Varsity by The People, for The People
When Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) was founded in 2002, it envisaged to be a premier university aspiring to achieve excellence in the advancement and dissemination of knowledge and expertise, while emphasising the holistic development of its students towards nation building.
Not a university to rest on its laurels, UTAR, despite being a young university, continues on its trajectory of success even after more than a decade by cementing its position as a global university of educational excellence with transformative societal impact. This is reflected by its growing local and international partnerships, diverse community engagement initiatives as well as prestigious recognitions and awards by federal agencies, professional bodies and institutions over the years.
UTAR was awarded 5-Stars (Very Competitive) in the "Mature University" category under the Rating System for Malaysian Higher Education Institutions (SETARA) 2018/2019 and Sin Chew Education Awards (SCEA) 2018/2019 for Outstanding Educational Institutions in the Private Universities/Colleges Category, signifying its excellence in the areas of teaching and learning, research and development (R&D), social responsibility and knowledge transfer. In 2017, UTAR was awarded self-accreditation status by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency. The not-for-profit private institution of higher learning’s various social responsibility initiatives also earned it the CSR Excellence Award at the Sin Chew Business Excellence Award (SCBEA) 2017 in the Corporate Social Responsibility Category.
UTAR’s commitment to quality education has been further amplified in subsequent years as indicated by the international rankings it garnered.
Teaching and Research Excellence
Among the feathers which UTAR added to its cap includes being ranked #501 - 600 in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2021, #157 in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asia University Rankings 2021, #33 for SDG4: Quality Education in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2020, #201-300 in the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings 2020, #119 in the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2020, and also 106th World's Most Sustainable University in UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2020. Such accomplishments convey the immense efforts and effective strategies put in place by a university that is only 18 years old.
As UTAR stands among the most prestigious and reputable universities in the country, it also prides itself as a higher learning institution which has produced over 67,000 graduates in various fields to meet the demands and expectations of the industries. With a high employability rate of 95 to 97% within six months after graduation (as at 2019), UTAR graduates are highly sought after by multinational companies, conglomerates, SMEs as well as NGOs for their competence and capability.
Ensuring the quality of education meets the benchmark standard of the industry, UTAR’s programmes are widely recognised by local and international professional bodies relevant to the respective fields of studies. These recognitions and accreditations come from leading professional bodies such as the Board of Engineers Malaysia, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), The Board of Architects Malaysia, The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Society of Actuaries (SOA) and others. Another step to ensure the quality of education has been the appointment of prominent faculty members from educational institutions worldwide as external examiners to ensure impartiality in the evaluation of the university’s academic standards and benchmarking of its programmes.
To produce outstanding and competent graduates, UTAR highly emphasises the holistic development of its students. UTAR students are not only equipped with relevant academic knowledge and technical skills but also soft skills. The UTAR Soft Skills Development Certificate Programme complements the university’s academic education by focusing on ten essential soft skills components, namely communication and language skills, cognitive skills, complex problem solving, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, cultural intelligence and teamwork, moral and professional ethics, leadership skills, lifelong learning and information management, and digital literacy. Each component is imparted through various activities including study tours, competitions, speakers’ corner, training sessions and community services.
As a research-focused university believing in the betterment of the society, nation and the world via R&D activities, UTAR places great importance on R&D and commercialisation to support the Malaysian Government’s Economic Transformation Plan. Through the dedication of the academics and researchers as well as support from the university, UTAR has made great strides in various areas such as agricultural science, building construction, stem cell research and wastewater treatment, to name a few.
Giving Back to The Community
A university founded with the bedrock principle of “by the people, for the people”, UTAR is also a higher learning institution which has the community’s interests at heart and thus nurtures students to have a heart for the community. The university’s social responsibility projects and initiatives cover a diverse spectrum of activities, rooted in its core values and reflected in its voluntary services in support of the people and the community. Activities range from consultation, training, conferences, talks and seminars to voluntary community services in New Villages and rural areas, health campaigns, gotong-royong, free health services, awareness programmes, financial aid and scholarships, leadership and youth camps, and teaching and learning support.
In fact, service to the community and even the industry is part and parcel of the university’s education approach. From working with the underprivileged in villages and cleaning up homes to collaborations with industries and companies to improve products and services and conduct research, these activities are conducted throughout the years, providing enriching experiences for both the givers and receivers.
Focusing on helping different ethnic and age groups, UTAR has reached out to various communities in need across the country by organising purposeful projects such as the UTAR New Village Community Project, Orang Asli Community Project, Langkawi Project and many more.
Besides the local community, UTAR has also collaborated with other government foundations to reach out to more communities from other states and countries. The university also partners with the government, schools and other service providers to improve educational outcomes for children, and create and support long-term change in communities entrenched in disadvantage. UTAR strongly believes that engagement with the community is essential for long-term sustainability, lifelong learning and value creation for its staff, students and the community itself.
