KUALA LUMPUR: Kolej Universiti Poly-Tech Mara Kuala Lumpur (KUPTM), which was established in 1987 before being upgraded to a university college in 2015, has been recognised as a full university and is now known as Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia (UPTM).

       Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said KUPTM had submitted an application for full university upgrade to the Higher Education Ministry on Dec 1, 2020 and approval was received on March 31, 2021 with conditions to be met before given full university status.

       Mahdzir, in a statement Wednesday (Feb 23) said that KUPTM became eligible to apply for an upgrade to full university after it was upgraded to a university college for five years in October 2015 and subsequently obtained the approval of the Minstry.

       “With the establishment of UPTM, the country’s higher education sector is on the right track and able to realise and support the Malaysian Education Blueprint for Higher Education 2015-2025 to further develop human capital and produce global-class graduates.

       “The purpose of establishing another university under Mara is to complement the ecosytem of Mara’s higher education system which focuses on business and accounting. UPTM is also active in conducting research and innovation activities at the national and international levels,” he said.

       On Feb 21, 2022, the ministry agreed to relax conditions for UPTM’s initial registration as a university-level Private Higher Education Institution, thus enabling UPTM’s name to be officially used by complying with the main conditions within five years of operating as a university.

       During its establishment as a university college, KUPTM offered 14 Bachelor’s Degree, four Master’s Degree and two Doctor of Philosophy Degree programmes.

       KUPTM had 155 lead researchers who have produced 111 research projects and published 198 scholarly articles in various journals. – Bernama