Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has leapfrogged 61 places to clinch the 294 ranking in this year’s Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, compared to its previous rank of 355 in the year 2013. This new ranking has positioned UTM as the 3rd top ranking University in Malaysia, after University of Malaya and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. These three Malaysian public higher education institutions are now among the top 300 Universities in the world. UTM’s exceptional performance in this year’s QS World University Rankings is a testament of the success of the policy implemented by the University’s top management, led by its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Ir. Wahid bin Omar. UTM has shown a remarkable performance history, surging more than 100 positions in the QS World University Rankings within a period of 7 years. In 2007 UTM was merely ranked in the 411-420 group. The 2014 QS World University Rankings has further enhanced UTM’s stature in the field of Engineering and Technology. In the faculty area of Engineering and Technology UTM is now ranked 134 in the world. UTM’s standing in Engineering and Technology is acknowledged at the national level by the Engineering Accreditation Council Malaysia, which recently awarded accreditation recognition to 19 programs offered by six UTM Engineering Faculties. The accreditation for each program will remain in force for a period of 5 years from the date of conferment. UTM’s success may be attributed to its entrepreneurial, innovative and global mindset culture that is prevalent among staff and students of the University, guided by the concept of ‘New Academia’, which generates a new philosophy from sub-specialization to multidisciplinary knowledge integration; fosters new alliances from academic fraternity to society at large, particularly among industry partners and entrepreneurs; initiates new learning experience for students from mere talk and chalk to experiential learning and global outreach; and promotes new outcomes from academic certificates and expertise to business models and spin-off companies. The approach also encourages effective measures on how to make a difference, and excel in impactful ways, especially in scholarly and academic research enterprise. UTM has the best brains in academia as evident from several of its faculty members becoming the recipients of the prestigious Merdeka Award, the most recent being Prof. Dr Ahmad Fauzi Ismail, the 2014 Merdeka Award recipient for Outstanding Scholastics Achievement. UTM faculty members remain committed to positioning UTM as a world class University as evident from their publication and research efforts. UTM’s SCOPUS indexed papers have shown a consistent increment of 25 per cent annually since 2009, which amounts to an increase of more than 300 per cent in 2013 as compared to 2009. The latest figure for publication showed that between January and July 2014, UTM’s Scopus publication totaled 2,461, which has been reported to be the second highest number of publication amongst public higher education institutions in Malaysia. Research laboratories in UTM are second to none, enabling UTM researchers’ to conduct cutting edge research. In fact, UTM Wireless Communication Centre (WCC) was recently awarded the HICoE status by the Ministry of Education, Malaysia. UTM fire testing lab is also the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, capable of testing temperatures up to 1,700ºC and loads of up to 100 tonnes per test session. UTM has also enhanced its visibility through Impactful Global Engagements, achieved via collaborations with strategic world-renowned partners such as MIT, Imperial College London and Aachen University. Projects with MIT involved the blended learning approach to learning mathematics and science called Blossoms (Blended Learning Open Source Science of Math Studies), and the MIT-UTM Malaysia Sustainable Cities Program. Partnership with Imperial College London is through the establishment of a low carbon transport research centre, while the UTM-Aachen University and National Heart Institute (IJN) of Malaysia Partnership aims to develop products for the diagnostic and clinical use of cardiovascular diseases. UTM is steadfast in advancing the acquisition, application, and dissemination of knowledge in a more dynamic, vibrant and enriching way; based on practicality, smart partnerships, meaningful engagements and meaningful exposure that would bring benefits beyond conventional paradigms. Such an intellectual ecosystem has enabled UTM to garner the highest number of postgraduate student population among the higher education institutions in Malaysia, totaling 13,177 as at 7 September 2014. It should also be noted that UTM has the highest number of PhD Industry candidates in the country, totaling 75 students registered in various faculties. UTM industrial partners include Proton, Telekom Malaysia, Intel, Seagate, Motorola, Boustead Naval Shipyard, Shell Sarawak, Malakoff Corporation, Petronas Carigali and MISC Bhd. The UTM Industrial PhD program has strengthened the strategic partnership between UTM and the industries by preserving the mark of original and innovative research. Although UTM is a graduate focus University, its undergraduates are not sidelined. They are nurtured to not only become leaders in their respective fields, but also to cultivate strategic mindedness, global outlook, and spirit of volunteerism. UTM undergraduates have been and continue to be involved in community engagements. Among the more recent initiatives include the ‘1Ringgit, 1Nation’ program involving distributing food to the homeless; the UTM-GKI Southeast Asian Water Challenge Program which aimed at assisting the community in Air Papan, Mersing to address their water issue; the Sudan humanitarian mission; and the Lao PDR water treatment project.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/5-malaysian-universities-ranked-higher-this-year-in-global-surveyhttp://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/malaysia-makes-great-strides-as-5-universities-ranked-among-top-400-worldwi

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