UTP’s core pillars of improving academic delivery and enhancing research capabilities is in tandem with the university placing student experience front and centre of the strategic direction for the coming years.
UNIVERSITI Teknologi Petronas’ (UTP) silver jubilee celebrations were kicked up a notch with the 22nd convocation, held from Nov 6-7 at the campus in Seri Iskandar, Perak. The convocation marks yet another milestone in UTP’s storied history.
Malaysia’s top private university and second among all institutions of higher learning according to the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia and World Rankings, UTP is leading the way in technology education, and has set its sights on continued excellence in the coming years.
In a world that is increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous, vice chancellor Professor Ts Dr Mohamed Ibrahim Abdul Mutalib says, in the last few years UTP has progressively enhanced the building blocks for its future. The focus, he says, is on achieving sustainable global prominence, and to that end future-proofing the university’s academic programmes is vital. This calls for the infusion of new developments in technology and digitalisation into the curriculum, whether it is data analytics or artificial intelligence and subjects related to society and humanities.
“In this way, students not only become qualified engineers in their chosen discipline but are also well-equipped with the knowledge of the new technologies as they consider industry and society’s needs,” he says.
Alongside UTP’s core pillars of improving academic delivery and enhancing research capabilities, the university is placing student experience front and centre of the strategic direction for the coming years – offering students experiences that are enriching, rewarding and transformative. Attention is being paid to every facet of the student experience from the academic and social engagement, support and services provided, vibrant campus and surroundings, to personal growth and achievement.
“We have brought an international community of students to UTP through student exchanges and collaborations among students and staff with global institutions of higher learning. These are the foundation blocks for taking UTP towards sustainable global prominence,” says Prof Ibrahim.
UTP has progressively enhanced the building blocks for its future focusing on achieving sustainable global prominence, says Prof Ibrahim.
A testament to UTP’s vision of a well-rounded graduate
In the last 25 years, UTP has produced more than 22,000 graduates from over 50 countries who are employed in various sectors, specifically energy and technology. UTP has also created many successful technopreneurs and business leaders.
At the university’s upcoming convocation ceremony 1,095 undergraduates and 343 postgraduates will be receiving their scrolls from UTP chancellor Tan Sri Dr Mohd Hassan Marican. UTP pro chancellor Tan Sri Zaharah Ibrahim and UTP chairman board of directors Datuk Bacho Pilong will also attend the convocation.
This year’s Chancellor Award winners, as in years past, are once again a testament to UTP’s success in producing well-rounded graduates – who exemplify outstanding academic excellence, leadership abilities, possess technopreneurial mindset, and skills crucial to navigate today’s workplace.
With his excellent track record in curricular and extra-curricular activities, from design and innovation competitions to technopreneur activities, Bachelor of Information Technology (Hons) graduate Daniel Yusoff Mustaffa is a deserving Chancellor Gold Award winner.
The software engineer at JobStreet Shared Services Sdn Bhd, Daniel has demonstrated not only academic aptitude but stellar leadership abilities. He was on the Dean’s List every semester, and continuously challenged himself – and was given the opportunity to do so – to enhance his skills in Industry 4.0 technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). With his deep interest and expertise in VR and AR, Daniel conducted free workshops for a science and technology club at UTP, while pursuing his bachelor's degree.
A successful young technopreneur, Daniel has established two companies – DiTack Technologies Enterprise, a technology, research innovation and commercialisation company established in collaboration with Maxis Broadband Sdn Berhad. Another one is DYM IT Solutions, a privately owned company that offers a wide range of application development services, which he runs on a part-time basis.
The Chancellor Silver Award winner, Wong Lin Yong, who is currently a data engineer at Petronas Digital Sdn Bhd was a participant and medallist at several research and innovation competitions.
The Electrical and Electronics Engineering graduate is also an outstanding sportsman – representing UTP at global badminton tournaments and emerging champion at the West Virginia University Badminton Tournament in 2019.
Information Systems graduate Nurziaty Nordin also proved her mettle as a student leader, budding technopreneur as well as in cultural and sports competitions, which earned her the Chancellor Bronze Award. Nurziaty started her own company while an undergraduate at UTP and participated in many business pitching and entrepreneurship competitions. The Information Systems graduate is currently employed as a manufacturing engineer at ASMPT Sdn Bhd.
Towards global prominence
Officially established on January 10th 1997, UTP’s vision from the very beginning has been to be a leader in technology education and a centre for creativity and innovation. Today, UTP offers 13 undergraduate programmes and 41 postgraduate programmes through the Faculty of Engineering as well as Faculty of Science and Information Technology.
Its academic programmes are consistently recognised as some of the most reputable globally. Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in the 2022 World University Rankings by Subjects, ranked UTP’s petroleum engineering and mineral and mining engineering subjects in the Top 50 and Top 60 respectively – making it the top university in the country for both these subjects for the third consecutive year.
UTP also hit another milestone in the THE World University Rankings 2023 when it surged to the 401-500 band, thus retaining its position as Malaysia’s number one private university, second among Malaysian universities and sixth among ASEAN universities.
In marking its 25th anniversary, Mohamed Ibrahim says the university is aiming to become the country’s best provider of engineering education by 2025, and to continuously improve its performance in global rankings and ratings. The goal, he adds, is to become one of the region’s elite engineering schools.
In celebrating the university’s 22nd convocation, UTP is organising a convocation festival, better known as ConvoFest at its campus. Among the activities and events are sports activities, games, children’s fashion show, bazaars, Islamic festivals, international and local cultural festivals and performances by local artistes, to name a few. Members of the public are invited to join in the celebrations. Admission is free.
