SIDMA College was fully relocated to its new campus at Jalan Bundusan, Kota Kinabalu on October 27, 2011. Since moving into its new 47,000 square feet campus, the situation was like gold fish being transferred from a small fish-bowl into a bigger fish tank for everyone. It is not so much the increase in the size that concerned us, but it is the new challenges that are suddenly happening and all the dynamic changes; unlike the usual dilemma previously experienced at Wisma Prudential.

Among the dynamic development and happenings at the college are:

a. Collaboration with Taj College to conduct the "Latihan Guru Pra-sekolah Swasta" in November and December 2010.

b. UNIRAZAK being given the honour to conduct "Program Khas Pensiswazahan Guru (PKPG) beginning January 2011."

c. Setting-up of SIDMA College very own childcare centre, Didi Childcare, which was officiated by Datin Seri Panglima Hjh Faridah Hj Tussin, Chairman of BAKISA on 12 April 2011.

d. The launching of SIDMA College very own madrasah; "Madrasah Jamiatul Fathi", officiated by the secretary general of the United Sabah Islamic Association (USIA), Major Abd Latiff Kandok on behalf of Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Hj Sakaran Bin Dandai, former Sabah TYT and the current president of USIA on 25th July 2011.

e. New courses being added to the existing UNIRAZAK programs, such as Bachelor in Education (Early Childhood) beginning Semester September 2011.

All these new developments and more has resulted in the next step and action taken by the management of SIDMA College to embark on an innovative and novel plan of looking for new strategic positioning to address the organization's new changes, constant evolutions, new challenges and new aspirations.

During its special corporate function entitled "2011 and Beyond: Into deep blue" held at Le Meridian Hotel on June 24, 2011, Prof Dr. Morni Hj kambrie, CEO, announced the formation of the Board of Governance with the objectives of regulating and monitoring SIDMA internal functioning and to ensure its compliance with the latest standards and regulations set by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), and the other relevant authorities.

Elaborating more on the theme "Into deep blue" during the function; Prof. Dr. Morni stressed that the college is going into a different phase; new territory; new management ways and strategies, new curriculum, foreign students enrolments, improved classroom management and the adoption of an innovative teaching techniques – a continuous transformation and exploration of new areas where no one has ever been.

To materialize on what was planned, the college staff has been divided into groups to brainstorm on new strategies to be adopted and implemented from 2011 and beyond. Prof. Dr. Morni Hj Kambrie has insisted that everyone in the college be given a chance to participate and to contribute ideas, as everyone is unique; in facing new challenges, seeing things from different perspectives, overcoming new challenges in their very own ways; thus, when taken collectively will contribute to the potential success of SIDMA College in the long run.

Using the SWOT Analysis Framework as a tool to obtain information from all staff to analyse on the college's resources and capabilities to compete in the existing and future market, the group of staff have been meeting and 'scanning' SIDMA internal and external environment.

SIDMA internal environmental factors such as our reputation, costing, new premise, etc will classified as either strength (S) or weaknesses (W). On the other hand, external factors such as arrival of new technologies, loosening of government regulations, etc can be seen as opportunities (O) or threats (T) to our organization.

These groups will then proceed with the TOWS Matrix model: using the S – O strategies to examine at the listed opportunities that are compatible with the organization's strengths; the "W – O" strategies to overcome weaknesses in order to pursue opportunities; the "S – T" strategies to identify ways to utilize the current strengths to reduce it's vulnerability and external threats; and the "W - T" to establish a more defensive plan to prevent the organization's weaknesses from getting affected by its' external threats.

Another area that will be listed under discussion is the organization's corporate culture. It's all about forming a collaborative ideology and shared orientations that could hold all units together and give the organization a distinctive identity that distinguishes it from other institutions.

Some of the important elements that are going to be considered during the discussions are on innovations, aggressiveness, and on outcome and people orientation. All these elements will be considered for building an "open climate" in the organization where all staff relation are professionals, collegial, friendly and committed to their duties; in the hope of building a stronger cultures of efficacy, of trust and of academic optimism in the effort of promoting the student's academic performance.

SIDMA College new vision and mission statement has been drafted to fit the current organization strategy. SIDMA College requires a clear, dynamic mission statement to enable it to communicate as well as motivate its team of staff. The team is therefore in the process of streamlining the drafted vision and mission with the new organization strategy to be used for the future.

On 19th November 2011, Prof. Dr. Morni Hj Kambrie will chair the Strategic Planning and Brainstorming into Deep Blue: 2011 and Beyond session. Basically the listed vision and mission statement will be debated and endorsed. High but achievable target will be set for the next five or 10 years. "Back Tracking" model strategy may be applied and more SWOT and TOWS model will be applied from time to time to ensure that the above vision is achievable and applicable within the next five years.

This will be followed by more brainstorming at departmental level to iron out some basic procedures and strategies to be implemented in each department. All these will be documented for future references.

"If you are planning for one year, grow rice. If you are planning for 20 years, grow trees. If you are planning for centuries, grow men." - Chinese Proverb.

By,
Teo Eng Seng,
Executive, Teaching Practicum,
SIDMA College,
UMTECH Sabah
UNIRAZAK Sabah