Outward Bound Sabah (OBS) is an independent, non-profit educational organisation set up by the Sabah State Government in 1985. It is governed by a Board of Trustees and the current chairman is YM Tengku Adlin. There are more than 60 centers worldwide licensed under the global trademark of Outward Bound. Since its inception more than 50,000 participants of diverse cultures, nationalities, religions and ages have attended our programmes.

OBS conducts educational training programmes which assist individuals to reach their full potential, helping them to understand themselves, others and their surroundings. Many of the courses are tailor-made to suit the client's expectations, needs and requirement. Some programmes are extended up to 30 days in duration covering some of the best operational site in the 'Land Below The Wind'.

The training methodology is "Leaning By Doing", activities are being carefully structured to achieve the right level of challenge to stimulate learning. Nevertheless the programmes are being designed so that everyone with willingness and determination to try can succeed at their own level.

The basis of all Outward Bound programmes is experiential learning or learning through experience. It is a process through which a learner constructs knowledge, skills and value from direct experience. Course participants are encouraged to challenge themselves on the activities which initiate and enhance skills such as leadership, teamwork, and communication.

An Outward Bound experience involves the combination of five senses (smell, hearing, sight...), emotions (pleasure, anxiety, fear, empathy...), physical conditions (fitness, strength, energy level) and cognitive senses (constructing knowledge, decision making, solving problems...). Participants are valuable resources for their own education, the education of others, and the well-being of the communities and environment.

"There is more in you if only you can be taught to realize them" Kurt Hahn

For any given activity, participants are asked to plan, organise, make decisions, choose leader and generally accomplish the task from start to finish by themselves. It is important to allow the participants to feel a high degree of control of the activity which will develop a greater responsibility and care over a particular task or expedition.

Participants will be working in a small group ranging from 8-15 individuals and facilitated by 2 experienced instructors. One of the main aspect of the instructors' role is to facilitate the learning process of the participants. After each completed activity, it is crucial for the participants to reflect back and evaluate their performance, both as individual and as a group.

The experience of an Outward Bound programmes are more vivid than normal classroom lectures. Participants have a higher retention of the learning points and able to relate them to working environment or even personal life. Our commitment is that each participant will bring with them an experience to last a life time. 

Outward Bound Sabah maintains a pool of instructors who are also the permanent staff of the school. They attend extensive training session which include the Instructor Qualification Training System and also training overseas. The instructors are professionals, they are the backbone of all Outward Bound programmes. They are responsible to care for the welfare of the participants whilst on course and at the same time need ensure that each participant achieve the objectives of the programme. 

Safety is at TOP PRIORITY. As an experienced outdoor practitioner, we admit that "total safety" can never be achieved. The nature of outdoor activities is that there are things beyond our control and it can go wrong sometimes. Nevertheless we always aim for zero accident. The activities have been carefully tested, reviewed and approved before being implemented with participants. We picked the best practices and adopt international standards in our Standard Operating Procedures.

It is a compulsory requirement for each Outward Bound centre to undergo the International Program Review  conducted by international experts every biannually. It is a process of review to gauge the quality of programme and risk management practices to international standards.  Apart from that the Risk Management Protocol also requires a Safety Committee chaired by a Trustee to be set up to oversee risk management. Internally as part of the risk management practices is to conduct periodic inspection on all equipment, activities as well as the content of a programme.  

"The Outward Bound course really takes you away from your normal routine of life and makes you start living."     Eric Jek, OBS participant

Address
OUTWARD BOUND SABAH
Locked Bag 181, 88996 Kota Kinabalu
Sabah, Malaysia
Tel: 60 88 750311 (2 lines); 60 88 919529      Fax: 60 88 750312
Email: info@outwardbound.com.my