KUALA NERUS, Oct 18 (Bernama) -- Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) continues to strengthen its international standing, recording achievements across several global university ranking systems, including a ranking of 90th worldwide in marine and freshwater biology.
UMT vice-chancellor Prof Dr Suriyani Muhamad said the university was placed in the 800–1,000 band in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027 and the 201–300 band in the THE Impact Rankings 2026.
She said UMT had also climbed to 177th place in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2026, which evaluates universities’ environmental sustainability performance.
The achievement was supported by initiatives such as the adoption of renewable energy, installation of solar panels on university buildings, use of electric vehicles and rainwater harvesting systems at residential colleges.
“UMT’s performance across these global ranking systems reflects improvements in academic quality, research, international reputation, industry networking and the university’s impact on society.
"Even more gratifying is that UMT’s long-standing expertise in marine-related fields continues to receive international recognition. In marine and freshwater biology, UMT ranks first in Malaysia, 21st in Asia and 90th globally,” she said in her speech at the university’s 24th Convocation Ceremony at Dewan Sultan Mizan here today.
Suriyani said UMT had introduced several new academic programmes for the 2026/2027 session to align its offerings with industry needs and future challenges.
These include a Bachelor of Psychology with Maritime Management (Honours), a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health with Environmental Technology (Honours), a Bachelor of Computer Science (Cloud Computing Security) (Honours) and a Master of Science in Data Analytics.
To expand access to flexible education, she said the university was also strengthening its Open and Distance Learning (ODL) offerings through four programmes, namely a Master in Environmental Forensics, a Master of Science in Aquaculture, a Master in Integrated Coastal Zone Management and a Master of Science in Data Analytics.
She said UMT’s education tourism programme, which combines learning with cultural experiences, had attracted thousands of participants from countries including the United Kingdom, Japan, Belgium, the Maldives, China and Singapore.
The programme had generated more than RM200,000 in revenue this year, highlighting UMT’s potential to contribute to Terengganu’s education and tourism sectors.
Suriyani also said UMT recorded the highest student participation rate in mobility programmes among Malaysia’s public universities, with more than 172 programmes conducted across Europe, Asia and Africa.
She said the programmes enabled students to gain international exposure, experience different cultures, establish global networks and broaden their perspectives.
UMT also welcomed 2,885 new students into its bachelor’s degree programmes for the 2026/2027 academic session, the highest intake in the university’s history.
Suriyani said the intake reflected public confidence in UMT and the appeal of Terengganu as a destination for higher education.
She added that the university was entering a strategic development phase with the establishment of the Bukit Kor Campus in Marang, which would serve as an ecosystem for research, innovation and strategic collaboration.
As UMT enters the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13), she said its development priorities include a diving centre on Pulau Bidong near Kuala Nerus, a mobile laboratory and a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Marine Teaching Shipyard complex.
The university is also developing green infrastructure to support its campus-as-a-living-laboratory concept.
Suriyani said UMT had implemented the Kampung Angkat MADANI and Sekolah Angkat MADANI programmes to channel the university community’s expertise directly to the public through education, technology, environmental conservation, socio-economic development and knowledge transfer.
“With an allocation of RM1 million, the programme has been implemented in Kampung Menerong, Ajil, Hulu Terengganu. Similar programmes are also being carried out on Pulau Pangkor, Perak, and in Kota Tinggi, Johor,” she said.
The four-day convocation ceremony will see 2,829 graduates receive their Doctor of Philosophy, master’s, bachelor’s and diploma qualifications.
At the first session today, Julia El Myra Johan from the Faculty of Maritime Studies and Cindy Lim Hui Ling from the Faculty of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences received the Royal Academic Award, while S. Thimuniswaran from the Faculty of Marine Science and Environment was awarded the Chancellor’s Gold Medal.
This year’s convocation also coincides with UMT’s Silver Jubilee celebration, themed “25 Years of UMT: Spearheading the Nation’s Blue Economy Agenda”.
UMT has also introduced 42 “Alumni Seats” for guests at each convocation session, beginning with this year’s ceremony.
-- BERNAMA