The 24th UTP Convocation Ceremony will witness a total of 1,367 graduates receiving their scrolls from its chancellor Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Marican.
INSTITUTIONS of higher learning globally are reporting a decline in student enrolment for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes.
Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), which celebrates its 24th convocation on Oct 27-28, is bucking this trend.
In the last admission cycle, the number of qualified applicants for its undergraduate programmes was six times more than the places available.
In recent years, the university has transformed its teaching and learning approaches, continued the engagement with relevant stakeholders to ensure its degree programmes meet industry and societal needs, and remained focused on offering an inclusive, engaging and diverse student experience.
“We enrol about 1,300 to 1,400 undergraduates a year, and we are committed to developing well-rounded graduates who are prepared to meet the challenges of the future and contribute to sustainable development,” says UTP vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Mohamed Ibrahim Abdul Mutalib.
In acknowledging the declining interest in STEM, the university has stepped up efforts to offer a value proposition that goes beyond the quality of programmes offered. Through various initiatives, UTP also engages school children to inculcate early interest in STEM.
“We’re working harder to attract students and we’re doing that by also improving our services and the student experience, whether in the facilities that we have or through opportunities for international exposure.
“The goal is to cultivate students who are innovative and globally engaged, who are not only job-ready but who will become the changemakers in society,” he adds.
In line with its strategy to become a leading energy and technology university by 2050, UTP will soon offer a new innovative engineering programme to equip students with interdisciplinary skills for the future.
“Given the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies, some disciplines and attributes are being rendered obsolete. So, we asked ourselves, what attributes should future engineers possess?” says Prof Mohamed Ibrahim.
He shares that the answer lies in producing future-proof graduates by fostering resilience and inclusivity in the students.
“We look to new methods of teaching and learning – advocating active learning and learning through problem-solving – to encourage students to be more resourceful, with lecturers guiding and facilitating this process,” he adds.
In facing the challenges ahead, including the pressure to be more financially independent, he adds that the university focuses on impactful research related to energy transition, future living, sustainability and digitalisation.
“We’re working hard to ensure that we’re not only coming up with cutting-edge research but research that’s relevant, addresses global challenges, offers real-world solutions and can be commercialised,” says Prof Mohamed Ibrahim.
‘We enrol about 1,300 to 1,400 undergraduates a year, and we are committed to developing well-rounded graduates who are prepared to meet the challenges of the future and contribute to sustainable development,’ says UTP vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Mohamed Ibrahim Abdul Mutalib.
Milestones during an eventful year
Challenges and opportunities notwithstanding, the university has enjoyed a momentous year.
In celebrating its convocation, which sees a graduation cohort of 1,367 students (1,028 undergraduates, 242 Master of Science and 97 PhD graduates), UTP has tallied up numerous achievements in the past year.
In the latest edition of the Times Higher Education’s (THE) World University Rankings, UTP made history as the first Malaysian university to enter the top 250, moving into the 201-250 band from last year’s 301–350 band.
This significant leap of 100 places positions UTP as the number one university in Malaysia and private university in Asean.
In the THE Young University Rankings 2024, UTP ranks 32nd, up from 79th place in 2023, maintaining its leading position in the country for four consecutive years. In the THE Asia University Rankings 2024, UTP is 52nd (from 63rd in 2023).
In the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asia University Rankings 2024, it is ranked 69th, and in the QS Broad Subject Rankings 2024 – Engineering & Technology, it is ranked 175th (200th previously).
On the research front, the team led by Assoc Prof Dr Lau Kok Keong, with Dr Serene Lock Sow Mun and Prof Dr Azmi Mohd Shariff, were awarded the Research Entrepreneur Award at the Malaysia Commercialisation Year Summit 2024.
The award, presented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, recognises the team’s work on the Hollow Fiber Membrane Prediction Programme, a commercial simulation tool designed to predict membrane lifespan and optimise gas or liquid separation performance under varying industrial conditions.
The Asian Downstream Summit (ADS) is a leading oil and gas conference in Asia. Recently held in Singapore, it recognises companies and individuals for their exceptional contributions to the industry, including innovation and performance.
Dr Serene Lock Sow Mun from UTP's Chemical Engineering Department won the Female Engineer of the Year award at the ADS. She was recognised for her work in developing practical solutions to reduce carbon emissions in the oil and gas industry.
Furthermore, Dr Serene's twin sister, Ir Irene Lock Sow Mei, a UTP alumna and senior process engineer at PETRONAS Group Technical Solutions, won the Young Engineer of the Year. She was recognised for her academic achievements and her potential to contribute to the future of the oil and gas industry.
UTP also marked a milestone with the establishment of UTP-China University of Petroleum (CUP) Joint Research Centre to leverage the strengths and expertise of both UTP and CUP Beijing. The centre will tackle challenges in petroleum engineering, carbon capture, utilisation and storage, and AI.
The UTP Geological Rock Garden was also opened this year, offering a unique outdoor learning space for nature enthusiasts, students, researchers and anyone interested in the Earth’s geological history.
UTP is also the first Malaysian university to offer Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) qualifications (CFAB and Associate Chartered Accountant) to non-accounting students, including those in the Bachelor of Business Management (BBM) programmes and other disciplines.
Industry ties were also further strengthened by signing a collaboration agreement with IPC Malaysia BV and SLB to advance energy education through the refurbishment of electric submersible pump technology. This collaboration coincides with the official opening of the Lukas Artificial Lift Study Laboratory within the university's Petroleum Engineering Department.
The university also successfully organised its signature event, the biennial World Engineering, Science and Technology Congress (ESTCON), held on Sept 10-11 in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
The 8th edition of ESTCON, jointly organised with PETRONAS Group Technical Solutions and 20 partners from academic institutions and industries worldwide, saw a turnout of more than 1,000 participants from 25 countries. Besides the 560 papers presented, six agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed, along with the handover of the Halliburton Core Test Well 01 project.
In pursuit of achieving a low-carbon campus, UTP has also installed a 7.4MWp Solar PV rooftop panel system, the largest single solar rooftop in Malaysia, which meets about one-third of its electricity needs.
UTP students also won four awards at the ESG Global Young Leaders Summit 2024, held at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. A team of final-year Electrical and Electronics Engineering students also excelled at the World Invention Creativity Olympics 2024, hosted at Seoul National University of Education.
Muhammad Nur Aiman Haja Maidin earned the Gold Award for his groundbreaking project on the Automatic Computer-Aided Detection of Major Depressive Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder using EEG recordings and Hairul Nizam Hatta received the Silver Award for his innovative Intelligent Mobile Robot with Multi-sensor Gas Leakage Detection.
Two students Wong Wei Xi and Goi Xue Yang from the Computer and Information Sciences Department took the top two spots at the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship, showcasing their respective skills in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint.
“The ability of our students to win awards is a result of the strong research culture that we’ve inculcated. Final year projects are tied to the respective research institutes, which give students the exposure and opportunity to undertake leading-edge research,” says Prof Mohamed Ibrahim.
In sports, UTP’s students continue to excel – raking medals at the recent biennial Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) 2024 and Kejohanan Sukan Institusi Pendidikan Tinggi (SUKIPT) 2024.
Celebration for all
In conjunction with its convocation, UTP is organising the ConvoFest at its campus from Oct 26-28.
Besides the free admission, sports activities, games, bazaars, Islamic festivals, international and local cultural festivals, performances by local artistes and exhibitions on science and technology, ConvoFest is also an opportunity for members of the public to tour the university grounds.
For more information, visit www.utp.edu.my
