KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is aiming to become a catalyst in human capital management (HCM) within the BIMP-EAGA region.

Hence, its Vice-Chancellor Tan Sri Prof. Dr Abu Hassan Othman said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UMS and Malaysia Institute of Human Resource Management (MIHRM) was indeed very significant.

"As a proactive univesity, it is my hope that UMS will become a platform or centre of excellence in human resource research, human resource training and also formulating human resource development in Sabah," he said at the MoU signing, here, Wednesday.

Abu Hassan said the synergy between MIHRM and UMS was expected to assist the State Government in enhancing activities towards promoting human resource excellence and knowledge.

He said UMS-MIHRM collaboration, in fact, started in 2001 when MIHRM became one of the university's panel assessors for its Master's programme in HCM.

UMS is the only university in Malaysia that is offering a Masters degree in HCM.

"Following that, we also worked together in organising a seminar in 2002 and last year, in which we received accolades from various parties," he said, adding the seminar is now a permanent feature in the UMS calendar of events.

Abu Hassan said human capital development is a critical issue to ensure effectiveness of the administrative, corporate and entrepreneur machinery.

"They say human being is the greatest asset on eath which has becomea synonym to all of us.

"In this era of thecnology, globalisation and now knowledge management, the need for a human resource capital that is multi-disciplined, proactive, knowledgeable, versatile, creative and innovative is very evident," he said.

Abu Hassan said issues such as knowledge performance indicators (KPI), how to measure human asset worth, intellectual capital, training efficiency, human resources risk management and enterprising human resources are among important components of HCM.

He said the issues play an integral part in the development of the students' intellect as well as powers of reasoning.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Abu Hassan said, had recently talked on towering personality which gave focus on developing a person's personality and positive values, among others.

Meanwhle, Abu Hassan said the MoU would give focus on the management and development of human capital resource. These include to:

• cooperate in implementing programmes such as seminars, conferences, workshops and executive programmes;
• assist UMS in promoting academic excellence in human resource fields;
• carry out research in human resoruce;
• cooperate in consultative and expert advice services;
• form "student chapter" for UMS students; and
• provide counselling service on human resource programmes in UMS in relation to academic excellence.

Humans no longer resources but capital: Yahya

HUMANS in this era are no longer considered resources but capital that have the capability to change the direction of the workforce towards individualism shaped by education and training.

Hence, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Yahya Hussin said human resource management (HRM) is now being replaced with a new concept called human capital management (HCM).

He said the workforce in Malaysia has seen a major transformation in the last two decades in various aspects such as politics, social, economy and technology, among others.

"Based on this capacity, we are seeing the focus shifting from human resource managemt to human capital managemnt," he said before witnessing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing between MIHRM and UMS, represented by Datuk Prof. Dr Ibrahim Ahmad Bajunid and Tan Sri Prof. Dr Abu Hassan Othman, respectively.

Yahya, who is also Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister, said the smart partnership between MIHRM and UMS would pave the way to fulfil the demands and challenges of the market.

"(This could be achieved) by optimising human capital through discussion, planning and implementation of human management system, particularly in Sabah," he said.

He said the change from HRM to HCM in the context of globalisation and technology would bring benefit not only to the intellectual fraternity but also strengthen understainding in human resuorce fields to wider perspective.

Yahya said the State Government, through his Ministry and agency, has implemented various human resource-related activities.

"Hence, the time is right for UMS and MIHRM to sign the MoU that should be able to contribute towards the workforce in Sabah," he said.

Sabah, he said, gave a lot of focus in agriculture and tourism but that more needs to be done where information technology development is concerned.

This could only be achieved by utilising human capital that is available throughout the State to the maximum, he said.

Therefore, he said research and development in the field are important for the development of the State's economy.

He also hoped that MIHRM would spread its wings in Sabah through UMS to provide its expertise in the fields of human resource management.

"I am also confident that the collaboration would strengthen the management, ICT, economy and psychology aspects towards human capital management to be more efficient and effective either in the country or internationally," he said.

Taken from Daily Express 17th February 2005