By William Isau
SIBU, Jan 19: University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) needs to introduce more programmes which can attract students to come and study at the institution.
Its chairman Datuk Dr Annuar Rapa’ee said that the programmes should not only be based on technology but also related to arts and social studies.
“Every programme must be relevant and suitable for Sarawak’s future.
“I also understand that the Marine Engineering programme will start at UTS soon and this is a very good development,” he said at the ‘Press Reader & Britannica Online Subscription Extension to Kolej Laila Taib (KLT) and Woodlands International School (WIS)’ programme and the UTS New Academic Programme Launch Ceremony here today.
Dr Annuar who is also the Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development added that the matter has already been discussed with UTS Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Khairuddin Abd Hamid and he believed that the programmes can be established in an effort to make UTS the first university of choice for the people of Sarawak.
Dr Annuar said the 200 per cent increase in students studying at UTS last year was due to the fees introduced by the government for the target group.
However, he stressed, UTS can no longer depend on those things and needs to look ahead to attract more students.
“There are universities abroad that face facility problems but receive a large number of students due to their programmes that are able to attract students,” said Dr Annuar, adding that to make UTS a university of choice, its staff and employees under Dr Khairuddin’s leadership need to work hard to attract local students first before students from other places.
“We have to attract local students with our academic programmes that should be relevant to the future of Sarawak.
“I am targeting UTS this time to attract more local students to come and study here,” he said.
The new academic programmes launched by UTS are Master Of Construction Management, Research Programmes and Bachelor Of Mobile Game Development (Honours). — DayakDaily
