Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman

Summary

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (abbreviated as UTAR; simplified Chinese: 拉曼大学; traditional Chinese: 拉曼大學) is a not-for-profit private research university in Malaysia. UTAR ranked among top 100 in the Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2018[8] and top 600 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021,[9] placing it 2nd overall in Malaysia only after University of Malaya.[10] UTAR also ranked 31st in UI GreenMetric Ranking Top 50 Under 50 2022,[11] and 3rd in Malaysia for Nature Index Institution Research Output.[12]

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Malay)
拉曼大学 (Chinese)
துங்கு அப்துல் ரகுமான் பல்கலைக்கழகம் (Tamil)
(Jawi script) اونيۏرسيتي تونكو عبدالرحمن
Motto德智体兼修 群美新并重
Motto in English
Broadening Horizons, Transforming Lives
TypePrivate university
Research university
Established13 August 2002
ChairmanTing Chew Peh
ChancellorLing Liong Sik[1]
PresidentEwe Hong Tat[2]
Academic staff
>2,000 (2023)[3]
Students>21,000 (2023)[3]
Undergraduates16,975 (2022)[4]
Postgraduates707 (2022)[4]
Location,
Malaysia
CampusMultiple sites
Colours       
Blue, yellow, red and white
Affiliations
Websitewww.utar.edu.my
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese拉曼大学
Traditional Chinese拉曼大學

UTAR was established in June 2002 through the UTAR Education Foundation, a non-for-profit organisation.[13] A total of 411 students were enrolled in June 2002 for its first intake.

The university has two campuses, the award-winning[14] Kampar campus in the state of Perak while the other one is in Sungai Long located within the Klang Valley in the state of Selangor.[15]

History edit

In July 2001, the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), a monoethnic political party, received an invitation from the Malaysian Ministry of Education to establish a university.[16] Ling Liong Sik, the President of the MCA, chaired a committee that drew up a framework for the establishment of the university.[16] Another committee was formed to compile the necessary documents to receive approval from the local authorities.[16] 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.[16] 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.[17]

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.[18]

Through the three newly established faculties, the university offered its first eight honours degree programmes[16] At that time, the Faculty of Accountancy and Management, under founding Dean Lai Fatt Sian, hosted more than 6,000 students.

An official ceremony was held to launch UTAR on 13 August 2002 at the main hall of the Tunku Abdul Rahman University College. Attending the ceremony was the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad. The prime minister also officiated the university groundbreaking event at its new campus at Kampar, in the state of Perak.[16][19]

UTAR once maintained campuses in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur, but in June 2015 these were consolidated with the Sungai Long campus.[20][21]

Ng Lay Swee retired as the President on 31 March 2008. She was succeeded by Chuah Hean Teik.[22] 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.[23][24]

Campuses edit

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman Kampar Campus has an area of 1,300 acres (2.03 square miles; 5.26 square kilometres), is one of the largest private universities in Malaysia.

UTAR Kampar Campus
UTAR Kampus Kampar (Malay)
拉曼大学金宝校区 (Chinese)
 
General information
LocationKampar, Perak, Malaysia
Town or cityKampar
CountryMalaysia
Groundbreaking12 January 2003
OpenedMay 2007
Inaugurated1 June 2007
Website
Kampar Campus - Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman - UTAR

UTAR Kampar main campus is located at Kampar, Perak. The campus received the first intake of students in May 2007.[25]

UTAR Sungai Long Campus
UTAR Kampus Sungai Long (Malay)
拉曼大学双溪龙校区 (Chinese)
 
General information
LocationSungai Long, Selangor, Malaysia
Town or citySungai Long
CountryMalaysia
Coordinates3°02′23″N 101°47′39″E / 3.03972°N 101.79417°E / 3.03972; 101.79417
Relocated1 June 2015
Technical details
Floor countKA Block: 10
KB Block: 11
Website
Sungai Long Campus - UTAR

UTAR Sungai Long campus is located at Bandar Sungai Long, Kajang, Selangor.

Academic profile edit

Accreditation and memberships edit

All UTAR academic programmes are approved by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and Public Service Department (JPA).[26]

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.[27] The UTAR engineering degree programmes are recognized by the Board of Engineers Malaysia. This recognition allows UTAR engineering graduates to practice in 23 countries under the Washington Accord.

Rankings and reputation edit

University rankings
Global – Overall
QS World[4]801-1000 (2022)
QS Employability[28]201-250 (2022)
THE World[9]501-600 (2021)
THE Young Universities[citation needed]301-350 (2023)
Regional – Overall
QS Asia[4]157 (2021)
THE Asia[29]119 (2021)
THE Emerging Economies[30]144 (2021)
National – Overall
QS National[4]14 (2021)
THE National[9]2 (2021)

UTAR has been mainly ranked by two international ranking systems, the QS University Rankings, and the Times Higher Education University Rankings.

UTAR also ranked 3rd in Malaysia for Nature Index Institution Research Output.[12]

Ranking 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Times Higher Education World University Rankings[31] 1001–1200 1001–1200 501–600 501–600 501–600 501–600
Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings[31] 351–400 119 119 111 99 111–120
QS World University Rankings[4] 801–850 800–1000 800–1000 800–1000 800–1000
QS Asian University Rankings[4] 174 167 157 181 188 251–260 251–300 251–300 251–300

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. In 2022, UTAR was ranked 91st.[32]


The MQA is responsible for the Rating for Higher Education Institutions in Malaysia (SETARA) and the Discipline-Based Rating System (D-SETARA). In 2017, UTAR was rated Tier 5 (Excellence).[33]

Notable alumni edit

References edit

  1. ^ "University Council". UTAR. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  2. ^ "UTAR Management". UTAR. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  3. ^ a b "History of UTAR". Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Top Universities". Quacquarelli Symonds(QS). Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Association of Commonwealth Universities(ACU) Members". Association of Commonwealth Universities(ACU). Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  6. ^ "AACSB Educational Member Full List". AACSB International. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  7. ^ "Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Malaysia) - Talloires Network of Engaged Universities". Talloires Network of Engaged Universities. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  8. ^ "Asia University Rankings 2018". Times Higher Education (THE). 5 February 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  9. ^ a b c "World University Rankings 2021". Times Higher Education (THE). 25 August 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  10. ^ "Best universities in Malaysia". Times Higher Education (THE). Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Ranking Top 50 Under 50 2022 - UI GreenMetric". University of Indonesia. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Institution research output table - Nature Index".
  13. ^ "Institution Profile". Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  14. ^ "UTAR Perak campus wins PAM gold award". UTAR. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  15. ^ "Overview". UTAR. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  16. ^ a b c d e f "History". UTAR. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  17. ^ "10th Anniversary Commemorative Book, p. 16" (PDF). UTAR. 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  18. ^ "10th Anniversary Commemorative Book, p. 20" (PDF). UTAR. 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  19. ^ Staff Writer. "Tribute song sums up gratitude for his contributions". Star Online. 13 January 2003. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  20. ^ "Farewell UTAR PJ and KL Campuses". UTAR. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  21. ^ Jeffery Francis. "Kampar – From Tin Mines to Tertiary Education". Ipoh Echo. 16–31 August 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  22. ^ Staff Writer. "Utar appoints Chuah as new CEO". Star Online. 11 April 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  23. ^ "UTAR President Prof Chuah retires, Prof Ewe takes over". 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  24. ^ "Prof Ewe takes over as UTAR president". 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  25. ^ "Introduction". Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  26. ^ "Recognition of UTAR Programmes By MOHE, MQA & JPA". UTAR. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  27. ^ "Professional Recognition By Foreign Economics". UTAR. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  28. ^ "QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022". Quacquarelli Symonds. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  29. ^ "Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2021". 18 May 2021.
  30. ^ "Times Higher Education BRICS & Emerging Economies Rankings 2021". 3 March 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  31. ^ a b "Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)". Times Higher Education (THE). Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  32. ^ "UI GreenMetric World University Ranking 2022". University of Indonesia. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  33. ^ "Malaysia Quality Agency (MQA) SETARA Rating 2017". Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (MOHE). Retrieved 7 December 2017.

External links edit

  • Official website