Leading the pack in energy studies
WHEN it comes to grooming and nurturing the future generation of leaders, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten) is definitely at the forefront. As the university holds the niche in the area of energy, a lot of research has been done in this area and Uniten has strong ties with this industry. For students, it is compulsory to take subjects related to energy.
The awards this university has garnered speaks volume about the quality of education and its graduates. According to Times Higher Education, Uniten ranks at 171 in Asia from about 12,000 universities in Asia, 13 in South-East Asia and seven in Malaysia. Times Higher Education has also ranked Uniten among the top 1,000 universities in the world alongside seven other Malaysian universities.
Meanwhile, the QS Asia University Rankings 2018 sees the university ranking at 243 in Asia while the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018 has ranked Uniten at 255 in the world, 74 in Asia, 13 in South-East Asia and eight in Malaysia in Engineering and Technology.
When it comes to employability, a tracer study has indicated a 95% to 97% employability rate among its graduates.
To keep its standing at the forefront in the face of the ever-evolving landscape of education, Uniten has put strategic plans in place that include crafting strong university-industry interaction.
The university has a strong Industry Advisory Panel who gives feedback on curriculum, teaching and environment towards continual improvement, every semester.
Also, adjunct professors from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) regularly visit the university to share their knowledge and experience with students, which enriches the educational experience and benefits them.
In terms of industrial placement, Uniten has its Better, Brighter Industrial Placement (BBIP) in place, which places students with TNB and its subsidiaries.
The teaching process has also evolved to reflect the times. According to Uniten vice-chancellor, Datuk Prof Dr Kamal Nasharuddin Mustapha, “Based on the behaviour of today’s generation, we have incorporated technology into our teaching process to enhance the educational experience. One aspect we subscribe to is blended learning where notes are uploaded online by lecturers to be read before tutorials. This facilitates making tutorial sessions a time for discussion and problem-based learning rather than just book learning.”
In today’s world, it is important to keep yourself relevant as the workforce and industries are constantly undergoing changes due to globalisation.
Dr Kamal says, “We uphold the concept of lifelong learning and believe it has to be planned and structured. For instance, the university has a close relationship with TNB in terms of talent development. In line with TNB’s upskilling programme, we run MBA programmes tailored for the future leaders of TNB with Melbourne University.
“As for the rank and file staff, we also offer programmes to help develop talents towards career advancement catered to technicians and clerical staff, which is the Executive Degree in Management and Engineering Technology. The first cohort was enrolled this year on Jan 10.
“For the general public, we offer a range of master’s and PhD programmes. To make them more accessible, the master’s programmes are held outside office hours and on weekends, so students are able to work and study simultaneously.”
This is also in line with the government’s commitment to produce excellent talents from among Technical and Vocational Education And Training (TVET) graduates towards the 2050 National Transformation (TN50).
Plans to open TVET to outside parties are in the pipeline after starting off with TNB staff.
Dr Kamal comments, “The education system must be flexible and robust to cater to people of different backgrounds and abilities. TVET is designed to be more hands-on with practical sessions and group work built in.”
Adding to its programme offerings is the Bachelor of Economics (Energy) (Hons). The area of specialisation of this three-year programme includes energy economics, green and environmental economics and business economics. This programme aims to create knowledgeable, competent and sought-after professionals with a high degree of aptitude to meet the global challenges of energy and climate change issues.
Another exciting programme is the Bachelor in Cyber Security, which was launched two years ago and has proven to be popular among students. To create more energy managers for the country, there is the Master’s in Energy Management programme.
To make education accessible to all levels of society, Uniten offers a range of scholarships and bursaries. According to Dr Kamal, “This year, we have allocated RM5.83mil for bursaries, scholarships and loans. Students who apply for PTPTN loans get a loan up to 80% for tuition fees. Our scholarships and bursaries cover the balance 20% as well as living expenses.”
Some scholarships that are offered include the RM4,000 Merit Scholarship (terms and conditions apply) and sports scholarship for national athletes. Other forms of financial aid include the Yayasan Chancellor Uniten and Tabung Amanah Zakat Uniten as well as Alumni Education Fund.
When it comes to campus life, Uniten offers a conducive environment for studying in both its Putrajaya and Mu’azzam (Pahang) campuses.
For students’ convenience and comfort, the apartments on campus have just been upgraded. Students have a choice of Premium, Deluxe or Superior apartments, depending on their budget and preferences.
For those who opt to live off-campus, the Student Affairs department is on hand to help place them. A bus shuttle service to and from Uniten is also provided.
Other conveniences and facilities include 10G Internet speed on campus and sports facilities. There are plans to build an astroturf hockey stadium. It is worth noting that Uniten’s women’s hockey team is top of the Malaysian Hockey League.
The green campus features covered walkways and bicycle lanes to encourage these forms of transport in an effort to reduce the carbon footprint.