University College of Science and Technology (KUSTEM)

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) (Formally University College of Science and Technology Malaysia - “Kolej Universiti Sains dan Teknologi Malaysia” (KUSTEM)) was officially launched on Feb, 1st 2007.

It’s formerly known as University College of Terengganu (in Malay : “Kolej Universiti Terengganu” (KUT)) was approved by the Cabinet on May 5th 1999 based on the Fisheries and Marine Science Centre Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) at Mengabang Telipot, Kuala Terengganu. The Incorporation Order of KUT (Perbadanan) 1999 (PUA 292) was passed by the Parliament on July 27th 1999. The inception of KUT was consistent with the ever increasing need for higher education in the country especially in the field of science and technology.

The Fisheries and Marine Science Centre :

The Fisheries and Marine Science Centre began its operation in 1979 to provide training facilities for students under Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM) Fisheries and Marine Science Programme. In June 1996, UPM through its academic programme re-structuring upgraded the Fisheries and Marine Science Centre to become a branch campus and the Fisheries and Marine Science Faculty was transferred to Kuala Terengganu and renamed as the Faculty of Applied Science and Technology. In addition, the Faculty of Science and Professional Arts and the Matriculation Centre were set up at the branch campus which was known as Universiti Putra Malaysia Terengganu (UPMT).

In five years since its establishment, UMT (KUSTEM at that time) has undergone a magnificent transformation from a new and unknown University College to a successful Public Institution of Higher Learning offering numerous undergraduate and post graduate study programmes as well as making waves in Research and Development in the fields of Science, Technology, and Sustainable Science and Management.

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu UMT campus is located on the shore of the South China Sea and in close proximity to the Rantau Abang beach famed for the landing of the huge leather back turtles, thus, enabling UMT to become the leading institution in a number of research areas namely Turtle Research and Preservation, Mangrove Research and Preservation, Biodiversity Management and Preservation, Tropical Aquaculture and Marine Biotechnology. UMT is committed to March ahead and progress in parallel with the nation’s vision and needs with the establishments of the Institute of Oceanography (INOS), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture (AKUATROP), and Institute for Marine Biotechnology (IMB).

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu UMT is extremely serious in its research works and its efforts have been repeatedly rewarded with recognitions and awards won by its teams of researchers at national and international levels. Universiti Malaysia Terengganu UMT’s participations in the Science, Technology, and Innovation Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur as well as the Product Technique and Invention Exhibition in Geneva prove that its research excellence has enabled the research teams from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu UMT to successfully bring back gold, silver, and bronze medals which reflects the strong determination and high commitment of its staff in achieving the best for the institution and the country. The recognitions and achievements accomplished by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu UMT at its tender age are evidence that this institution shall become an outstanding Public Institution of Higher Learning in the near future.

University College of Science and Technology (KUSTEM) began as a Fishery and Marine Science station for Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in 1979, providing training facilities to the students of Marine Science and Fishery programmes besides offering research facilities for lecturers. The restructuring of academic programmes in UPM led to the relocation of the Fishery and Marine Science Faculty to Terengganu and was then renamed Faculty of Applied Science and Technology (FSGT) in June 1996. The Faculty of Science and Professional Arts (FSSI) and the Matriculation Centre were established in the same year. Commencing June 1996, the campus was accredited by UPM as a accountable centre and named Universiti Putra Malaysia Terengganu (UPMT), led by a designated Rector. The Cabinet, in a meeting on May 5, 1999 approved the proposal of establishing Kolej Universiti Terengganu (KUT), based on the existing Fishery Centre and Marine Science of Universiti Putra Malaysia in Menggabang Telipot, Kuala Terengganu. The Kolej Universiti Terengganu Act 1999 (PUA292) was approved by the House of Representatives on July 26, 1999. KUT was a branch campus of UPM and the graduates were conferred UPM degrees. KUT attained its autonomy as a University College on May 1, 2001 and was officially renamed Kolej Universiti Sains dan Teknologi Malaysia (KUSTEM) on July 1, 2001. It is the 14th public institution of higher learning in Malaysia, and is located in Menggabang Telipot, Kuala Terengganu. KUSTEM was established with the purpose of providing academic and professional education in the disciplines of science, technology and management of natural resources to fulfil the needs of the nation.

Research Overview The university's research management and coordination is handled by the Research Management Center (RMC), which is also tasked to enhance the research capabilities of staff. Due to its history, KUSTEM has a pedigree in research and teaching in the areas of oceanography and marine sciences. This fact is acknowledged in the Advisory Mission of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO, via its report, which mentioned the existence of highly trained and experienced marine scientists at KUSTEM, providing it with a sound marine scientific basis and capacity to deal with marine scientific problems.

Besides that, KUSTEM is also developing its strength in other areas such as maritime studies, economics, management, basic sciences, physical sciences, engineering, and computer. The blending of existing strengths with the new staff specializations will boost KUSTEM's research capability and scope. In order to make KUSTEM better able to focus in the areas of science, technology and natural resource management, it has identified four niche areas as its research foci, which are as follows: Sustainable Science and Management; Marine Science and Management; Marine Technology and Biotechnology, and Marine Informatics.