The vision of UM is being an internationally renowned institution of higher learning in research, innovation, publication and teaching.
University of Malaya (UM) was the first university established in Malaya on 8th of October 1949, which was the alliance of King Edward VII College of Medicine (established in 1905) and Raffles College (established in 1928). Situated in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, UM, as it is known today, was officially recognised as a public university on 1st of January 1962. Its initial objective was to provide tertiary education to the people in Malaya which later has successfully produced leaders and intellectuals in various fields.
Establishments made to Enhance and Facilitate Academic Productivity
UM is supported by University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), the first and biggest research hospital in Malaysia, two academies, twelve faculties, three institutes and three centres of excellence that comprehensively encompass medicine, science, technology, the social sciences and the humanities. Apart from that, in the effort to contribute towards knowledge development, six Research Clusters have been set up. The establishment of these clusters offers new discoveries in numerous fields. The emphasis on research is strengthened by the presence of centres of excellence at several educational centre. UM focuses on contributions to academia and society is through teaching, research, publication, innovation, and commercialization.
Accreditations, Rewards and Recognitions
To ensure that the academic curriculum meets its national needs, UM has successfully attained accreditation from various international institutions and professional bodies. Locally, all UM’s academic programmes meet the requirements set by Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA) as well as other professional bodies. UM is also accredited by many international level institutional and professional bodies.
UM was recognized by the Ministers Council on 11th of October 2006 as one of the five research universities in Malaysia and on 26th of January 2012, it was given the autonomy status by the Ministry of Higher Education. With the nation’s aspirations as its guide, UM continues to strengthen its position in the academic world, both locally and internationally. It has successfully achieved the rank of 114th for Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2018 and also ranked 24th for the QS Asian University Rankings 2018. Besides that, seven subjects in UM have also made it to the list of the best 50 by QS World University Rankings by Subjects 2017, which includes Library & Information Management, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Development Studies, Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil & Structural Engineering, and Mineral & Mining Engineering.
At national level, UM was rated six-star in 2017 by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia. UM has also maintained its status as a research university through the audit process of Malaysian Research Assessment Instrument (MyRA) I and II. All achievement and recognition received have endowed UM as the country’s best university while continuing to flourish globally.
Collaborations of UM to vitalise Success
UM has collaborated with leading research institutes and universities from 71 countries. Among world’s top universities that have worked actively with UM are University of Cambridge, National University of Singapore, Yale University, Kyoto University, University of Sydney, National Taiwan University, Queen’s University Belfast and Beijing Foreign Studies University.
About the Leader of the Institute
Datuk Ir. Abdul Rahim Hashim became the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Malaya (UM) on 1 November 2017. Prior to this appointment, he has served as the Vice Chancellor of the Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS for five year since 1 November 2012.
He graduated in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom in 1976 and later received an Honorary Doctorate in Engineering from the same university in 2006.
He worked for PETRONAS for 32 years from September 1976 to December 2008 and held some important and key positions. These include MD/CEO of PETRONAS Penapisan Melaka and Malaysian Refining Company (1991-1998), Vice President of Human Resource Management (1998-2002), Vice President of Gas Business (2002-2006) and Vice President Research and Technology (2006-2008).
As a professional engineer, he sat on the Board of Engineers Malaysia and was the Chairman of the Engineering Accreditation Council of Malaysia (2007-2012). He is currently an Advisor of Institute of Materials Malaysia, a Fellow and a Council Member of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, a member of the Board of Engineers National Monitoring Committee, a Chairman of National Precision Tooling Sdn. Bhd, a board member of Deleum Berhad, a public listed company and a Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau MyCEB’s Kesatria.
In October 2016, he was admitted as a William Pitt Fellow by the Pembroke College of Cambridge. He is the Past President of the International Gas Union (2009-2012), the Immediate Past President of the Malaysian Gas Association (2003-2015) and Past President of the Asia Pacific Natural Gas Vehicle Association (2003-2009). He has also attended the Harvard Advanced Management Program in 1997.
Student’s Voice/Words of Trust
“I chose UM because it is interesting to come all the way to Malaysia from where I am from. KL is one of the best student cities in the world. The tuition is quite affordable and the programme that I wanted to study is in English and it is really good.” – STEPHANIE SINGH, Bachelor of Science in Ecology Biodiversity.
“I can bring my family along while undergoing my PhD at UM. It is a stepping stone not only for my own career but an eye-opening experience for my family too.” – MUNEEB M. MUSTHAFA, PhD, Science.
Notable Alumni of UM
Ever since its establishment in 1949, UM has managed to produce more than 192,000 country’s prominent figures. Some of them include Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad (Prime Minister), Tun Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi (Former Prime Minister), Tun Musa Hitam (Former Deputy Prime Minister), Tan Sri Muhyiddin Hj. Mohd Yassin (Minister of Home Affairs), Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Former Deputy Prime Minister), Tan Sri Dr. Ali Hamsa (Chief Secretary), Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz (Former Governor), Tan Sri Dr. Lim Wee Chai (Chief Executive, Top Glove Corporation Bhd), Tan Sri Emeritus Professor Khoo Kay Kim (historian), and other political and corporate figures in the country.
As the most prestigious university in the country, UM is committed to lead the nation in research and innovation as well as to achieve the top 100 universities in the world by 2020.
