University Profile
Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) was established on January 10, 1997 when PETRONAS was invited by the Malaysian government to set up a university.
The campus is built on a 400 hectare (1,000 acre) site strategically located at Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia. The university is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PETRONAS, the national oil company of Malaysia.
UTP offers a wide range of engineering and technology programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels complemented with a strong focus on Research and Development. The programmes are designed with high industry relevance to provide a dynamic learning environment. The University community comprises of students and staff from various countries and is located in a beautifully landscaped setting, amidst the new township of Seri Iskandar. Its peaceful environment, wide open spaces and abundant lakes make these serene surroundings an ideal place to study.
The Early Beginning
Malaysia’s vision is to become a developed nation by 2020. To realise this aspiration, the country needs to ensure the availability of highly qualified human resources especially in the fields of science, engineering and technology. Towards this end, the efforts of the government in developing a strong and technically skilled workforce in the country must be complemented by the active participation of the private sector.
PETRONAS, with its full commitment for human capital development, was one of the corporations that took up this challenge. In April 1995, Institute of Technology PETRONAS (ITP) was established for the purpose of providing education at the tertiary level in order to contribute to this national effort.
With an initial intake of 65 students, ITP started its first academic session in July 1995 in rented premises. Its offices, classrooms and students accommodation were housed at PERMATA, Bangi while laboratory work was conducted at Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). There were only six permanent staffs at that time. Part-time staff from the neighbouring institutes of higher learning supplemented the teaching and laboratory work.
ITP relocated its operation to Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak on 1 July 1996 at the newly acquired USM Perak Branch Campus after building temporary offices, hostels and laboratories. It co-existed with USM for five years pending USM’s move to its new campus in Transkerian, Seberang Prai, and pending the setting up of UTP’s own permanent campus.
With the enactment of the Private Higher Learning Institution Act in December 1996, the Government officially invited PETRONAS to set up UTP on 10 January 1997. The academic master plan was then drawn up, followed by the physical master plan of the University. At this stage it was found necessary to acquire another 200-hectares of land from the State, in addition to the 200-hectares acquired from USM.
From then onwards, the planning and implementation of UTP Campus progress rapidly achieving several milestones in its journey towards educational excellence.
Major Milestone
| 1995 | Apr | Formation of Institute of Technology PETRONAS |
| July | First Academic session commenced in PERMATA, Bangi, Selangor | |
| 1996 | Jul | Relocation to the permanent campus in Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak Darul Ridzuan |
| 1997 | Jan | Invitation by the Minister of Education to set up UTP |
| 1998 | Jul | Commencement of UTP Academic Masterplan Study |
| Dec | Completion of UTP Academic Masterplan Study and Commencement of Physical Development Masterplan |
| 1999 | Sept | Accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Chemical Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Information Technology and Information Systems Programmes |
| 2000 | Jul | Introduction of Postgraduate Degree Programmes |
| 2001 | Aug | Proclamation of Yang Amat Berbahagia Mulia Raja Tun Mohar Raja Badiozaman as Chancellor of UTP |
| Inaugural Convocation Ceremony with 150 Graduates | ||
| Sept | Commencement of UTP Research, Development and Consultancy Masterplan Study |
| 2001 | Oct | Accreditation from Board of Engineers, Malaysia for Chemical |
| 2002 | Jan | Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Mechanical Engineering programmes |
| Recognition from Public Services Department for Chemical | ||
| Mar | Engineering, Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Information Technology and Information Systems programmes | |
| Mar | Completion of UTP Research, Development and Consultancy Masterplan Study | |
| Aug | Second Convocation Ceremony with 304 Graduates | |
| Jun | Official Opening of Academic Complex by Y. Bhg. Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Azizan Zainul Abidin, The Chairman of PETRONAS and ITPSB Board | |
| Aug | Third Convocation Ceremony with 333 Graduates | |
| 2003 | Feb | Appointment of Academic Advisory Council |
| 2004 | Jan | Commencement of MSc in Petroleum Engineering and MSc in Process Integration |
| Apr | Proclamation of Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Dr Mahathir Bin Mohamad as Chancellor of UTP | |
| Aug | Official Opening of Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS by Y.A.B. Dato’ Seri Abdullah Hj Ahmad Badawi, The Prime Minister of Malaysia | |
| FourthConvocation Ceremony with 464 Graduates | ||
| 2005 | March | Establishing of Halliburton Research Centre at UTP |
| Aug | Fifth Convocation Ceremony | |
| Sept | Accreditation from IChemE Uk for Chemical Engineering Programme | |
