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 programme covers a range of tailored courses based on the needs and requirements of officers for a duration of two months,” said a statement issued by the office of the Premier of Sarawak today.

Abang Johari expressed his hope that the centre would extend its research sphere 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 various initiatives already in place towards decarbonisation, energy transition and the development of renewables.

“In fact, I have to fly back to Kuching to launch a new technology to produce sustainable aviation fuel from algae on Wednesday (today),” said the statement, quoting him at a luncheon with Oxford scholars attending the launching ceremony.

OCIS, under the patronage of the former Prince of Wales and now King Charles III, is a recognised independent centre of Oxford University and a registered educational charity that aims to encourage the scholarly study of Islam and the Islamic world.

Abang Johari was on a five-day working visit to London since Friday.

Among those 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.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency