Universiti Teknologi Malaysia to be the first local varsity to offer the programme
Prof Datuk Dr Zaini Ujang (second from right) with Prof Dr Rose Alinda Alias, Prof Dr Mohd Azraai Kassim (right) and Prof Dr Wahid Omar. Pic by Roslan Khamis.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia will be the first local university to offer a nuclear engineering bachelor degree.
UTM vice-chancellor, Datuk Prof Dr Zaini Ujang said, to meet demands in this field, the university’s Faculty of Science has been tasked to set up the programme beginning September under its 2012/2013 academic session.
The programme would be opened initially to 30 students who are holders of Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) and matriculation students.
“For a start, 30 local students will make up the first batch and they will undergo the four-year bachelor’s degree programme.
“The applicants will be evaluated by the Higher Education Ministry, and they need to possess a minimum requirement of 3.0 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) at STPM or matriculation level.
“Apart from the ministry, the students will be further scrutinised by UTM and other related agencies to ensure that they are qualified to take up this challenging field,” said Zaini after the appointment and handing over of duties ceremony involving top UTM administrators recently.
Zaini said the nuclear programme was in line with the government’s aim of producing experts in nuclear technology, and to establish reusable sources of energy by 2020.
“All facilities and infrastructure for this new course have been completed two years ago, and we are now awaiting its first intake.
“We would be acquiring the services of an internationally-recognised nuclear expert to be the programme’s lecturer.
“The programme aims to produce research that could help with the country’s efforts to obtain new forms of energy to reduce our dependence on on fossil
energy sources such as oil, gas and coal.”
He said nuclear engineering research would help create new skills and lead to new products in the fields of agriculture and medicine.
Meanwhile, Prof Ir Dr Mohd Azraai Kassim, who was previously UTM deputy vice-chancellor (academic and international), was appointed as the university’s new deputy vice-chancellor (research and innovation).
The position was held by Datuk Prof Dr Marzuki Khalid, whose tenure ended on Jan 15.
Former UTM School of Graduate Studies dean, Prof Dr Rose Alinda Alias replaces Mohd Azraai as deputy vice-chancellor (academic and international).
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