Towards An Innovative, Entrepreneurial and Global University

Since its establishment as a technical school in 1904 and finally a full-fledged university in 1972, UTM has played a pivotal role over the years as the nation’s largest contributor of technical and professional workforce for the local industry, government agencies as well as multinational companies. It is located both in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, known as the UTM Kuala Lumpur Campus, and in Johor Bahru, which is its main campus, situated in a strategic location in the Iskandar Malaysia region, a vibrant economic corridor in the south of Peninsular Malaysia.

Along with its established vision to be recognised as a world-class Entrepreneurial Research University, UTM is set to be the centre of academic and technological excellence. Its mission is to be a leader in the development of human capital and innovative technologies that will contribute to the nation’s wealth creation. UTM is now regarded as Malaysia’s premier institution in engineering, science and technology and ranked in the top 100 league in the World University Rankings in the field of engineering and technology.

UTM’s vision is therefore in line with the aspiration of the nation towards becoming a knowledge-based, innovation-led economy grounded in creativity and innovation with high value creation. The differentiation strategy for the university is the concept of “New Academia”, which is an attempt at embracing fresh dimensions to knowledge culture beyond the conventional academia paradigm. It is an integrated model of knowledge advancement across disciplines and beyond boundaries where knowledge acquisition, application and dissemination happen in a more dynamic, vibrant and enriching way based on practicality, meaningful engagement, smart partnership and relevant exposure. The “New Academia” aims to make higher education more efficient and integrated into socio-economic development. To make this a reality requires good governance, steady funding source and entrepreneurial spirit.

Innovation is also central to UTM’s core values, with the innovation culture permeating across all dimensions of the university including teaching and learning, research and development, writing and publication, management and administration, staff and student development, consultancy and professional services and also university social responsibility. Innovation is expedited by the university community through concerted effort and strong team spirit with shared values and purpose.

Since becoming a research university, UTM is committed to become a graduate-focused university with more innovative research-based postgraduate programmes offered and more attractive and varied modes of PhD programmes implemented such as PhD by Publication, Industry-based Doctoral Degrees, PhD by Fast Track and Double/Dual Doctoral Degrees. This not only provides flexibility in postgraduate study approaches, but at the same time contributes to increased publications and citations, while enhancing technological development and value-driven economy.

Through a strategic transformation of its organisational structure, UTM is focused on creating a vibrant knowledge culture and fertile intellectual ecosystem that inspire creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial mindsets. This is also in tandem with the transformation plan of the Ministry of Higher Education to turn Malaysia into an educational hub renowned for high quality educational standards and research excellence in strategic key areas of knowledge and specialised disciplines as well as multi-disciplinary fields.