conference features keynote lectures by notable figures from both Malaysia and overseas. More than 80 papers will also be presented by international and local participants over several parallel sessions. Apart from that, there will be a virtual platform for those presenters who wish to present virtually. Therefore, this international conference will reshape the sustainability landscape and help shape the future of standard living.