KUANTAN: Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) has made significant strides in strengthening its status as a world-class university by developing globally recognised academic programmes and focusing on impactful research.
UMPSA is the country's leading technical university in the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN).
It offers engineering and technology-based higher education programmes and has emerged as the country's most advanced(high-level) Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme provider.
Its vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Ts Dr Yuserrie Zainuddin said the university's enhancement in teaching and learning (PdP) also reflects its academic quality when seven subjects offered by the Pahang-based university were recognised in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024.
He said Engineering — Chemical was ranked 201-250 and Material Science (ranked 351-400) while Engineering — Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering (301-350), Chemistry (451-500) and Engineering — Electrical and Electronic (351-400) were listed among the best in the world in the QS World University Rankings.
Yuserrie said Engineering and Technology (451-500) and Computer Science and Information Systems were ranked the best 651-700 in the world.
"UMPSA publications have become a reference among academics, especially in the field of science and technology. It was further proven when 20 lecturers were recently ranked among the world's "Top 2% Scientist" in the list of outstanding researchers in various fields and disciplines under both the career-long and single-year achievements by Stanford University's Elsevier Database.
"UMPSA's string of achievements has served as a source of pride for all the university members who are always committed to excel in teaching and learning, industry collaboration and increasing impactful research and academic collaboration which has significantly contributed to UMPSA's success.
"The acknowledgements will also focus towards the Sustainable Development Goals and the implementation of the environmental, social and governance strategies as well as the role of stakeholders, especially alumni, to contribute towards the university's development and further improve UMPSA's position on the international stage," he said.
Meanwhile, Yuserrie said although rankings were not the university's main agenda, that position paved the way for a bigger opportunity for UMPSA to continue to move forward in exploring and renewing all aspects concerning research, internationalisation and sustainability.
"The achievement makes UMPSA a globally renowned higher learning institution that is easily accessible to international students including mobility and tourism education programmes (Edu-tourism), besides fostering stronger collaboration with industry players," he said.
GLOBAL COLLABORATIONS IN DUAL DEGREE PROGRAMMES
UMPSA has strengthened its international ties with one of Abu Dhabi's premier state universities, Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities (MBZUH) to allow both countries to empower their higher education sector.
Yuserrie said the Memorandum of Understanding signed with MBZUH reflects UMPSA's commitment to continue developing education, research and cultural exchange at the international level.
"Both institutions will work together in the fields of academics, research, publishing, staff and student mobility, advanced degree programmes, dual degree programmes and MBZUH's inclusion in the Journal of Humanities, Technology and Civilisation editorial board with UMPSA," he said.
He said UMPSA, which also offers international cooperation programmes, gives students the opportunity to study both locally and abroad by obtaining two degrees simultaneously.
"We have a partnership with Germany's Karlsruhe University of Applied Science (HKA) now in its 14th year and recently with Germany's leading research university Mannheim University of Applied Sciences (HMA). To date, a total of 239 alumni have successfully graduated and secured jobs in multinational companies in the country and abroad.
"The collaboration with Beijing Jiatong University (BJTU) in China has allowed 146 students to take up programmes in the Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering fields.
They are expected to contribute to the development of the country's rail industry in the future.
"UMPSA's tie-up with one of Kazakhstan's top public universities in Almaty, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University (KazNARU) will see the first batch of students graduating during the convocation this year.
It involved students taking up Bachelor of Applied Science in Industrial Biotechnology with Honours (UMPSA) and Bachelor of Technics and Technology — Biotechnology (KazNARU)," he said.
WORK-BASED LEARNING PROGRAMME
Yuserrie said in line with the UMPSA Strategic Plan 2021-2025, implementing collaborative projects, upgrading technical capabilities and developing products that utilise both the university's and industry's technical expertise will be continuously carried out to improve good ties between the university and industry.
Citing an example, he said UMPSA's collaboration with Edaran Otomobil Nasional (EON) involves a work-based learning(WBL) programme.
"The WBL programme has received cooperation from other industry players including Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd (Proton), Midwest Composites Sdn Bhd, Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Sdn Bhd, Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) and several others to create an integrated experience (theory and practical).
"In preparing students to be ready to face industry challenges, UMPSA has strengthened university-industry relationships through the CEO@Faculty programme, academic collaborations, research and development of human capital and talents in line with the country's aspirations in promoting TVET," he said.
PREMIUM SALARY GRADUATES
UMPSA's graduates are not only top in academics but equipped with the soft skills that are in line with the needs of the industry when the university achieved a 97.3 per cent graduate employability rate which was one of the highest among public universities last year.
A total of 83.6 per cent of the graduates secured employment related to highly-skilled jobs or according to the Malaysian Occupational Classification Standard in the main group (managers); main group 2 (professionals) and main group 3 (technicians and associate professionals) and emerged as the highest percentage among public universities for entrepreneurial income generated by UMPSA.
What makes this special is that UMPSA's first-degree graduates are taking home a monthly income of RM4,001 and above, and earning premium salaries, recording the highest percentage in the service sector (36.2 per cent), manufacturing (20.4 per cent), construction (19.7 per cent), professional, scientific and technical (11.5 per cent), information and communication (10.8 per cent) and others (1.5 per cent).
Yuserrie said in line with the university's vision towards a top technological university, UMPSA will focus on research that has an impact along with the theme of "Technology for Society", artificial intelligence (AI) and the latest technology, especially in the fields of energy transition, sustainability and digitalisation.
UMPSA Dual-Degree Programmes
- Graduates receive scrolls from UMPSA and their foreign partners
- Practical-oriented holistic education
- Recognition by Malaysian and International Accreditation Bodies
- Career opportunities in multinational companies, both locally and abroad
- Academics with industry experience
- Exposure to teaching, learning and industrial training abroad in countries such as Germany, China, Kazakhstan and South Korea (2025)
UMPSA FACTS
- Ranked 201-300 in the world and 5th in the world in the Sustainable Development Goal 1: Zero Poverty category
- Ranked 146th in the world in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2024 for the world's best universities below 50 years old
- Rank 601-800 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025
- Rank 741-750 in the QS World University Ranking 2025
- Recognised for marketability in the field of Automotive with 6 stars - Employers' Choice of University by Talentbank.
- Ranked top in the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN)
UMPSA's 19th Convocation
- A total of 5,115 graduates including 263 masters and doctoral graduates, 2,538 bachelors, 64 dual degree, 533 diplomas and 1,717 UMPSA Advanced graduates will receive their scrolls in conjunction with the 19th convocation ceremony between Oct 26 and Oct 29 at the UMPSA Sports Complex Hall in Gambang.
- UMPSA Pro-Chancellor Tengku Mahkota of Pahang Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah will award the Professor Emeritus award to Professor Datuk Seri Dr Daing Nasir Daing Ibrahim for his contribution towards developing the country's higher education.