The Multimedia University (Malay: Universiti Multimedia; abbreviated as MMU), is a privateresearch university in Cyberjaya, Malaysia. Founded in 1997, it is the first private university within Malaysia and is a member of The Alliance of Government Linked Universities (GLU).[1]
In 1996, the government of Malaysia initiated efforts to liberalize the country's higher education sector and engage the private education industry in advancing human capital development.[2] Consequently, the Ministry of Education sought an established private entity to spearhead the pilot project for the establishment of a university. In October 1996, Telekom Malaysia was granted the distinction by the Ministry of Education to establish Malaysia's inaugural private university. This decision underscored the government's confidence in Telekom Malaysia's capacity to lead the privatization of higher education. Building upon the foundation of the existing ITTM campuses operated by Telekom Malaysia, the company accepted the invitation, resulting in the establishment of Universiti Telekom in Melaka.
The university is structured across two primary campuses: the main campus in Cyberjaya and the Melaka campus. At the Cyberjaya campus, there are seven faculties, each dedicated to specific academic disciplines. Meanwhile, the Melaka campus comprises four faculty divisions. Coordinating the graduate studies across both campuses is The Institute for Postgraduate Studies (IPS), which collaborates closely with the various faculties to facilitate advanced academic programs and research initiatives.[3] Additionally, under the purview of the Center for Diploma Programs division, MMU offers diploma programs tailored to each faculty's expertise.
History
Multimedia University Cyberjaya Campus
In 1994, Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), established the Institute of Telecommunication and Information Technology (ITTM) in Taiping, Perak. The first campus was established on TM's former northern region office where the first batch of 42 students were selected to undergo an experimental two-year telecommunication engineeringdiploma program. In 1996, with the academic success of the first two batches, TM was invited by the Ministry of Education to set up the first private university in Malaysia. ITTM was granted university status and renamed itself to Universiti Telekom.
In 1997, The Malacca campus was set up in the Ayer Keroh town. The setting up of the campus involved redeveloping and repurposing of the former TM southern region office. TM was offered by the Government of Malaysia to establish a university in MSC Malaysia (abbreviation of Multimedia Super Corridor) to catalyse the MSC program. A campus was set up in Cyberjaya and opened on 8 July 1999. The relationship between the Cyberjaya campus and the MSC is intended to be similar to the relationship between Stanford University and Silicon Valley. As a result, the university changed its name from Universiti Telekom to Multimedia University.
The Chancellery, Multimedia University, Cyberjaya Campus
Campus
MMU has two main campuses in Cyberjaya and Melaka. Previously there was another campus in Nusajaya, Johor but it has been closed. The Cyberjaya campus was founded in 1999 and is the main campus after becoming MMU. It is located in the smart city of Cyberjaya, known as the Silicon Valley of Malaysia. The Cyberjaya campus has seven faculties, namely the Faculty of Engineering (FOE), Faculty of Computing & Informatics (FCI), Faculty of Creative Multimedia (FCM), Faculty of Cinematic Arts (FCA), Faculty of Applied Communication (FAC) and Faculty of Management (FOM).
The Melaka campus was founded in 1997 and is the secondary campus of MMU. It is located in Bukit Beruang which is close to the historic city of Melaka. The Melaka campus has four faculties, namely the Faculty of Engineering & Technology (FET), Faculty of Information Science & Technology (FIST), Faculty of Business (FOB) and Faculty of Law (FOL). The Melaka campus also has a Centre for Foundation Studies and Extension Education that offers foundation and diploma programs.
Multimedia University, Malacca campus
The university is equipped with facilities such as ASTRO lab (FCM), SiRi lab (FOM), Innov8 Lab (FCI), Ideas lab, HySpace and HyFlex (FOE), E Moot Court (FOL ), SMART Intelligent Lab (FIST), Bio Informatics Lab (FIST), iBiz Lab (FOB) and iTrade Lab (FOB) as well as numerous computer and specialist labs. There is a 200-capacity industry-grade cinema, sound stage and recording studio, audio studio, foley studio (sound effects), motion capture studio, e-Gallery for exhibitions, VR laboratory and indoor/outdoor aquaponics farms.
Swimming pool of Multimedia University, Cyberjaya Campus
Both campuses provide accommodation both on-campus and off-campus, as well as digital libraries and extensive infrastructure such campus-wide Wi-Fi, health clinics, 24-hour security, food and beverage outlets and more. Other available facilities are comprehensive sports centre – track & field, indoor sports arena, gym, tennis court, squash courts as well as an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
Public transit
MMU Cyberjaya is located in the smart city of Cyberjaya, which is well-connected by various modes of public transportation. The Putrajaya Line has two stations within the vicinity of the Cyberjaya campus accessible by feeder bus or car. The Rapid KL SP398 route services the Cyberjaya campus at the PY39 Cyberjaya Utara MRT Station.[5] The second station, PY40 Cyberjaya City Center MRT Station, can be accessed by e-hailing services, taxi, or exchanging busses as the feeder bus does not directly service the campus for this station. The Melaka campus is served by the Panorama Melaka 24A route at Melaka Sentral.[6]
Former Johor Campus
MMU Johor was established in 2013 at Iskandar Puteri, Johor as a branch campus of MMU to facilitate the creation of a cinematic arts undergraduate program alongside the Faculty of Cinematic Arts division under a consultancy agreement with University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts. It was located in the Multi-Varsity Enterprise Building at EduCity alongside a few other institutions. Having a close proximity to the then PinewoodIskandar Malaysia Studios would've allowed students a hands-on experience in filmmaking before graduation.[4] However, due to unknown reasons, the campus was closed down in 2021 and the faculty was moved to the main campus in Cyberjaya.
Multimedia College
Multimedia College (MMC), previously known as Telekom Training College, traces its origins back to 1948 when it was established as a national provider of telecommunications training in Malaysia. Located primarily at Jalan Gurney Kiri/Jalan Semarak Kuala Lumpur, MMC underwent a significant transformation in 2000, transitioning into a Private Institution of Higher Learning. This pivotal transition also involved a change in nomenclature from Telekom Training College to Multimedia College, aimed at broadening its appeal beyond serving solely Telekom staff.[7][8]
As a subsidiary of Multimedia University (MMU), MMC played a vital role as a feeder institution for MMU, offering students a direct pathway into MMU upon the successful completion of diploma programs offered at MMC. While MMC's primary campus was situated in Kuala Lumpur, it extended its educational presence with five branch campuses located in Malacca, Taiping, Kuala Terengganu, Kuching, and Kota Kinabalu.
However, commencing in 2017, MMC ceased its operations, marking the conclusion of its educational legacy.[9]
Recognition and achievements
Since its establishment MMU has received many recognitions and achievements. The Malaysian government – through the Malaysian Qualifications Agency under the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) has granted MMU Self-Accreditation status, formally acknowledging that the university is a trustworthy institution, whose programmes continuously meet or exceed strict specifications.
MMU has been accorded the status of a Premier Digital Tech University.[10] by the Malaysian government, via MoHE, and is now officially recognised as one of the best places in the country to pursue computer and technology-related programmes.[citation needed] In addition, MDEC's Malaysia Digital Talent Study 2017 Final Findings by Frost and Sullivan has revealed that MMU graduates are most preferred by IT industries in Malaysia.[citation needed] As a result of the university growing from strength to strength, the MMU brand has grown in prominence.[citation needed] In 2019, MMU was awarded with the Superbrand status, in addition to winning the silver medal in the Putra Brands Award 2019, under the Education and Learning category.[citation needed]
In 2020, MMU was awarded the 5 Stars in SETARA 2019 (Very Competitive).[10] SETARA is a ranking/rating carried out by the Ministry of Education Malaysia to assess Malaysia's universities and colleges in teaching, research, and service.
Faculties
Computing and informatics
MMU began with a single computing faculty known as the Faculty of Information Technology (FIT) in 1997. After the establishment of the Cyberjaya campus in 1999, FIT was split into the Faculty of Information Science and Technology (FIST) based in the Ayer Keroh campus, and Faculty of Computing & Informatics (FCI), the grey building next to FOM, based in the Cyberjaya campus. FIST offers undergraduate programs with majors in data communications and networking, security technology, artificial intelligence, business intelligence & analytics and bioinformatics. The undergraduate programs in FCI offers specialisations in software engineering, data science, cybersecurity and game development. In 2000, The Microsoft IT Academy of Multimedia University founded by Microsoft for training and development programs, including a Windows DNA lab during a visit by Bill Gates to endorse high-tech hub in Cyberjaya.[11] The Faculty has strong collaborations with multi-national companies such as ZTE, Huawei, Nokia, Intel, Microsoft (Microsoft IT Academy), Cisco (Cisco Networking Academy), Motorola, Oracle Workforce Development Program, Novell Academic Training Partner, Linux Professional Institute and EC-Council.[12] Almost all lecturers and tutors of undergraduate courses in this department have PhD degrees with few exceptions for highly experienced lecturers in their field.
The Faculty of Engineering (FOE) is based in Cyberjaya. It offers bachelor's degrees accredited by the Washington Accord in electrical, electronics, computer, telecommunications, nanotechnology, and optical engineering. The Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET), based in Malacca offers courses in electronics and mechanical engineering. The majors offered by the FET Electronics Engineering courses are robotics & automation, and telecommunications. All engineering courses in Malacca are also accredited by the Washington Accord.
Creative multimedia and cinematic arts
The Faculty of Creative Multimedia (FCM), based in the Cyberjaya was established in 1999. Prior to that, it was based in the Malacca campus and known as the Faculty of Media Arts and Science. The Cyberjaya campus offers programs in animation and visual effects, advertising design, media arts, virtual reality, and interface design. The Johor campus was established in 2013 to offer the cinematic arts program, which was designed in collaboration with the University of Southern California. The Faculty of Cinematic Arts was later established and relocated to the Cyberjaya campus.
Law
The Faculty of Law (FOL) is based in Malacca. The university's law programme was formerly a part of the business faculty, then known as the Faculty of Business and Law, before establishing as its own independent faculty in 2013. FOL students are fully exempted from taking the CLP examination.
Strategic communication
The Faculty of Applied Communication (FAC) was established in 2016 from its origin as the Learning Institute for Empowerment (LiFE). It currently houses three programmes: Foundation in Communication, Diploma in Applied Communication and Bachelor of Communication (Strategic Communication). FAC underscores the discipline of communication which integrates both theoretical knowledge and real-life practices to enhance human communication.
Rankings
Multimedia University was ranked amongst the top 151-200 universities worldwide by QS World University Rankings in the subject of computer science and electrical engineering between 2014 and 2017 consecutively. 92% of its total students were undergraduates.
In 2020, MMU is also ranked as one of the top ten Malaysian universities in Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.[13] It was listed as Top 2 in the field of Computer Science and Top 3 in Engineering & Technology, and Business & Economics among Malaysian private universities.
