Institution Profile

Background

The Prime Minister of Malaysia announced the government’s approval to establish a university in Kelantan under the Ninth Malaysia Plan on 31 March 2006. The establishment of Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) was stipulated in this plan with the intention to support the development of quality human capital in the higher education sector.

On 14 June 2006, a Cabinet Meeting approved the establishment of the university. The Cabinet also specified that the philosophy of the curriculum in UMK should be based on entrepreneurship education and enterprises in all the study programmes. Therefore, taglines such as “Entrepreneurship is Our Thrust” and “Entrepreneurial University” are widely used to promote the philosophy of the university. Specialised studies for short- and medium-term developments are grouped into three fields of study:

• Entrepreneurship and Business;
• Creative Technology and Heritage; as well as
• Agro-Industry and Science of Natural Resources

Apart from the three fields of study, significant emphasis is also given to acquiring language and soft skills. All programmes aim to produce high-quality human capital with first class mentality complete with exemplary entrepreneurship attributes. This human capital will contribute to global prosperity by improving the capability and capacity of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), while contributing towards the development of a highly entrepreneurial commercial society. In all areas of study, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is employed as an enabler.

The temporary campus of UMK in Taman Bendahara began its official operation on 1 July 2007 with the registration of 295 pioneering students. In its second year of operation beginning July 2008, the university had successfully registered 332 students.

The first Vice Chancellor of University Malaysia Kelantan was Professor Dato’ Ir Dr Zainai bin Mohamed, who was appointed on 1 October 2006.

UMK is the only autonomous public institution of higher learning in the state of Kelantan established with the core business of entrepreneurship education.

The Bachok and Jeli campus is already in operation with almost 1500 students in Jeli and another 800 in Bachok.

Vision

Championing human capital development with entrepreneurial qualities for global prosperity.

Mission

UMK provides:

• Quality and relevant academic programmes
• Research and innovation of high commercial value
• Services that fulfill social obligation to enhance competitiveness in entrepreneurship

UMK focuses on prioritising the customer’s needs and fulfilling market requirements by providing a conducive environment. UMK staff are knowledgeable, experienced, and committed in practising a professional work culture and participative management, as well as carrying out continuous improvements.

As an entrepreneurial university, UMK has created an entrepreneurship culture and environment among students and staff at all faculties in its teaching and learning activities. Entrepreneurship education is embedded in every subject in all programmes offered by UMK and students are required to register for four entrepreneurship modules that cover 12 credit hours.

Bachelor degree students have 30% industry involvement, while master degree students have 40% to ensure that students are exposed to entrepreneurship knowledge that is being practised by successful entrepreneurs.

UMK is an associate of Global Consortium Entrepreneurship Education (GCEE), an organisation under the Babson College umbrella, a leading entrepreneurship university in the United States. UMK’s involvement in GCEE enables it to map an international path to ensure that its entrepreneurship curriculum is always relevant and up-to-date with international standards. As GCEE’s member, UMK is able to share entrepreneurship education culture with experts at Babson College in creating an entrepreneurship education model at UMK (UMK-EE).

In expanding its efforts toward entrepreneurial educational, the UMK- Entrepreneurship Institute (UMK-EI) was established as an in-situ platform that enables staff and students to obtain entrepreneurship information and for UMK to conduct entrepreneurship activities. It also facilitates collaboration with parties inside and outside UMK in training and entrepreneurship learning aspects and the planning of UMK’s entrepreneurship agenda.

UMK-EI monitors all entrepreneurship activities conducted at UMK and analyses its efficiency. It also functions as the information reference centre through the development of an interactive Entrepreneurship Information System (SMU). UMK aims to become a global entrepreneurship excellence centre that is focused and competitive, as well as a high prestige entrepreneurship reference centre.

Academic Strengths

Thirty per cent of the lecturers in UMK have a PhD. There are 402 active lecturers with 106 lecturers furthering their studies.

UMK’s core business is to be the pioneer entrepreneurial university. UMK’s philosophy focuses on six aspects which are: entrepreneurial education, third language, ICT as an enabler, lifelong learning, quality human capital, and uniqueness and relevancy.

All students will be equipped with entrepreneurship skills and knowledge so that when they graduate, they will be able to cultivate and use those skills in real world.

UMK takes a horizontal and vertical approach in running its entrepreneurship agenda through formal exposure to entrepreneurship courses and practical participation under an industry mentor for every compulsory course in all fields of study.

The UMK-Babson collaboration has two components, that is, academic and industrial entrepreneurship. This includes the Entrepreneurship Experiential Knowledge Laboratory development which is known as e-Lab, a hybrid feature programme which is an educational integration process that covers science and non-science fields from the phase of business idea creation up to producing an entrepreneur.

The SIEP programme is an out-of-classroom entrepreneurship programme that gives students the chance to be with industry for four times, two-week each time, throughout their study period. This programme is one of the most effective methods in inculcating good entrepreneurial culture in any business or industry.

The Chairman Lecture Series (CLS) is a UMK compulsory programme that was implemented in 2008. It is a learning programme that combines UMK’s academic expertise with a local entrepreneur to expose students to entrepreneurship’s basics and the research field. Students are given the opportunity to gather experience and wisdom in the community while combining their academic knowledge with that of field practitioners’ in solving real-world problems.

Programme Outline

Currently UMK offered various programme at undergraduates level through 5 faculty and one center which are Faculty of entrepreneurship and business, Faculty of creative technology and heritage, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agro Industry and Faculty Earth Science. While Center for Language Studies and Generic Development is responsible for university, language and co-curriculum courses. 

UMK is a proud member of the Global Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education and have a strong relationship with Babson College from United States of America who have experience and good reputation in entrepreneurship education. UMK also build strong ties with universities from Middle East, Europe, ASEAN countries and other industry players.

For a list of courses offered, please refer to the Course Directory section of this guidebook.

Academic Facilities & Resources

Below are some of the highlighted academic facilities and resources available for students;

Hostel in all three campuses, library with modern and latest equipment and database, shuttle bus from hostel to class, clinic, sports and cultural facilities, computer lab, security and cafeteria. 

UMK provides an environment that enables entrepreneurship activity to be conducted in a competitive and conducive state. Students and staff are actively involved in associations, clubs, a business mall, along with social entrepreneurship activity. Facilities such as a food court, grocery store, Agro Park and other service are being built to generate income.

A holistic entrepreneurship approach covers all aspects, from training until practice. Along with the involvement of UMK’s staff, an entrepreneurship environment has been created through the existence of Basil Leaves and Elysian Spa on campus, as well as UNiK19 outside the campus. Entrepreneurship programmes such as SEED, CLS, SIEP have also become UMK’s signature.

UMK’s achievement in research includes 20 research awards and six patents that have been filed in negotiation work and contract research.

Emphasis on holistic entrepreneurship values have also contributed towards the generation of income of almost RM500,000 through the Bio Inc centre consolidation in negotiation activity and contract research at the Jeli campus.

Student Support Services & Student Development Activities for Graduate Employability

Various programmes have been organised for students in order to improve their employability. Social Enterprise and Economic Development (SEED) and Student in Enterprise Programme (SIEP) are examples of continuous courses that students need to take while studying in UMK. These programmes expose students to real world entrepreneurship while contributing to the local community at the same time.

Outline of Scholarships/Financial Aids

UMK has secured sponsorships for 83% of its students in the form of loans and scholarships from the following agencies: PTPTN, Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA), Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP), Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), Kuok Foundation Berhad, Jabatan Kemajuan Orang Asli (JAKOA), JPA Sabah, Office of the Secretary (Selangor) and other state foundations from all over Malaysia.

 

Courses Offered

Click on a programme name for full details.

Contact Details

Key Personnel