UNIVERSITI TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN (UTAR)
History of UTARThe Establishment of UTAR began with the story of Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman (KTAR). In 1964 the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) mooted the idea of setting up a college which was subsequently named after the first Prime Minister of Malaysia.
On 15 September 1972, YAB Dato' Hussein Onn, the then Minister of Education handed over the Instrument of Government to the College. A 191-acre piece of land in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur was allocated for the construction of the KTAR Campus.
Established in 2002 with 411 students, today, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) offers 110 programmes in fields including Accountancy, Actuarial Science, Agriculture, Arts, Business and Economics, Creative Industries and Design, Engineering and Built Environment, Information and Communication Technology, Life and Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Process Management, Medicine and Health Sciences, and Social Science and Education to more than 26,000 students in its nine faculties, three institutes and three centres located in Sungai Long and the main campus in Kampar, which was awarded the Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (Malaysian Institute of Architects) gold award in the education category in 2013. The employability of its 45,000 over graduates exceeds 97 percent within six months after graduation.
UTAR's efforts to excel in teaching and research to achieve its vision to be a global university of educational excellence with transformative societal impact have led it to be ranked as one of the top 300 universities in Asia in 2012 and 2013 by QS World University Rankings: Asia.
The Genesis of UTAROn 5 July 2001, the Minister of Education, YB Tan Sri Musa Mohamad, invited the MCA to establish UTAR. A steering committee, chaired by YABhg Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik was formed to draw up a blueprint. A working committee led by YBhg Tan Sri Dr Ng Lay Swee, who was then the Principal of KTAR, prepared the working papers for the formation of the University. After months of meetings, deliberations and research, a framework emerged.
UTAR would comprise the following:
-Faculty of Accountancy and Management
-Faculty of Arts and Social Science
-Faculty of Information & Communication Technology
-Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science
-Faculty of Medicine and Health Science
-Institute of Postgraduate Studies and Research
-Centre for Extension Education
These five faculties, one institute and one centre would offer a comprehensive range of courses to meet the varied needs of students.
In fact, the establishment was timely with the recognition of the private education industry by the Government of Malaysia as a vital engine in stimulating and sustaining the growth of intellectual capital to meet the complex needs of an increasingly knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy.
The International Advisory CouncilGuided by a vision to be a premier University for the advancement and dissemination of knowledge and expertise while emphasising the holistic development of individuals for nation building, UTAR would have to achieve global standards. To serve as a platform for international affiliations, the International Advisory Council (IAC) consisting of eminent scholars and scientists was established. With this array of distinguished scholars and scientists, UTAR has since then been working towards building a strong international base for its research programmes and courses of studies. The historic inaugural meeting of the IAC chaired by Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, then Chairman of UTAR Council, took place on 15 April 2002. It was indeed a meeting of keen minds with a myriad of vibrant ideas which provided an excellent start for the new University.
On 10 June 2002, UTAR welcomed its first intake of 411 students to its Petaling Jaya Campus. On 13 August 2002, YABhg Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad, then Prime Minister of Malaysia, officially launched UTAR. UTAR is thus officially established under the UTAR Education Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation.
IntroductionUniversiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) was officially launched on 13 August 2002 as a not-for-profit private university providing affordable quality education. It is established under the UTAR Education Foundation and registered under the Malaysian Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996.
Guided by its vision to be a global university of educational excellence with transformative societal impact, UTAR is highly reputed as one of the fastest growing private higher education institutions in the country with phenomenal growth in all aspects of its development since its inception. With the first intake of only 411 students in its Petaling Jaya campus in 2002, the University’s enrolment has now reached 26,000 students with campuses located in Kampar, Perak and Bandar Sungai Long, Selangor.
UTAR has graduated over 45,000 students since its inaugural convocation in 2005 and has made impressive strides in establishing a strong reputation as a comprehensive University with dedication to achieving excellence in teaching and research. The University currently offers more than 110 academic programmes from Foundation Studies to Bachelor's, Master’s, and PhD degrees in the fields of Accounting, Business and Economics, Actuarial Science, Mathematics and Process Management, Agriculture and Food Science, Arts, Social Sciences and Education, Creative Industries and Design, Engineering and Built Environment, Information and Communication Technology, Life and Physical Sciences, and Medicine and Health Sciences.
UTAR Kampar CampusUTAR’s main campus in Kampar was built on a 1300-acre piece of land donated by the Perak State Government. It is located in the growing township of Bandar Barat Kampar in Perak. Strategically located off the North-South highway, Kampar Campus is 190 km from Kuala Lumpur which is slightly over two hours away from the city by car. The Campus welcomed its first intake of students in May 2007.
Flanked by picturesque mountains, dotted with scenic lakes and located within a growing township, Kampar Campus offers a conducive and serene learning environment. This Campus features modern educational facilities and provides students with access to some of the latest learning technologies and research innovations. In addition, the Campus has facilities for sports such as football, basketball, volleyball, badminton, table tennis and a gymnasium. The spacious campus grounds are also ideal for jogging and cycling.
The following faculties are located in UTAR Kampar Campus:
-Faculty of Arts and Social Science (FAS)
-Faculty of Business and Finance (FBF)
-Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT)
-Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (FICT)
-Faculty of Science (FSc)
-Centre for Foundation Studies (CFS Kampar)
-Centre for Extension Education (CEE Kampar)
-Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS Kampar)
The construction of Phase Two of the Kampar campus was completed in mid- 2012. With the completion of Phase Two, there are now 15 buildings in this lake-view campus including a grand hall with a seating capacity of 4,000, lecture theatres, tutorial rooms, a cafeteria, and the creation of more parking spaces.
Visitors to the panoramic UTAR Kampar Campus will unmistakably catch a glimpse of the exceptionally striking grand hall erected with architectural finesse on a 12,000-square metre plot of land. This palatial hall was built to commemorate UTAR's 10th anniversary and it was named after its illustrious founder, YABhg Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik.
Another unique feature in Kampar Campus is a pair of bronze sculptures; one of Confucius and the other of Einstein. These two imposing sculptures are located in front of Heritage Hall and weigh a total of 580kg. These sculptures symbolise UTAR's belief in the universality of learning and thinking with the convergence of wisdoms from both the East and the West.
Amid the lush greenery and pristine lakes on campus is the UTAR Bird Sanctuary which is a heronry located on a small island in the middle of the lake on campus. There are about 5 species of herons breeding in this heronry. Besides these breeding birds, the campus is also surveyed to have an impressive 100 species of birds.
UTAR Sungai Long CampusThe Sungai Long Campus is located in Bandar Sungai Long, a main township in Kajang, Selangor. It is a purpose-built campus with surrounding facilities and services that support banking, housing, public transport, shopping and meals for the convenience of the students.
On 1 June 2015, UTAR relocated its campuses and offices from Setapak, Kuala Lumpur and Section 13 Petaling Jaya to its own campus in Sungai Long in a move to consolidate and strengthen the University’s presence in the Klang Valley. This move to Sungai Long was one of the most defining moments in UTAR’s history as the University continues its next decade of excellence in education.
The Sungai Long Campus houses the Mary KUOK Pick Hoo Library and the following faculties, centres and institutes:
-Faculty of Accountancy and Management (FAM)
-Faculty of Medicine and Health Science (FMHS)
-Faculty of Creative Industries (FCI)
-Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES)
-Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS)
-Centre for Foundation Studies (CFS)
-Centre for Extension Education (CEE)
-Institute of Management and Leadership Development
-Institute of Postgraduate Studies and Research
Link:
http://www.utar.edu.my/