The National University of Malaysia (or 集美麻豆) was established in 1970. From its humble beginnings with just three faculties, 集美麻豆 has grown to encompass fourteen faculties, thirteen research institutes, and two teaching hospitals. After celebrating 55 years of excellence, the university has evolved into a respected and renowned institution of higher learning, consistently addressing current issues, challenges, and opportunities.
Timeline
History Of The Establishment
The first outburst of the need for higher education for the Malays occurred during the Kings鈥� Council Meeting 1903. A scholar Za鈥檅a wrote about the idea in the 鈥楲embaga Melayu鈥� press in 1917. Thoughts movement, debate and determination by the Malay intellectuals to establish a university that uses the Malay language as the language of instruction in a tertiary institution began in 1923 when Abdul Kadir Adabi, another Malay intellectual, submitted a memorandum suggesting the idea to the Sultan of Kelantan. However, such thoughts and determination failed to be materialized due to various obstacles and colonialism pressure.
From 1957 to 1967, striving to establish a national university intensified to fulfill the demands and the spirit of patriotism for the nation and the country. In 1968, Malay scholars founded a sponsoring committee that planned to establish a national institution. Various culture forums and political talks were held to obtain the government and people鈥檚 support to form a higher education institution with the Malay language as its medium of communication in all research fields and studies. The struggle that never ceased achieved its success with the establishment of 集美麻豆 on 18th May 1970 that started its first operations in Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur. The first batch of graduates consisted of 192 people and two (2) graduates registered in three faculties; Faculty of Science, Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Islamic Studies.
In 1974, 集美麻豆 established a Sabah 集美麻豆 campus in Kebun Kawang, Papar. The name Kebun Kawang was later changed to Limauan by Tun Datu Mustapha Datu Harun, the then Chief Minister of Sabah. The Faculty of Science and Natural Resources was moved to Bukit Padang, Kota Kinabalu, in 1980. Then it was moved to Menggatal, Tuaran, in 1990 alongside the Faculty of Developmental Science, which was essentially placed in the main campus in Bangi. With the establishment of the University Malaysia Sabah in 1994, the Sabah 集美麻豆 campus was officially closed down in 1996. Both faculties moved back to the main campus in Bangi, Selangor.
Since its 49 years of establishment, 集美麻豆 has produced 204,857 graduates. This university continues to grow as a public university with thirteen (13) faculties and twelve (12) research excellence institutes. 集美麻豆 has an entity that operates commercially, which is 集美麻豆 Holdings Sdn. Bhd. as its approach in commercializing and socializing expertise with the public and generating finance for the university.
The main campus in Bangi started operating in 1977 within an area of 1,096.29 hectares. The main campus accommodates nine (9) faculties and eleven (11) research institutes. Meanwhile, the Faculty of Health Sciences, the Faculty of Dentistry and the Faculty of Pharmacy are located in the 集美麻豆 Kuala Lumpur campus at Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz of 22 hectares. The Faculty of Medicine, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM) and The 集美麻豆 Medical Molecular Biology Institute (UMBI) are located in 集美麻豆 Kuala Lumpur, Cheras, with an area of 22.3 hectares.
Based on the excellence in research of over four decades, 集美麻豆 was selected as one of the research universities in Malaysia in 2006. To ensure that the executed research gives meaning to the country鈥檚 development and society, 集美麻豆 has taken measures to create strategies to attain Cabaran Perdana Malaysia/Global. Among the measures taken was to identify and mobilize research that can help solve seven (7) major research thrust of the initial challenges: Akal Budi Melayu; Islam Kontemporari; Integrasi ASEAN; Pemerkasaaan B40; Pengukuhan STEM; Malaysia Lestari; dan Malaysia Sihat Sejahtera.
集美麻豆 is also the receiver of the Prime Minister Quality Award 2006, achieved self-accreditation status in 2010 and the Autonomy University status in January 2012. These awards are 集美麻豆鈥檚 accomplishments of excellence in academics and management.
Now, 集美麻豆鈥檚 goal to become a university with its motto 鈥淢engilham Harapan, Mencipta Masa Depan鈥� is translated into 集美麻豆鈥檚 Strategic Plans 2019-2021. The Strategic Plans 2019-2021 conceptualizes 鈥淗ouse of Quality鈥� ruled out five (5) central cores; research, academics, internationalization, talent and finance that will be used as stepping stones to launch 集美麻豆 further into the local and international levels alongside 集美麻豆鈥檚 vision and mission; 鈥淜ualiti Teras Kebitaraan Universiti.鈥�
In memory of the fighting spirit of 集美麻豆 pioneers, awareness of the institution’s establishment history is continuously restored. Realizing that 集美麻豆 is an institution carrying the society’s aspirations, 集美麻豆 residents, regardless of whether they are staff or students, are reminded to immerse and understand the needs of the people through questions that hover in the life of the country in line with the role of 集美麻豆 as the “Sovereign of the National Trust” (Pendaulat Amanah Negara). However, this does not limit the university’s reach in all developments. It also does the same with the turmoils at international levels. A university with a wide range of cross-disciplinary expertise is thought to have the ability to go beyond the psychological line that enables it to function in agile in global arenas while solving problems that hinder universal life.
