The University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) is a private university and state government-linked university as it is wholly owned by Yayasan Sarawak located in Sibu, Sarawak.
History
The university was established on 1 April 2013 as "University College of Technology Sarawak" (UCTS). It is the first university in Sarawak owned by the state government. UTS is considered as one of the newest and latest university in Malaysia. The university is recognised as the only TVET university in Sarawak with the aim of producing highly educated and skilled professionals for new and rapidly developing industries. The university held its inaugural convocation on 8 October 2016 with 100 graduates. During the occasion, UTS announced its first chancellor, the Governor of Sarawak, Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
2021 to present
In January 2021, the university become wholly owned by Yayasan Sarawak, the statutory body under the government of Sarawak. In May 2021, UTS was named as one of the seven most beautiful campuses in Malaysia by a high society magazine, Tatler Malaysia.
The university college was then upgraded into a full-fledged university as "University of Technology Sarawak" on 10 November 2021 by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education. Sarawak's Premier, Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg was appointed as the first Pro-Chancellor after the university received its full-fledged university status.
Organisation
As of 2018, UTS had 140 academic staff and 120 support personnel. Out of 140 academic staff, 30% of them were PhD holders. A total of 1,800 students were enrolled. A total of 300 graduates were produced in 2016 and 2017.
As of 2023, the university consists of seven schools, namely;
School of Foundation
School of Engineering and Technology
School of Business and Management
School of Built Environment
School of Computing and Creative Media
School of Postgraduate Studies
Centre of University Course and Innovative Learning (UCIL)
Admission and education
For Sarawakian students, UTS is not selective in its admission procedures. All local and non-local students are given full scholarships to enrol in UTS' one-year Foundation course, and those who pursue their undergraduate studies therein are offered 50% scholarships of the cost of their tuition. Students will also receive the 50% scholarship if they wish to pursue their studies for a Master's or PhD. In 2023, UTS offer 34 programmes from Foundation, Bachelor’s, Master’s to a PhD degree.
The main language of instruction in the university is English and for admission a proof of sufficient knowledge of the English language is required for undergraduate students. Students who have taken the Malaysian University English Test (MUET) does not have to sit for the English Placement Test. The placement test only required students who are non-post UTS foundation students and students who do not have MUET results. The English Placement Test is being held during the first week after the orientation week for first year students. The questions consists of reading comprehension, speaking, listening and writing test.
As at most private universities in Malaysia, the academic year is divided into three semesters where the long semester will be held on February and September. Meanwhile, the short semester will be held on July every year for 2 months period. For internship programme, all UTS programmes include 3 to 6 months of industrial training.
Since 2018, UTS runs a Degree Transfer Programme with four leading foreign universities, namely Murdoch University from Australia; University of Essex and University of Birmingham from England; and the University of Canterbury from New Zealand.
Campus and architecture
Phase One of the completion project of the university was constructed by Hock Peng Organisation with Naim Engineering as joint venture partner.
In 2015, the university became the first university in the world to receive platinum award for Green Building Index (GBI). The university building uses 50% less energy comparing to a typical building, using technologies such as LED bulbs with motion sensors, harvesting rainwater for ponds, air-conditioning, flushing toilets, and gardening. The modern atmosphere surrounded by rainforest and nature will provide the most conducive learning environment for students.
In September 2016, Hock Peng Organisation completed its construction of "Unicity", a commercial area that contains hostels to cater the needs of the university students, a hotel, department store, supermarket, and 80 units of shophouses.