UTAR is one of the Premier Digital Tech Universities that are recognized by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC),[15] focusing on providing students with first-class theoretical and practical training to meet the nation's digital economy demands, and the first Malaysian institution to become part of Alibaba Cloud Academic Alliances.[16]
UTAR was established in June 2002 through the UTAR Education Foundation, a non-for-profit organisation,[17] and a total of 411 students are enrolled in June 2002 for its first intake. As of January 2023, the university has grown to an enrolment of more than 21,000 students and over 79,000 alumni.[3] At first, the university offered only eight honours degree programmes[18] but now offers more than 131 programmes including foundation, undergraduate bachelor degrees, postgraduate masters degrees as well as doctorate PhD programmes.[3]
In July 2001, the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), a prominent organization in the Malaysian Chinese community, received an invitation from the Malaysian Ministry of Education to establish a university.[18]Ling Liong Sik, the President of the MCA, chaired a committee that drew up a framework for the establishment of the university.[24] Another committee was formed to compile the necessary documents to receive approval from the local authorities.[18] The second committee was led by Ng Lay Swee, the Principal of Tunku Abdul Rahman University College, a tertiary education institution also established by the MCA, and it included Lai Fatt Sian, the Head of the School of Business Studies of the University College, who became the founding Dean of the UTAR Faculty of Accountancy and Management.[18] The university also established the Faculty of Arts and Social Science, led by Yeoh Suan Pow, and the Faculty of Information Communication and Technology, led by Tan Chik Heok. Ling Liong Sik was appointed Council Chairman of UTAR and Ng Lay Swee became the first President and CEO.[25]
In June 2002, UTAR opened its doors to the pioneer batch students on its first campus located in Section 13 of Petaling Jaya, on premises previously owned by the publisher of a local daily called The Star.[26]
Through the three newly established faculties, the university offered its first eight honours degree programmes[27] At that time, the Faculty of Accountancy and Management, under founding Dean Lai Fatt Sian, hosted more than 6,000 students and was described as the largest business faculty in a Malaysian private university. However, due to space constraints and popularity of the courses, the intake was required to be cut off at remarkably high requirements and many were disappointed having their application rejected. This ultimately resulted in market-driven high calibre graduates being strongly demanded by the industry.
UTAR once maintained campuses in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur, but in June 2015 these were consolidated with the Sungai Long campus.[29][30]
Ng Lay Swee retired as the President on 31 March 2008. She was succeeded by Chuah Hean Teik.[31] Following her retirement, many pioneering staff members who worked with her from the inception of the university left the establishment as well.
Chuah Hean Teik retired as the President on 31 August 2019. He was succeeded by Ewe Hong Tat effective from 1 September 2019.[32][33]
Campuses
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman Kampar Campus has an area of 1,300 acres (2.03 square miles; 5.26 square kilometres), making it one of the largest private universities in Malaysia.
For the entry requirements, students with only Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) / Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia Vokasional (SPMV) can apply for the one-year UTAR Foundation programmes,[37] such as Foundation in Science and Foundation in Arts. Those who have completed the Foundation programmes will then be eligible to enrol in the bachelor degree programmes. Other than the UTAR Foundation programmes certificate, students with other qualifications such as Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), A-Levels, South Australian Matriculation (SAM), Canadian Pre-University (CPU) and National Higher Education Entrance Examination (Gaokao) can also apply for the Bachelor's Honours Degree programmes. Besides, students with a diploma or Foundation qualifications from a college, polytechnic or other universities may also apply for admission to UTAR programmes with chances of gaining successful entry with credit transfer.[38]
Nonetheless, all local and foreign students applying for the entry of UTAR programmes are required to be proficient in the English language as almost all the courses are taught in English (except some Chinese studies programmes). Students are usually required to have a credit or relevant score in either SPM English Language, O-level English Language, UEC English Language, MUET, TOEFL, IELTS, CPE, CAE, SAT or ACT.[38]
Students who wish to apply for admissions can do it online through on the official website of UTAR.[39] They can also visit the UTAR Division of Programme Promotion or Division of Admissions and Credit Evaluation, available at both the Sungai Long Campus and Kampar Campus, for more information on the programmes and requirements for admissions.[40]
Teaching and degrees
The structure of UTAR Foundation and full-time degree programmes consists of three semesters per year. The first two semesters for the full-time degree programmes, which begin in January and May, are considered long semesters, which are around 19 to 20 weeks (14 weeks of teaching, 3 weeks of examinations, 2 to 3 weeks of semester break), the short semester for the full-time degree programmes that begins in October is only around 13 weeks (7 weeks of teaching, 3 weeks of examination, 3 weeks of semester break). For Foundation studies, the first two semesters which also begins in January and May, are considered as long semesters, which are around 17 or 19 weeks (14 weeks of teaching, 1 week of examinations, 2 or 4 weeks of semester break), the short semester that begins in October is around 16 weeks (12 weeks of teaching, 1 week of examinations, 3 weeks of semester break).[36]
The teaching in UTAR is usually carried out through lecture, tutorial and practical classes. Lectures in UTAR are conducted in large class sizes by qualified lecturers (at least Master's degree qualification for bachelor's degree programmes). A typical lecture class in UTAR can accommodate up to 200 or 300 students. Tutorials consist of smaller class sizes (usually fewer than 30 students) where students often ask questions and have discussions with tutors and other students. Practical classes are commonly arranged for science, engineering, and information technology programmes that require hands on learning through laboratory work.
Scholarships and financial support
UTAR offers scholarships and loans based on the following criteria:[41]
Must be a Malaysian citizen
Family and personal income and commitments
Scholastic ability and academic performance
Character and involvement in extra-curricular activities
Has obtained admission to Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
Pursuing full-time foundation or degree programmes
UTAR has been awarded self-accreditation status by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency of the Ministry of Higher Education, which authorises UTAR to conduct self-assessments to accredit its programmes in accordance with the criteria set by the MQA, although this status excludes certain programmes that require a professional body's recognition.[46][47] UTAR was awarded Premier Digital Tech University status by Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC).[48]
Various departments and programs at UTAR are also recognized by professional associations and institutes across Malaysia, other Southeast Asian countries, Australia, the Commonwealth, and the United States.[52] The UTAR engineering degree programmes are recognized by the Board of Engineers Malaysia. This recognition allows UTAR engineering graduates to practice in 23 countries including the United States, China, United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, Ireland, Russia, Taiwan, Turkey and South Africa under the Washington Accord.
List of Programmes Recognized By Professional Body Besides MQA Accreditation
Bachelor of Communication (Hons) Public Relations Bachelor of Economics (Hons) Global Economics Bachelor of International Business (Hons) Bachelor of Science (Hons) Biotechnology
Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons) Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons) Entrepreneurship Bachelor of Economics (Hons) Financial Economics Bachelor of Marketing (Hons) Bachelor of Science (Hons) Biotechnology
Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering with Honours Bachelor of Chemical Engineering with Honours Bachelor of Civil Engineering with Honours Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Electronics (Computer Networking) Bachelor of Electrical & Electronic Engineering with Honours Bachelor of Telecommunications Engineering with Honours Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Electronic Engineering Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Environmental Engineering Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Industrial Engineering Bachelor of Materials Engineering with Honours Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Honours Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering with Honours Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Petrochemical Engineering
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Graphic Design and Multimedia Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Game Design Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Digital Animation Bachelor of Science (Hons) Game Development Bachelor of Science (Hons) Biotechnology Bachelor of Information Systems (Hons) Information Systems Engineering Bachelor of Information Systems (Hons) Business Information Systems Bachelor of Information Technology (Hons) Computer Engineering Bachelor of Information Technology (Hons) Communications Networking Bachelor of Science (Hons) Software Engineering
Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Computing Applications (CAICA)
Centre for Artistic Research (CFAR)
Centre for Biomedical and Nutrition Research (CBNR)
Centre for Business and Management (CBM)
Centre for Cancer Research (CCR)
Centre for Chinese Studies (CChS)
Centre for Communication Systems & Network (CCSN)
Centre for Cyber Security (CCS)
Centre for Disaster Risk Reduction (CDRR)
Centre for Economic Studies (CES)
Centre for Entrepreneurial Sustainability (CENTS)
Centre for Environment and Green Technology Research (CEGT)
Centre for Healthcare Science and Technology (CHST)
Centre for Immersive Technology + Creativity (CITC)
Centre for IoT and Big Data (CIoTBD)
Centre for International Studies (CIS)
Centre for Learning and Teaching (CLT)
Centre for Mathematical Sciences (CMS)
Centre for Media and Communication Research (CMCR)
Centre for Modern Languages and Literature (CMLL)
Centre for Photonics and Advanced Materials (CPAMR)
Centre for Power Systems and Electricity (CPSE)
Centre for Railway Infrastructure and Engineering (CRIE)
Centre for Research in Traditional Chinese Medicine (CRTCM)
Dr. Wu Lien-Teh Centre for Research on Communicable Diseases (Dr. Wu Lien-Teh CRCD)
Centre for Research on Non-Communicable Diseases (CRNCD)
Centre for Stem Cell Research (CSCR)
Centre of Sustainable Architecture (COSA)
Centre for Sustainable Mobile Technologies (CSMT)
Centre for VLSI Design (CVLSI)
Tun Tan Cheng Lock Centre for Social & Policy Studies (TCLC)
Achievements
UTAR is awarded MBOT Supportive University/College Award by Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT),[55] for giving support to MBOT through membership application drive for staff and programme accreditation by MBOT. UTAR is also the Most Attractive Graduate Employers To Work For in 2021 by Graduates' Choice Award (GCA),[56] placed third (Education Category) at Malaysia's 100 Leading Graduate Employers Awards 2020[57] and granted CIMA Prize-Winner Excellence Award 2020 Regional Bronze (Asia Pacific) by Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).[58]
UTAR has been mainly ranked by two international ranking systems, the QS University Rankings, and the Times Higher Education University Rankings. UTAR is ranked third among the most productive institutions in the world for research discipline of mobile commerce and its application.[63]
UTAR also ranked 3rd in Malaysia for Nature Index Institution Research Output.[14]
The international UI GreenMetric annually ranks universities on their sustainability performance in infrastructure, energy and climate change, waste, water, transportation, and education. The ranking is organised by the Universitas Indonesia.
