KUCHING: The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS) in the United Kingdom is now offering the Sarawak Sabbatical Programme to encourage and enable Sarawak civil servants to enhance their professional skills.
Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg launched the programme and the Sarawak Wing at OCIS, which is part of an endowment initiative and collaboration between OCIS and the Sarawak government, on Monday.
“The sabbatical covers tailored courses based on the needs of officers for two months,” said a statement by the Premier of Sarawak yesterday, Bernama reported.Abang Johari hopes that the centre would extend its research to cover sustainability, decarbonisation and green economy to keep abreast with current world action to mitigate climate change.
He said Sarawak was well-poised to be part of the global order against climate change with initiatives in place towards decarbonisation, energy transition and the development of renewables.
“In fact, I have to fly back to Kuching to launch technology to produce aviation fuel from algae,” said the statement, quoting him at a luncheon with Oxford scholars.
OCIS, under the patronage of the former Prince of Wales and now King Charles III, is an independent centre of Oxford University and a registered educational charity that aims to encourage the study of Islam and the Islamic world.
Abang Johari was on a five-day working visit to London since Friday.
Accompanying the premier were Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki and state deputy ministers.
