Page 7 - PG-Handbook23-24-finale

HISTORY OF THE FACULTY

The provision of computer facilities and services at the Universiti Malaya (UM) began
in mid-1967, soon after the Computer Centre was officially formed in 1965. This also
made the university one of the pioneers in computer usage in Malaysia. In December
1969, the Computer Centre took on an additional role of teaching and research of
computer science and information technology. The Computer Centre Board was
formed, comprising the Vice Chancellor (as Chairman), the Director of Computer
Centre (as Secretary), and a representative from each Faculty, Institute, Centre of
the University, and from the University Senate.

In 1974, the Diploma in Computer Science postgraduate programme was introduced.
From its inception in the 1974/75 session to the 1999/2001 session, a total of 304
students had been awarded the Diploma.

The Master of Computer Science (M. Comp. Sc.) and the Doctor of Philosophy
(Ph.D.) were two higher degree research programmes approved by the Senate and
had been administered by the Computer Centre since 1985. In addition, the
Computer Centre offered a 4-year Bachelor of Computer Science programme. The
first undergraduate enrollment for 1990/91 session was 50 students.

In April 1993, the University Senate agreed to the formation of the Computer Centre
Study Board. The Board proposed the establishment of a faculty to be called the
Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology (FCSIT). The existing
Computer Centre was to be annulled and replaced by a Computer Services Division
which was placed under the Chancellery.

On September 22 1994, the Universiti Malaya Council agreed to the formation of the
Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology (FCSIT), and the
Computer Services Division. A sum of RM 4.2 million was obtained from the Ministry
th
of Education under the 6 Malaysia Plan to put up a new building for the faculty, with
the necessary infrastructure for teaching, learning and research. The building was
officially declared open by the then Minister of Education, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul
Razak on 26 September 1996.

The Bachelor of Information Technology programme started in the 1996/97
academic session, with an initial intake of 50 students. In 1997, the Faculty
established four departments, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering,
Information and Library Science, and, Computer Systems and Technology.