Page 6 - UM 20172018

Postgraduate Handbook 2017/2018

1. INTRODUCTION

University of Malaya

History of UM

University of Malaya, or UM, Malaysia's oldest university, is situated on a 900
acre campus in the southwest of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. It was
established in April 1949 in Singapore with the merger of the King Edward VII
College of Medicine (founded in 1905) and Raffles College (founded in 1928).

The University of Malaya derives its name from the term 'Malaya' as the country
was known as then. The Carr-Saunders Commission, which recommended the
setting up of the university, noted in its Report in 1948:

"The University of Malaya would provide for the first time a common
centre where varieties of race, religion and economic interest could
mingle in joint endeavour ... For a University of Malaya must inevitably
realise that it is a university for Malaya."

The growth of the University was very rapid during the first decade of its
establishment and this resulted in the setting up of two autonomous Divisions in
1959, one located in Singapore and the other in Kuala Lumpur. In 1960, the
government of the two territories indicated their desire to change the status of the
Divisions into that of a national university. Legislation was passed in 1961 and
the University of Malaya was established on 1st January 1962.

On June 16th 1962, University of Malaya celebrated the installation of its first
Chancellor, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, who was also the country's first
prime minister. The first Vice-Chancellor was Professor Oppenheim, a world-
renowned Mathematician.

Currently, His Royal Highness The Sultan of Perak Darul Ridzuan is the
Chancellor of the University of Malaya.

Mission
To advance knowledge and learning through quality research and education for
the nation and for humanity.

Vision
To be an internationally renowned institution of higher learning in research,
innovation, publication and teaching.

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