UNIVERSITI TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN

A history that makes us proud to be part of this university.

A series of milestone achievements that inspire and shape our future.




Explore some of the milestones that helped shape who we are and who we’ll become in the future. 
We are proud to celebrate this meaningful milestone as we look back on our past glorious achievements and progress into the future

2002

UTAR was launched on 13 August 2002 by the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia YAB Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad.
YBhg Tan Sri Datuk Dr Ng Lay Swee became UTAR’s first President.
UTAR started with just 411 students in 3 faculties offering 8 degree programmes in Petaling Jaya Campus.
UTAR’s first faculties were the Faculty of Arts and Social Science, Faculty of Accountancy and Management and Faculty of Information and Communication Technology.

2003

Ground-breaking ceremony of UTAR Perak Campus and commencement of construction on 12 January 2003.

Established the Centre for Extension Education (CEE).

2004

Established the Faculty of Engineering and Science (FES) at the Kuala Lumpur Campus in Setapak and the Institute of Postgraduate Studies and Research (IPSR).

Became a Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) Status Institution.

Received the first Lembaga Akreditasi Negara (LAN) Accreditation for the initial 8 Bachelor degree programmes.

2005

Established the Sungai Long Campus and the Centre for Foundation Studies (CFS) at the Petaling Jaya Campus.
Launched the Foundation, Lifelong Learning, Part-Time degree programmes and Master’s degree programmes.
Held the inaugural Convocation for 2,083 graduands.
Received the “Private University with Excellence in Increasing Student Enrolment for 2003-2005” Award from the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia.

2006

Received first MOSTI Science Fund from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Malaysia.

Offered over 50 programmes from Foundation to Postgraduate degree programmes.

2007

Launched UTAR Perak Campus for initial admission of 500 students.

Launched the PhD programmes.

2008

Established the Faculty of Creative Industries (FCI) at the Petaling Jaya Campus.
Established the Faculty of Business and Finance at the Kampar Campus.
Graduated the first batch of five Master’s students at the March 2008 Convocation.
Ir Academician Emeritus Prof Tan Sri Dato' Dr Chuah Hean Teik became the second UTAR President on 1 April 2008.

2009

Acquired the 10-storey Sungai Long Campus building.

Established the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) at the Sungai Long Campus.

Achieved Tier-4 (Very Good) status in SETARA 2009.

Established the Faculty of Science (FSc) and the Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT) at the Perak Campus.

Introduced the UTAR Soft Skills Development Certificate (USSDC) on 12 January 2009.

2010

Launched the UTAR Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation Plan.

Received ISO 9001 Certification for Examination and Library services.

Established the institute of Chinese Studies (ICS).

2011

Awarded the first PhD degree.

Achieved Tier-5 (Excellent) status in SETARA 2011.

Achieved Tier-5 (Excellent) status in D-SETARA for Engineering and Tier-4 (Very Good) status in D-SETARA for Health Sciences.

2012

Celebrated 10th Anniversary Celebration.
Inauguration of the Dewan Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik.
Ranked Top 300 in the QS Asian Universities Ranking 2012.
Handover of Phase 2 of UTAR Perak Campus on 11th August 2012.

2013

Announcement of the UTAR 10-year Strategic Plan.

UTAR Perak Campus won the Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) Gold Award in the Education Category.

Established the UTAR Community Counselling Centre at Perak Campus.

Established the Taiwan Resource Centre for Chinese Studies at the Library, Perak Campus.

Established the Institute of Management and Leadership Development (IMLD).

Achieved Tier-5 (Excellent) status in SETARA 2013.

2014

Announced the establishment of a specialist training hospital at Kampar, Perak.

Renamed the Faculty of Engineering and Science (FES) to Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKCFES).

2015

Moved in to the new UTAR Sungai Long Campus.

Launched the Mary Kuok Pick Hoo Library.

2016

Launched the UTAR Gallery on 25 March 2016.

Established the first offshore Mencius Institute at the UTAR Kampar Campus on 4 August 2016.

2017

YABhg Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik became the first UTAR Chancellor on 18 January 2017.

Conferred Self-Accreditation Status for UTAR by MQA on 21 February 2017.

Launched the Tun Tan Cheng Lock Centre for Social and Policy Studies at UTAR Sungai Long Campus on 28 February 2017.

The Undergraduate Research Scheme (URS) was introduced in 2017 to train undergraduates in R&D project and research implementation.

Times Higher Education (THE):

  • Ranked 111-120th in the Asia University Rankings 2017. 
  • Ranked 101-150th in the Young University Rankings 2017. 
  • Ranked =14 in the Young University Rankings 2017 : Millennial universities.

Received the Sin Chew Business Excellence Award 2017 for the CSR Category on 5 September 2017.

Launched the China-Malaysia Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine in collaboration with the China-Malaysia Centre for TCM and Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine.

2018

Awarded 5-Star-Excellent (Emerging University) in SETARA 2017.
Times Higher Education (THE): 
  • 501-600 in the World University Rankings 
  • 101-150 in the Young University Rankings 
  • 111-120 in the Asia-Pacific University Rankings Ranked 
  • 114th in the Emerging Economies University Rankings 2018 Ranked 
  • 99th in the Asia University Rankings 2018.
Ranked within the 251-260 band in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asia University Rankings 2018.
Awarded the CSR Excellence Award for Corporate Social Responsibility at the Sin Chew Business Excellence Award (SCBEA) 2017/2018.
The Ministry of Health Zoning approval was obtained on 25 April 2017 for UTAR Hospital. Approval for Hospital medical services and detailed plan was obtained on 18 December 2018.
Majlis Daerah Kampar approved the Hospital building plan on 21 August 2018.
UTAR Hospital construction commenced on 5 October 2018.
Launched the UTAR iCGPA and Blockchain Certification System.
Launched JobStreet Corner.
Established the Unovate Centre.

2019

Times Higher Education (THE):
  • 501-600 in the World University Rankings
  • 101-150 in the Young University Rankings
  • 101-200 in the inaugural University Impact Rankings
  • 111-120 in the Asia-Pacific University Rankings
  • Ranked 117th in the Emerging Economies University Rankings 2019 
  • Ranked 111th in the Asia University Rankings 2019
Ranked 188th in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asia University Rankings 2019.
Awarded the Outstanding Educational Institution (Private Universities/Colleges Category) at the Sin Chew Education Awards (SCEA) 2018/2019.
Awarded Premier Digital Tech University status by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC).
Ranked 102nd World's Most Sustainable University by UI Green Metric World University Rankings.
Awarded MBOT Supportive University/College Award by the Malaysian Board of Technologists (MBOT).
Ir Academician Emeritus Prof Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik retired on 31 August 2019.
Ir Prof Dr Ewe Hong Tat took over as UTAR President on 1 September 2019.
UTAR has started the UTAR New Village Community Project since 2009. The project has marks its 10th anniversary in 2019.

2020

Launched the e-Commerce Fulfillment Centre in Sungai Long Campus.

Won Second Place in GCA Graduates’ Choice Award (Education Category) for 2021 Most Attractive Graduate Employers to Work For.

Ranked Third (Education Category) at Malaysia’s 100 Leading Graduate Employers Awards Presentation 2020.

UTAR commenced Online Teaching and Learning (OTL) on 16 March 2020 as a result of the pandemic.

Times Higher Education (THE):

  • Ranked #501-600 in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2020
  • Ranked #=138 in the Times Higher Education (THE) Emerging Economies University Rankings 2020
  • Ranked #119 in the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2020
  • Ranked #201-300 in the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings 2020
  • Ranked #33 for SDG4: Quality Education in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2020

Quacquarelli Symonds (QS): 

  • Ranked #=181 in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asia University Rankings 2020
  • Ranked #251-300 in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Graduate Employability Rankings 2020.

e-Convocation was held for the first time on 15 August 2020 due the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chinese Medicine Task Force of Malaysia for COVID-19, with participation from UTAR TCM staff, gave free Chinese herbal tea to the community and COVID-19 high risk areas

2021

Launched second e-Commerce Fulfilment Centre in Kampar Campus.

UTAR signed an MOA and Power Purchase Agreement with Ditrolic in January 2021 to install 9,000 solar modules to harness solar energy at Kampar Campus.

Launched the Belt and Road Activity Centre at Kampar Campus.

Introduced the UTAR Community and Voluntary Engagement Programme (UTAR CARE Programme) on 12 January 2021.

#157 in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asia University Rankings 2021.

Times Higher Education (THE):

  • #501-600 in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2021
  • #=144 in the Times Higher Education (THE) Emerging Economies University Rankings 2021
  • #119 in the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2021
  • #147 in the Times Higher Education (THE) Young University Rankings 2021
  • #201-300 in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2021
  • #=74 for SDG4: Quality Education in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2021

Ranked 84th for World's Most Sustainable University in UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2021.

e-Convocation was held for the second time on 20 March 2021.

UTAR Sungai Long Campus, in collaboration with Sungai Long Hospital, became a COVID-19 (PPV) vaccination centre on 31 May 2021.

UTAR Kampar Campus was the first drive-through COVID-19 (PPV) vaccination centre in Perak on 21 June 2021, followed by the setting up of on-site vaccination centre at Dewan Tun Ling on 15 July 2021.

e-Convocation was held for the third time on 21 August 2021.

Sin Chew, Econsave and Guang Ming Daily held a charity show for UTAR Hospital on 4 December 2021.

2022

UTAR physical convocation resumes on 8 January after 2 years.

  • Ranked #201-250 in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Graduate Employability Rankings 2022 
  • Ranked #167 in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asia University Rankings 2022 
  • Ranked #323 in the QS World University Rankings 2022 Employer Reputation 3)
  • Ranked #401-500 in the Times Higher Education (THE) Emerging Economies University Rankings 2022

Launched UTAR 20th Anniversary Logo & Website on 24 January.