A group of 12 participants of the UNIMAS International Summer Programme 2017 visited ISITI as part of their programme. The participants were introduced to the various research initiatives spearheaded by ISITI and were also given a detailed explanation on the impacts that the research conducted by the institute had on the communities involved. The participants were also asked to provide their own insight on the issues of sustainability of developmental projects for rural communities as well as to share their experiences and thoughts on any research projects that they had either participated in or were keen to pursue in the future.

ISITI participated in the flag-off of the UNIMAS-PALAPES team to Long Lamai as not only was this the first time that PALAPES was involved in an ISITI-related activity, but also this was a unique collaboration between UNIMAS and PALAPES in conducting a community project. The UNIMAS-PALAPES team sent construction material and completed the construction of the NBOS project via the UCTC, MoHE to improve the water supply and sanitation system for the Penan community in Long Lamai. The project components consisted of a rainwater harvesting system, biochar reactor and dry composting toilet in effort to enable the sustainable development of Long Lamai in the long term.

ISITI recently launched the first book commemorating the ‘eBorneo Knowledge Fair’ during the opening ceremony of the UNIMAS Silver Jubilee Conference 2017. The book was officially launched by the Malaysian Minister of Higher Education, YB Dato’ Seri Idris bin Jusoh. The ‘eBorneo Knowledge Fair’ book captures the experiences that ISITI has had with the highland communities in Sarawak with regards to the usage of ICTs in ways that are relevant to them, the many milestones that ISITI has achieved over the years of working closely with these communities as well as the journey ahead for ISITI together with these communities.

ISITI has accomplished yet another huge milestone on its path to transforming social communities into a knowledge-based society with the conclusion of the sixth eBorneo Knowledge Fair 2017 (eBKF6 2017).  Popularly known as the eBario Knowledge Fair, this rebranded three-day event took place from 25-27th October 2017 for the second time at Ba'kelalan, in the heart of Borneo. For the first time, the event introduced “Drive-Thru Workshop & Innovation Walk” which started as a road trip from Lawas to Ba'kelalan with a stopover at Long Semadoh for the participants to meet the residents and experience local food and culture.  The main purpose of the Drive-Thru was to allow participants to experience the terrain and gain insight into the lives of communities from the highlands in Sarawak.

Globally acclaimed for showcasing the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in development of isolated rural indigenous communities, this bi-annual event brought together ninety two participants, representing various stakeholders such as WWF-Malaysia, Forum Masyarakat Adat Dataran Tinggi Borneo (FORMADAT), researchers from UNIMAS, UPM, Cornell University, Cambridge and University of London, as well as members of the indigenous communities from Ba’Kelalan, Bario and Long Lamai. Also present were indigenous communities from Long Pa'sia ...