UCTS seeks to upgrade into full-fledged university
SIBU: Sarawak owned University College of Technology Sarawak ( UCTS) is currently pursuing its status upgrading application with the Ministry of Education.
Its vice chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Khairuddin Abdul Hamid said once upgraded, UCTS will be a full-pledged university hopefully by early next year.
“In this regard, we are very grateful for the support and encouragement given by the chancellor Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, UCTS Board of Directors chairman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, members and all stakeholders,” he said in his welcoming speech during UCTS third convocation ceremony here yesterday.
The convocation was graced by Abdul Taib who is also the Head of State. He presented scrolls to a total of 262 graduates at the ceremony.
Among those present were Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong who represented the chief minister, Wong, Assistant Minister of Transportation Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee and former UCTS vice chancellor Professor Dato Dr Hakim Juri.
Khairuddin said that the university has stamped many achievements despite being only five years old.
He disclosed that UCTS has established strong external linkages not only through research, consultancy and training but also through student sponsorship, awards and job placement.
“We have appointed 24 Industry Advisory Council members consisting of industry experts from all over the country, providing inputs and feedbacks that are relevant for the improvement of our academic programmes.
“In addition, we have signed 27 memorandum of understandings ( MOUs) with overseas university partners and 41 MOUs with local organisations, which include industries, government related agencies and local institutions of higher learning.
“All these are done to ensure the quality of our academic programmes, better employability of our graduates and making UCTS internationally recognised for its quality and standard.”
He also said that UCTS was proud that it is the only university in this region being awarded with the prestigious Platinum ratings in Green Building Index for its campus design in promoting sustainability in the built environment and energy utilisation.
“With the financial support from the Sarawak government, the university has invested heavily on teaching-learning facilities especially state- of-theart laboratories, information and communications infrastructure, services and research facilities.
“The campus infrastructure has expanded to cater for the growing needs of the academic programmes and campus activities,” he said.
He also mentioned that UCTS currently has a total of 155 research projects involving almost all academic staff.
On a similar matter, he said that UCTS is proud to be known as ‘ home- grown’ technical vocational education and training ( TVET) university in Sarawak with the aim to produce educated and highly skilled manpower for the new and emerging industries especially those related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution ( IR4.0).
“In the past, TVET was not given much emphasis compared to the mainstream academic education system.
“But this is changing especially with the current initiative by the government to set up TVET Empowerment Committee to enhance the level and standard of TVET in Malaysia.
“Therefore, UCTS is ready to play an important role here in Sarawak and beyond,” he said.