UTAR to merge Klang Valley campuses

PETALING JAYA: Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) will merge all its Klang Valley campuses into its new city campus in Sungai Long by the middle of the year.

Aside from its campus in Kampar, Perak, the university currently has three other campuses in Petaling Jaya, Setapak and Sungai Long.

The new campus would house seven faculties catering to around 9,000 students and 800 staff, said UTAR vice president (Research, Development and Commercialisation) Prof Dr Lee Sze Wei.

“With this consolidation, students of various faculties will be able to network and mingle, making the campus a vibrant one.

“There will be enhanced interactions between staff and students of different disciplines of study and specialisation.

“It will also encourage more cross-disciplinary cooperation and teamwork among staff and students. This will create a more socially balanced campus life,” he said.

The university received a RM50mil donation from the Lee Foundation on Monday for the construction of the new campus.

UTAR president Prof Datuk Dr Chuah Hean Teik thanked the foundation for the donation and said one of the university’s faculties would be named after the founder of the foundation, the late Tan Sri Lee Kong Chian.

Prof Chuah said the university was grateful to honour the late Lee by naming the UTAR Faculty of Engineering and Science as the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science.

The new campus will include a multipurpose hall with a seating capacity of 1,000, 45 science and engineering laboratories, 32 computer labs, six architectural studios, a gym and a student activity centre.

Prof Lee said the campus was also designed to be environmentally friendly, following the criteria set out in the Green Building Index.

The campus uses eco-friendly building materials, has heat-reflective glass windows, and will be equipped with a rain harvesting system to help conserve water.