Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), owned by the UTAR Education Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, was officially launched on 13 August 2002. The establishment of UTAR is in line with the government’s effort to enhance and expand higher education opportunities to make Malaysians a learning and versatile society in support of national development needs.
UTAR started with a student population of 411, staff strength of about 70 and eight Bachelor’s programmes in three faculties in Petaling Jaya in June 2002. Fast forward, UTAR now, in its eighth year of operation, has over 18,000 students, staff strength of over 1,300 academic and administrative staff, and offers a comprehensive array of 89 programmes: 10 Doctorates, 16 Masters, 53 Bachelors (Honours), 4 Foundation Certificates, and 6 Part-time Degrees over nine faculties in four Campus locations – Perak Campus, Petaling Jaya Campus, Kuala Lumpur Campus and Sungai Long Campus.
The vision of UTAR is to be a premier university and UTAR pursues a rigorous academic approach towards producing disciplined graduates critical in their thinking and dedicated to the quest for knowledge, continuous learning and the pursuit of excellence.
All UTAR programmes have been approved by the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) of Malaysia and all UTAR Bachelor’s degree programmes assessed by the MoHE have received full accreditation status.
Faculties |
As a comprehensive university, UTAR comprises the following faculties / centres:
At the Perak Campus
- Faculty of Arts and Social Science
- Faculty of Business and Finance
- Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology
- Faculty of Information and Communication Technology
- Faculty of Science
- Centre for Foundation Studies
At the Petaling Jaya Campus
- Faculty of Creative Industries
- Faculty of Information and Communication Technology
- Institute of Postgraduate Studies and Research
- Centre for Extension Education
- Centre for Foundation Studies
At the Kuala Lumpur Campus
- Faculty of Engineering and Science
At the Bandar Sungai Long Campus
- Faculty of Accountancy and Management
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Science
Academic Strength |
A keenness for intellectual development and research is central to UTAR’s learning culture. It is with this in mind that the International Advisory Council comprising renowned academics and established experts was set-up to provide recommendations to UTAR for a platform to foster international affiliation and collaboration with overseas universities and research centres.
As part of UTAR’s commitment to high quality, standards and rigour, a panel of External Examiners comprising well-known academics from several prestigious universities such as University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Harvard University and University of Sydney has been established.
Furthermore, UTAR has a group of Adjunct Faculty comprising eminent scholars and prominent industry practitioners to contribute to the advancement of teaching, learning and research at the University.
Wholesome Education At UTAR |
The degree programmes offered at UTAR are geared towards industry demands. The University’s education process extends beyond the academic and high-tech into the holistic. A campus culture of all-round education and life-long learning gives students that additional competitive edge.
Practical training experience is an important aspect that UTAR stresses. Such trainings give students additional advantages and many of UTAR’s students undergoing their internship programme have been placed in multi-national companies. Some UTAR students have also completed their industrial attachments with Queensland University of Technology in Australia, National University of Singapore, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory in Singapore and Feng Chia University in Taiwan.
In addition to the relevant industry attachment arranged for students in the various programmes, faculty and students can keep abreast of the latest technology and developments in the relevant field through many of the University’s academia-industry collaborative arrangements.
UTAR also joined hands with industry giants, e.g. Microsoft Corporation and Sun Microsystems, as well as professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and The Institution of Surveyors, Malaysia (ISM) to build significant alliances in terms of professional competence and the sharing of resources. Such successful partnerships are just a glimpse of what is to come as UTAR continues working towards establishing more academic-industry collaborations for synergistic benefits.
Student Services |
UTAR provides a range of student services from counselling and assisting accommodation arrangements to organising student societies and clubs to give them experiences in leading and managing, communicating and interacting with their peers, and sometimes professionals from the industry. Activities of the societies and clubs include friendly and competitive sports, educational trips, talks, seminars and workshops to widen the students’ intellectual horizons and increase their knowledge of industry and the corporate world.
In addition, UTAR has set up the Department of Soft Skills Competency with the aim of planning and organising relevant courses for students in order to equip them with the competitive skills required for the workplace. These courses are designed to enhance students’ skills in communication and public speaking as well as to prepare them for leadership and management responsibilities.
Scholarships / Financial Aid |
UTAR students are eligible to apply for the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan and many other student loans. PTPTN offers loans of up to RM16,500 per year to students who are pursuing a full-time Honours Degree programme at UTAR.
The University also offers scholarships to outstanding students. UTAR students can also apply to many external scholarships. Students who need financial aid can seek advice from the Division of Examinations, Awards and Scholarships.
