University of Malaya
Encyclopedia
The University of Malaya (Abbreviation
: UM; ; ; Abbreviated 马大; ) is located on a 992 acres (401.4 ha) campus near the centre of Kuala Lumpur, and is the oldest university in Malaysia. It was founded in 1905 as a public-funded tertiary institution. Today, UM is an international acclaimed Research University
, with more than 2,500 faculty members of various expertise.
The Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia
ranked UM under the Rating System for Malaysian Higher Education Institutions (SETARA) following an Academic Reputation Survey conducted the year before. The results of the first SETARA exercise were published in 2008 and University of Malaya came out as the top university in the country. It was the only university which achieved a rating of 5 (out of maximum 6). In 2011, UM is ranked at 401 to 500 in the Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s 2011 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). And the THES - QS World University Rankings has ranked UM in the top 200 universities of the world.
and Penang
during the late 1890s. The matter arose with such problem was addressed in a report published by the Education Commission in April 1902. In the report, it was stated that the Commission was in favour to establish a medical school to produce the local inhabitants to fulfil the demand of medical assistants in government hospitals. However, such view was not in favour among the European community, as they aware that education had been given great attention in India, as a result that Colony often demands over their rights from the Colonial administration.
In September 1904, a petition led by a prominent Chinese leader in Singapore, Tan Jiak Kim, who was also a member of the Straits Legislative Council
presented to the newly appointed Governor, Sir John Anderson over their concern for the establishment of a medical school. Sir John, who was a far sighted man, took such idea into his consideration. And within a month, he estimated that the cost for building such school would require a sum of $84,000. His main concern was to the petitioners’ willingness to raise the sum to fund the building of the school. As for Sir John himself on behalf of the Government, kept his word to bear the expanses of staff and maintenance of the school. Surprisingly, the petitioners agreed to take Sir John’s offer, and a meeting was called at the Chinese Protectorate
Office in Singapore.
The fundraising was a success, with the Singapore Chinese community contributed $57,000 (Tan Jiak Kim personally donated $12,000), the Penang Chinese community $20,000, Mr Loke Yew
, C.M.G.
under the name Selangor General Farm contributed $9,000, and a sum of $3,000 was given by Mr E. Chin Seng of Saigon, the only donor not from the Colony. The total collection was $87,077.
Upon the success of financing the school, legislation was enacted and passed by the Straits Legislative Council
in June 1905 under Ordinance No. XV 1905. Thus, the school was opened on 3 July 1905 but was not functioned until September. On 28 September 1905, Sir John officiated the school under the name ‘The Straits and Federated Malay States Government Medical School.’
The school had a Council to monitor its welfare, the Chairman of the Council must be a senior Government medical officer (namely the Principal Civil Medical Officer, later the Director of Medical Services) and the members of the Council were representatives of the Straits and Federated Malay States Governments, and members of public representative were Messrs Dr Lim Boon Keng
, Tan Jiak Kim, Tan Kheam Hock, J.P.
, Lee Choon Guan, M.B.E.
, J.P.
The school was first located in the old Female Lunatic Asylum near the Singapore General Hospital
at Sepoy Lines off New Bridge Road, four of the Asylum buildings were converted into a rudimentary medical school. In 1907, a lecture hall and laboratory were annexed. There were no library and room to keep pathological specimens.
In 1905, there were only 17 medical students, four students attending the hospital assistant course. Five years later, the number of enrolments increased to 90 medical students and 30 trainee hospital assistants. The school had only one permanent staff which was the Principal, the teaching staff was employed on a part-time basis. The then Principal was Dr Gerald Dudley Freer, whom previously served as Senior Colonial Surgeon Resident of Penang.
Oversee the matter, in the early 1910, Tan Jiak Kim agreed to raise $15,000 to purchase the needs of books and science apparatuses, including a proper place to store the pathological specimens, in which it had reached more than 300 specimens and was then kept at a temporary museum. Soon after his commitment to help the medical school, Tan Jiak Kim went to Malacca
, where he returned back Singapore with the news that Malacca Municipal Councillor, Tan Chay Yan
, J.P.
would fund the entire cost of erecting a building for the school.
Tan Chay Yan, J.P. on the name of his late father, Tan Teck Guan, J.P.
financially supports the construction of Tan Teck Guan Building
. The building was designed by Draper and opened on 23 June 1911 by Acting Governor E.L. Brockman, CMG. Tan Teck Guan Building with its imposing Georgian façade with Neoclassical features was had a pathology museum, physiology and anatomy laboratories, a lecture room, library and reading room, offices and stores.
From the early years of its establishment, the School Council worked hard to gain recognition of its Diploma by the General Council of Medical Education
in the United Kingdom
. It was a vital step to ensure that the Licentiate of Medicine and Surgery Diploma offered by the school would gain worldwide recognition. As a result of such determination, the Council tried to meet the strict requirements of the General Council of Medical Education (GCME), by tabling a five-year course medical curriculum as what required by GCME.
In 1910, Dr Robert Donald Keith became the second Principal of the School. He outlined that in the first two years of the five-year course were devoted to pure science studies. Physics, biology and chemistry were taught in the first year, followed by physiology and elementary anatomy in the second year. The remaining three years were attachment to clinical clerkships in medicine, surgery and midwifery, which covered pathology, hygiene and medical jurisprudence. Materia Medica
was also integrated into the fourth year, where practical pharmacy was taught.
Clinical Clerkship was a practical training that to emphasise the theoretical medical knowledge. Students were posted to several hospitals, initially at the Singapore General Hospital
. From 1908 onwards, attachments were made to Tan Tock Seng Hospital
(for medicine and surgery) and Kandang Kerbau Maternity Hospital
(for midwifery).
of $120,000 from the King Edward VII Memorial Fund, started by Dr Lim Boon Keng
. Subsequently on 18 November 1913, the name of the school was changed to the King Edward VII School of Medicine.
Ever since its humble establishment in 1905, the medical school had a number of professional and dedicated teaching staff who run in and out from the serving the school, as all of them served on a part-time basis. This process went on for almost 15 years, with one exception, G.W. Crawford, a qualified dispensing chemist, where he taught Pharmacy in 1909 until 1926.
Dr Keith and the School Council took great efforts to attract more professionals into serving the school by offering ‘honorary lecturers’ to people with special expertise in medical field, their attention was firstly to the Government officers with distinguished service. Among those who took the posts were Dr Lim Boon Keng taught Materia Medica Therapeutics, H.N. Ridleys the Director of Singapore Botanic Garden taught Botany, Dr Gilbert Brooke Port Health Officer taught Hygiene. Government Pathologist Dr G.A. Finlayson taught Pathology, Medical Officer Dr H.J. Gibbs taught Psychological Medicine, Dr David James Galloway (later Sir) taught Physiology.
As time passed, Dr Keith, the school Principal had contributed a very well-established collection of pathological specimens for the school’s pathology museum. In which, in later the pathology museum was named after him.
The competition within the school was high. The high standards regulated by the school had cause a number of students to drop out. In the first batch of 16 students of 1905, only seven made to the final and graduated in May 1910 while the remaining six students graduated in four months later and others resigned from the school. In 1919, the drop-out rate had risen to 35%, while in 1939 the number of students failed in their final examinations stood at 44%.
In 1916, it was a celebrated time for the school, when GCME finally recognised the Licentiate of Medicine and Surgery Diploma offered by the School. As a result, the licentiates were placed on the General Council’s Colonial List of the British Medical Register and were entitled to practise in anywhere within the British Empire. It was during this time too, a hostel was built to accommodate 72 male students from various Federated Malay States.
In 1918, F.S. James, the Colonial Secretary pointed out to the Straits Legislative Council that the existing annual revenue of the School of around $46,000 was insufficient to cover the cost of providing the students a proper medical education. In 1919, the Straits Medical Department published a report on the school’s progress. In the report it addressed the inadequate teaching staff and facilities including latest medical equipment. The report also proposed to construct a new building to cater all the teaching facilities, apart from increasing the salaries and provision of fringe benefits.
In 1919, a Chair in Physiology was created with money donated from the King Edward VII Foundation. The first holder of the Chair was Dr J.A. Campbell, who was a Professor of Physiology in the School in 1912 until 1921. During this time too, the School welcomed a new Principal, Dr George Hugh MacAlister, who served the School as Professor of Clinical Medicine and Lecturer on Therapeutics (1918 – 1929)
In the late 1923, the College’s new building at Outram Road was commenced. It was completed in November 1925 and officially opened by Sir Lawrence Guillemard in February 1926. During the opening ceremony, the College conferred Honorary Diploma on Sir David James Galloway, Dr Malcolm Watson and Dr Lim Boon Keng.
As time passed, more professionals were attached to serve the school, Dr Wilfred Chambers (a senior Medical Officer) and Professor J.C. Smith served as Professor of Clinical Surgery. Dr Frederick Sayers and Dr John Webster also served briefly as Professor of Medicine. Dr J.W. Scharff, the Chief Health Officer of Singapore joined the service by teaching Biology.
In 1929, Dr George V. Allen the new principal took the helm, succeeding his predecessor Dr MacAlister. MacAlister was noted for his success in expanding the school’s development. In the coming years, Allen had envisioned to turn the College into a University.
Despite its rapid expansion, the School had gained the reputation for having distinguished young teaching staff. Among of it, the Professor of Clinical Surgery, A.D. Wright, who was a young gentleman with impressive knowledge in surgeries. His counterpart, Kenneth Black, a former student of Arbuthnot Lane was known as “one of the fastest surgeons in England.” Black whom served the School for almost 15 years until 1936 had introduced ophthalmology studies into the School’s curriculum.
On 5 June 1823, a site designated for an education institution was laid its foundation stone by Sir Stamford. Soon after that, Sir Stamford left for England and Dr Morrison left for China, thus the establishment of the school never took off. The school building was later found in derelict state and occupied by thieves. It was later revived into a fine English school named the Raffles Institution, in which today a renowned secondary school not only in Singapore but worldwide.
The road to the establishment of Raffles College was annotated through a series of establishment of several Colleges in the Federated Malays States, prior to that R.J. Wilkinson played his role in forming the Malacca Malay College (1902) and the Malay College Kuala Kangsar (1905). Years later, Richard Winstedt (later Sir) found the Sultan Idris Teachers Training College (1922).
In 1918, Sir George Maxwell, the Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements headed the Maxwell Committee to review the scheme to commemorate he centenary of the founding of Singapore by Sir Stamford. The committee members were Roland Braddell, A.W. Still, Seah Ling Seah, Dr Lim Boon Keng
, Iman Mohammed Yusoff bin Mohammed, N.V. Samy, and Mannesseh Meyer. The working committee headed by H.W. Firmstone, the Director of Education recommended for the establishment of a college for tertiary education as commemorating the centenary founding of Singapore.
On 12 July 1919, the Government decided to undertake the construction of the building with the costing not more than $1,000,000 and would contribute $50,000 as annual recurrent expenditure as soon as the Centenary Committee had collected $2,000,000 for the Raffles College Endowment Fund. On 31 August 1920, the Committee had achieved the figure, amounting to $2,391,040.
On 31 May 1920, Richard Winstedt was appointed to the Acting Principal of Raffles College. The course offered was a three-year basis. The establishment of the school was seen far more systematic compared to the King Edward VII Medical College. The school was situated at a site called the Economic Gardens and was designed by Cyril A. Farey and Graham Dawbarn. And the construction took place in 1926.
Though the school had yet fully constructed, but the enrolment of its early batch of 43 students took place on 1 June 1928. However, within less than a month the number reduced to 29 with students resigned themselves. The school itself gained not much support from various European residents, among of it, Chief Justice for the Straits Settlements, Sir Walter Shaw who argued that it was just a mere daunted hope for the Government to provide the Malayans with tertiary education. Dr Noel Clarke, a member of the Legislative Council also pointed that the standards of local secondary education were insufficient to qualify a person to get in the College education.
Despite the personal arguments over the establishment of the school, the prominent Chinese residents in Singapore too had not shown their full support to it. Both Richard Winstedt and Sir Hugh Clifford expressed their disappointments over the little contribution by the wealthy Chinese community in the College Endowment Fund.
On 22 July 1929, Raffles College was established to promote arts and social sciences at tertiary level for Malayan students. The courses offered were divided into Art and Science streams. Four years later of its founding year, the College Council proposed few changes in the curriculum, so that the Diploma can be furthered to a Degree through external examinations in collaboration with universities in England.
In 1937, Governor Sir Shenton Thomas declared the College would have full-time Principal. By the time, the College had its fourth Principal, Alexander Keir, succeeding Frederick Joseph Morten. By 1939 war was waged in Europe, and had put a halt to the development of the College. The war in Europe was furthered to Asia, and World War II was waged and Singapore was occupied by the Japanese troops in February 1942, so as to the whole Malay States.
After the war, the school was reopened and W.E. Dyer acted shortly two-year as the Principal. The future of Raffles College was uncertain, until 1948 when Dr George V. Allen (later Sir) who was formerly the Principal of King Edward VII Medical College posted as the last Principal of Raffles College, before the College amalgamated with the former to form a larger dream, which was the making of a University for the people of Malaya.
The formation of the University for the people of Malaya had received mixed response from the public throughout the country. As the institution was to provide quality and self-belonging of the Malayans in British Malaya, it incurred that the University was merely more to form an identity to the nation itself.
The running of the University was most likely to be the same in the United Kingdom and possibly through the merger of the two prestigious Colleges in Singapore. The question was whether the Government could ensure how many young Malayans could be benefited under the establishment of such institution, as illiteracy rate among people in British Malaya still considerably high.
As the nation itself derived its name from the native of Malay race, without a doubt such establishment of higher education shall benefit to them the most. However, the Malays still remain meagre in education and mostly left out forever, though there had been well established Colleges in the Colony, in which had not really benefited them (except the aristocrats).
Despite such questions, in 1938 the Government appointed a Commission under the chairmanship of Sir William H. McLean to study the higher education potential and progress in Malaya. The Commission concluded that Malaya had not ready to own a University, however, it opined that a University College would more suitable at that time. In 1939, the Higher Education in the British Colonies appointed a Commission led by Justice Asquith to further study the matter. The Commission too shared the same opinion as the former McLean Commission.
In 1946, Dr Raymond Priestley, the Vice Chancellor of Birmingham University was invited by the British Malaya Government to continue the review of setting up a University for Malaya. Unfortunately, the Priestly Commission too shared the same opinion as the McLean Commission, which was to form a University College first.
Despite few attempts by the alumnus of the former two Colleges to impress those Commissions, their efforts were mean to futile. In 1947, the Secretary of State for the Colonies appointed Sir Alexander Carr-Saunders to chair a commission to study the development of tertiary education in Malaya. Initially, the Carr-Saunders Commission shared the same opinion as the McLean Commission. However, after the report was completed (but not yet summited to the Secretary of State), Sir Alexander spent some time to hear the thought from the Alumni Association of the King Edward VII College and also the Medical College Students Union. He was impressed with the idea of the President of the Students Union, Dr K. Shamugaratnam. In 1948, the Carr-Saunders Commission supported the establishment of a University for the Malayans of all walk of lives, regardless race or religion.
As a result, a University named the University of Malaya was chartered under Carr-Saunders Commission in 1949. The formation of University of Malaya on 8 October 1949 in Singapore was under the merger of King Edward VII College of Medicine and Raffles College, where the latters were established in 1905 and 1929, respectively.
In Carr-Saunders Commission’s report in 1949, it was stated that the University shall act as a single medium of mingle for enhancing the understanding among the multi-ethnics and religions in the back than Malaya. The University too should be modelled after the tertiary educations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain in term of academic system and administration structure.
The Carr-Saunders Commission postulates “the principle that all children who show the necessary capacity should enjoy an equal chance of reaching the University; and, in particular, that no able child should be handicapped in climbing the educational ladder by race, religion, rural domicile, or lack of means.”
In 1959, the University was divided into two autonomous campuses, one in Singapore and the other in Kuala Lumpur. In 1961, the governments of Malaysia and Singapore passed the legislation to make the University as a national university of their own. As a result of such desire, on 1 January 1962 the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur was permanently located on a 309 hectare land and remained with the name. However, the campus in Singapore became the University of Singapore (today National University of Singapore).
On June 16, 1962, the university celebrated the installation of its first Chancellor
, Tunku Abdul Rahman
, Malaysia's first Prime Minister
. The first Vice-Chancellor was former Dean
, Sir Alexander Oppenheim
, the world renowned mathematician who formulated the Oppenheim conjecture
in 1929. When Oppenheim left in 1965 with no successor in sight, Rayson Huang
who later went on to become the first Asian Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, was asked to take over as the Acting Vice Chancellor. He served in that capacity for 12 months but declined reappointment in order to return to academic pursuits.
Chin Fung Kee
, an authority in geotechnical engineering
, replaced Huang as Acting Vice-Chancellor until the university succeeded in filling the position in 1967 by the appointment of James H.E. Griffiths. A distinguished physicist and a fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford
, Griffiths was also the former head of Clarendon Laboratory
of Oxford University
and one of the discoverers of ferromagnetic resonance
.
The Coat of Arms is divided into two parts, namely the Chief (upper part) and the Base (remaining parts other than the upper part). The Chief consists of a bundle of seventeen strips of Borassur Flabellifer or Palmrya Palm. These strips were used as printed material for ancient books by the Malays, long before paper was invented. On the centre of these seventeen strips, is printed with the University’s motto ‘Ilmu Puncha Kemajuan’. The University’s motto bears a significant meaning, with the word ‘Ilmu’ derived from Arabic and ‘Puncha’ from Sanskrit, as for ‘Kemajuan’ is from Malay itself. Combined altogether, these words meaning knowledge is the source of progress.
In the centre of the emblem, is a hibiscus of Rosa-Sinensis species encircled by three Malayan tigers. The tigers symbolise the three main races in Malaysia (Malays, Chinese and Indians), who work hand-in-hand to protect the nation and uphold the duty to serve the country.
succeeded Griffiths as Vice-Chancellor, making him the second Malaysian after Chin to be elevated to the highest executive office in UM and the first Malaysian to be appointed as full Vice-Chancellor. This development was a precursor to the introduction of ethnic quotas into public universities with the introduction of the New Economic Policy
in 1971.
On May 1, 2006, the first woman Vice-Chancellor when former Dean of the Faculty of Law, Universiti Malaya and later assistant governor of Bank Negara Malaysia
, Rafiah Salim
, was appointed to the position.
with the passage of the University of Malaya Act 1961 which established the former Kuala Lumpur division of the University of Malaya incorporated by the University of Malaya Ordinance 1949 as an independent public university. Additional legislation such as the Degrees and Diplomas Act 1962 granted retrospective recognition and equivalency of degrees and diploma granted by predecessor institutions.
University of Malaya era (1949–present)
Abbreviation
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Usually, but not always, it consists of a letter or group of letters taken from the word or phrase...
: UM; ; ; Abbreviated 马大; ) is located on a 992 acres (401.4 ha) campus near the centre of Kuala Lumpur, and is the oldest university in Malaysia. It was founded in 1905 as a public-funded tertiary institution. Today, UM is an international acclaimed Research University
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
, with more than 2,500 faculty members of various expertise.
The Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia
Ministry of Higher Education (Malaysia)
The Ministry of Higher Education or MOHE is a government ministry that is responsible for determining the policies and direction of higher education in Malaysia.The offices of the MOHE are located in Putrajaya.-Background:...
ranked UM under the Rating System for Malaysian Higher Education Institutions (SETARA) following an Academic Reputation Survey conducted the year before. The results of the first SETARA exercise were published in 2008 and University of Malaya came out as the top university in the country. It was the only university which achieved a rating of 5 (out of maximum 6). In 2011, UM is ranked at 401 to 500 in the Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s 2011 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). And the THES - QS World University Rankings has ranked UM in the top 200 universities of the world.
Beginnings
The establishment of the university began with the issue of shortage of medical assistants in the Crown Colonies of SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
during the late 1890s. The matter arose with such problem was addressed in a report published by the Education Commission in April 1902. In the report, it was stated that the Commission was in favour to establish a medical school to produce the local inhabitants to fulfil the demand of medical assistants in government hospitals. However, such view was not in favour among the European community, as they aware that education had been given great attention in India, as a result that Colony often demands over their rights from the Colonial administration.
In September 1904, a petition led by a prominent Chinese leader in Singapore, Tan Jiak Kim, who was also a member of the Straits Legislative Council
Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements
The Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements was a legislature formed on April 1, 1867, when the Straits Settlements was made a crown colony...
presented to the newly appointed Governor, Sir John Anderson over their concern for the establishment of a medical school. Sir John, who was a far sighted man, took such idea into his consideration. And within a month, he estimated that the cost for building such school would require a sum of $84,000. His main concern was to the petitioners’ willingness to raise the sum to fund the building of the school. As for Sir John himself on behalf of the Government, kept his word to bear the expanses of staff and maintenance of the school. Surprisingly, the petitioners agreed to take Sir John’s offer, and a meeting was called at the Chinese Protectorate
Chinese Protectorate
The Chinese Protectorate was an administrative body responsible for the well-being of ethnic Chinese residents of the Straits Settlements during that territory's British colonial period. Protectorates were established in each area of the Settlements, namely Singapore, Penang and Malacca. Each was...
Office in Singapore.
The fundraising was a success, with the Singapore Chinese community contributed $57,000 (Tan Jiak Kim personally donated $12,000), the Penang Chinese community $20,000, Mr Loke Yew
Loke Yew
Loke Yew , CMG, LL.D. was a famous businessman and philanthropist during the British Malaya era. He was regarded as the richest man in Malaysia during his time and played a significant role in the growth of Kuala Lumpur and was also one of the founding fathers of Victoria Institution, Kuala...
, C.M.G.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
under the name Selangor General Farm contributed $9,000, and a sum of $3,000 was given by Mr E. Chin Seng of Saigon, the only donor not from the Colony. The total collection was $87,077.
Upon the success of financing the school, legislation was enacted and passed by the Straits Legislative Council
Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements
The Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements was a legislature formed on April 1, 1867, when the Straits Settlements was made a crown colony...
in June 1905 under Ordinance No. XV 1905. Thus, the school was opened on 3 July 1905 but was not functioned until September. On 28 September 1905, Sir John officiated the school under the name ‘The Straits and Federated Malay States Government Medical School.’
The school had a Council to monitor its welfare, the Chairman of the Council must be a senior Government medical officer (namely the Principal Civil Medical Officer, later the Director of Medical Services) and the members of the Council were representatives of the Straits and Federated Malay States Governments, and members of public representative were Messrs Dr Lim Boon Keng
Lim Boon Keng
Lim Boon Keng, OBE was a Chinese doctor who promoted social and educational reforms in Singapore and China. Lim was of Chinese Peranakan descent, with ancestry from Hai Teng district in Fujian, China.-Early life:...
, Tan Jiak Kim, Tan Kheam Hock, J.P.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, Lee Choon Guan, M.B.E.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, J.P.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
The Straits and Federated Malay States Government Medical School (1905 – 1912)
Singapore General Hospital
The Singapore General Hospital is the largest and oldest hospital in Singapore, of which the foundation of its first building was laid in 1821....
at Sepoy Lines off New Bridge Road, four of the Asylum buildings were converted into a rudimentary medical school. In 1907, a lecture hall and laboratory were annexed. There were no library and room to keep pathological specimens.
In 1905, there were only 17 medical students, four students attending the hospital assistant course. Five years later, the number of enrolments increased to 90 medical students and 30 trainee hospital assistants. The school had only one permanent staff which was the Principal, the teaching staff was employed on a part-time basis. The then Principal was Dr Gerald Dudley Freer, whom previously served as Senior Colonial Surgeon Resident of Penang.
Oversee the matter, in the early 1910, Tan Jiak Kim agreed to raise $15,000 to purchase the needs of books and science apparatuses, including a proper place to store the pathological specimens, in which it had reached more than 300 specimens and was then kept at a temporary museum. Soon after his commitment to help the medical school, Tan Jiak Kim went to Malacca
Malacca
Malacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...
, where he returned back Singapore with the news that Malacca Municipal Councillor, Tan Chay Yan
Tan Chay Yan
Tan Chay Yan was a rubber plantation merchant and philanthropist. A Peranakan, Tan is the grandson of philanthropist Tan Tock Seng by his father, Tan Teck Guan....
, J.P.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
would fund the entire cost of erecting a building for the school.
Tan Chay Yan, J.P. on the name of his late father, Tan Teck Guan, J.P.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
financially supports the construction of Tan Teck Guan Building
Tan Teck Guan Building
Tan Teck Guan Building is a historic building on MacAlister Road, within the compound of Singapore General Hospital in Bukit Merah, Singapore. The building currently houses offices of the Ministry of Health.-Establishment of medical school:...
. The building was designed by Draper and opened on 23 June 1911 by Acting Governor E.L. Brockman, CMG. Tan Teck Guan Building with its imposing Georgian façade with Neoclassical features was had a pathology museum, physiology and anatomy laboratories, a lecture room, library and reading room, offices and stores.
From the early years of its establishment, the School Council worked hard to gain recognition of its Diploma by the General Council of Medical Education
General Medical Council
The General Medical Council registers and regulates doctors practising in the United Kingdom. It has the power to revoke or restrict a doctor's registration if it deems them unfit to practise...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It was a vital step to ensure that the Licentiate of Medicine and Surgery Diploma offered by the school would gain worldwide recognition. As a result of such determination, the Council tried to meet the strict requirements of the General Council of Medical Education (GCME), by tabling a five-year course medical curriculum as what required by GCME.
In 1910, Dr Robert Donald Keith became the second Principal of the School. He outlined that in the first two years of the five-year course were devoted to pure science studies. Physics, biology and chemistry were taught in the first year, followed by physiology and elementary anatomy in the second year. The remaining three years were attachment to clinical clerkships in medicine, surgery and midwifery, which covered pathology, hygiene and medical jurisprudence. Materia Medica
Materia medica
Materia medica is a Latin medical term for the body of collected knowledge about the therapeutic properties of any substance used for healing . The term 'materia medica' derived from the title of a work by the Ancient Greek physician Pedanius Dioscorides in the 1st century AD, De materia medica libre...
was also integrated into the fourth year, where practical pharmacy was taught.
Clinical Clerkship was a practical training that to emphasise the theoretical medical knowledge. Students were posted to several hospitals, initially at the Singapore General Hospital
Singapore General Hospital
The Singapore General Hospital is the largest and oldest hospital in Singapore, of which the foundation of its first building was laid in 1821....
. From 1908 onwards, attachments were made to Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Tan Tock Seng Hospital
The Tan Tock Seng Hospital is the second-largest hospital in Singapore after the Singapore General Hospital, but its accident and emergency department is the busiest in the country largely due to its geographically centralised location...
(for medicine and surgery) and Kandang Kerbau Maternity Hospital
Kandang Kerbau Women's and Children's Hospital
Formerly known as Kandang Kerbau Hospital, KK Women's and Children's Hospital is now the largest hospital specialising in healthcare for women and children in Singapore....
(for midwifery).
King Edward VII School of Medicine (1912 – 1921)
In 1912, the medical school received an endowmentFinancial endowment
A financial endowment is a transfer of money or property donated to an institution. The total value of an institution's investments is often referred to as the institution's endowment and is typically organized as a public charity, private foundation, or trust....
of $120,000 from the King Edward VII Memorial Fund, started by Dr Lim Boon Keng
Lim Boon Keng
Lim Boon Keng, OBE was a Chinese doctor who promoted social and educational reforms in Singapore and China. Lim was of Chinese Peranakan descent, with ancestry from Hai Teng district in Fujian, China.-Early life:...
. Subsequently on 18 November 1913, the name of the school was changed to the King Edward VII School of Medicine.
Ever since its humble establishment in 1905, the medical school had a number of professional and dedicated teaching staff who run in and out from the serving the school, as all of them served on a part-time basis. This process went on for almost 15 years, with one exception, G.W. Crawford, a qualified dispensing chemist, where he taught Pharmacy in 1909 until 1926.
Dr Keith and the School Council took great efforts to attract more professionals into serving the school by offering ‘honorary lecturers’ to people with special expertise in medical field, their attention was firstly to the Government officers with distinguished service. Among those who took the posts were Dr Lim Boon Keng taught Materia Medica Therapeutics, H.N. Ridleys the Director of Singapore Botanic Garden taught Botany, Dr Gilbert Brooke Port Health Officer taught Hygiene. Government Pathologist Dr G.A. Finlayson taught Pathology, Medical Officer Dr H.J. Gibbs taught Psychological Medicine, Dr David James Galloway (later Sir) taught Physiology.
As time passed, Dr Keith, the school Principal had contributed a very well-established collection of pathological specimens for the school’s pathology museum. In which, in later the pathology museum was named after him.
The competition within the school was high. The high standards regulated by the school had cause a number of students to drop out. In the first batch of 16 students of 1905, only seven made to the final and graduated in May 1910 while the remaining six students graduated in four months later and others resigned from the school. In 1919, the drop-out rate had risen to 35%, while in 1939 the number of students failed in their final examinations stood at 44%.
In 1916, it was a celebrated time for the school, when GCME finally recognised the Licentiate of Medicine and Surgery Diploma offered by the School. As a result, the licentiates were placed on the General Council’s Colonial List of the British Medical Register and were entitled to practise in anywhere within the British Empire. It was during this time too, a hostel was built to accommodate 72 male students from various Federated Malay States.
In 1918, F.S. James, the Colonial Secretary pointed out to the Straits Legislative Council that the existing annual revenue of the School of around $46,000 was insufficient to cover the cost of providing the students a proper medical education. In 1919, the Straits Medical Department published a report on the school’s progress. In the report it addressed the inadequate teaching staff and facilities including latest medical equipment. The report also proposed to construct a new building to cater all the teaching facilities, apart from increasing the salaries and provision of fringe benefits.
In 1919, a Chair in Physiology was created with money donated from the King Edward VII Foundation. The first holder of the Chair was Dr J.A. Campbell, who was a Professor of Physiology in the School in 1912 until 1921. During this time too, the School welcomed a new Principal, Dr George Hugh MacAlister, who served the School as Professor of Clinical Medicine and Lecturer on Therapeutics (1918 – 1929)
King Edward VII College of Medicine (1921 – 1949)
In 1921, the School was elevated its status to College. It was then well-established in the British Empire within a short period of time and had received international recognition. In between 1920 and 1930, the College went through a series of transformations, by replacing the old teaching staff with a younger generation of professionals and also nine new Chairs were created, the first in Anatomy in 1920, followed by Medicine, Surgery, and Midwifery & Gynaecology in 1922 and Clinical Surgery, Bacteriology, Biology, Bio-Chemistry, and Dental Surgery in 1926. And the tenth Chair for Pathology was created in 1935.In the late 1923, the College’s new building at Outram Road was commenced. It was completed in November 1925 and officially opened by Sir Lawrence Guillemard in February 1926. During the opening ceremony, the College conferred Honorary Diploma on Sir David James Galloway, Dr Malcolm Watson and Dr Lim Boon Keng.
As time passed, more professionals were attached to serve the school, Dr Wilfred Chambers (a senior Medical Officer) and Professor J.C. Smith served as Professor of Clinical Surgery. Dr Frederick Sayers and Dr John Webster also served briefly as Professor of Medicine. Dr J.W. Scharff, the Chief Health Officer of Singapore joined the service by teaching Biology.
In 1929, Dr George V. Allen the new principal took the helm, succeeding his predecessor Dr MacAlister. MacAlister was noted for his success in expanding the school’s development. In the coming years, Allen had envisioned to turn the College into a University.
Despite its rapid expansion, the School had gained the reputation for having distinguished young teaching staff. Among of it, the Professor of Clinical Surgery, A.D. Wright, who was a young gentleman with impressive knowledge in surgeries. His counterpart, Kenneth Black, a former student of Arbuthnot Lane was known as “one of the fastest surgeons in England.” Black whom served the School for almost 15 years until 1936 had introduced ophthalmology studies into the School’s curriculum.
Raffles College (1929 – 1949)
The establishment of Raffles College was a brainchild of Sir Stamford William Raffles and Dr Robert Morison. Sir Stamford the founding father of Singapore had articulate knowledge in the Malay language and culture, while Dr Morison was a distinguished sinologist missionary. Both men had wanted to establish a centre dedicating to the study of Malays and Chinese in a tertiary level.On 5 June 1823, a site designated for an education institution was laid its foundation stone by Sir Stamford. Soon after that, Sir Stamford left for England and Dr Morrison left for China, thus the establishment of the school never took off. The school building was later found in derelict state and occupied by thieves. It was later revived into a fine English school named the Raffles Institution, in which today a renowned secondary school not only in Singapore but worldwide.
The road to the establishment of Raffles College was annotated through a series of establishment of several Colleges in the Federated Malays States, prior to that R.J. Wilkinson played his role in forming the Malacca Malay College (1902) and the Malay College Kuala Kangsar (1905). Years later, Richard Winstedt (later Sir) found the Sultan Idris Teachers Training College (1922).
In 1918, Sir George Maxwell, the Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements headed the Maxwell Committee to review the scheme to commemorate he centenary of the founding of Singapore by Sir Stamford. The committee members were Roland Braddell, A.W. Still, Seah Ling Seah, Dr Lim Boon Keng
Lim Boon Keng
Lim Boon Keng, OBE was a Chinese doctor who promoted social and educational reforms in Singapore and China. Lim was of Chinese Peranakan descent, with ancestry from Hai Teng district in Fujian, China.-Early life:...
, Iman Mohammed Yusoff bin Mohammed, N.V. Samy, and Mannesseh Meyer. The working committee headed by H.W. Firmstone, the Director of Education recommended for the establishment of a college for tertiary education as commemorating the centenary founding of Singapore.
On 12 July 1919, the Government decided to undertake the construction of the building with the costing not more than $1,000,000 and would contribute $50,000 as annual recurrent expenditure as soon as the Centenary Committee had collected $2,000,000 for the Raffles College Endowment Fund. On 31 August 1920, the Committee had achieved the figure, amounting to $2,391,040.
On 31 May 1920, Richard Winstedt was appointed to the Acting Principal of Raffles College. The course offered was a three-year basis. The establishment of the school was seen far more systematic compared to the King Edward VII Medical College. The school was situated at a site called the Economic Gardens and was designed by Cyril A. Farey and Graham Dawbarn. And the construction took place in 1926.
Though the school had yet fully constructed, but the enrolment of its early batch of 43 students took place on 1 June 1928. However, within less than a month the number reduced to 29 with students resigned themselves. The school itself gained not much support from various European residents, among of it, Chief Justice for the Straits Settlements, Sir Walter Shaw who argued that it was just a mere daunted hope for the Government to provide the Malayans with tertiary education. Dr Noel Clarke, a member of the Legislative Council also pointed that the standards of local secondary education were insufficient to qualify a person to get in the College education.
Despite the personal arguments over the establishment of the school, the prominent Chinese residents in Singapore too had not shown their full support to it. Both Richard Winstedt and Sir Hugh Clifford expressed their disappointments over the little contribution by the wealthy Chinese community in the College Endowment Fund.
On 22 July 1929, Raffles College was established to promote arts and social sciences at tertiary level for Malayan students. The courses offered were divided into Art and Science streams. Four years later of its founding year, the College Council proposed few changes in the curriculum, so that the Diploma can be furthered to a Degree through external examinations in collaboration with universities in England.
In 1937, Governor Sir Shenton Thomas declared the College would have full-time Principal. By the time, the College had its fourth Principal, Alexander Keir, succeeding Frederick Joseph Morten. By 1939 war was waged in Europe, and had put a halt to the development of the College. The war in Europe was furthered to Asia, and World War II was waged and Singapore was occupied by the Japanese troops in February 1942, so as to the whole Malay States.
After the war, the school was reopened and W.E. Dyer acted shortly two-year as the Principal. The future of Raffles College was uncertain, until 1948 when Dr George V. Allen (later Sir) who was formerly the Principal of King Edward VII Medical College posted as the last Principal of Raffles College, before the College amalgamated with the former to form a larger dream, which was the making of a University for the people of Malaya.
University of Malaya (1949 – present)
| Evolution of the University of Malaya |
|---|
 |
The formation of the University for the people of Malaya had received mixed response from the public throughout the country. As the institution was to provide quality and self-belonging of the Malayans in British Malaya, it incurred that the University was merely more to form an identity to the nation itself.
The running of the University was most likely to be the same in the United Kingdom and possibly through the merger of the two prestigious Colleges in Singapore. The question was whether the Government could ensure how many young Malayans could be benefited under the establishment of such institution, as illiteracy rate among people in British Malaya still considerably high.
As the nation itself derived its name from the native of Malay race, without a doubt such establishment of higher education shall benefit to them the most. However, the Malays still remain meagre in education and mostly left out forever, though there had been well established Colleges in the Colony, in which had not really benefited them (except the aristocrats).
Despite such questions, in 1938 the Government appointed a Commission under the chairmanship of Sir William H. McLean to study the higher education potential and progress in Malaya. The Commission concluded that Malaya had not ready to own a University, however, it opined that a University College would more suitable at that time. In 1939, the Higher Education in the British Colonies appointed a Commission led by Justice Asquith to further study the matter. The Commission too shared the same opinion as the former McLean Commission.
In 1946, Dr Raymond Priestley, the Vice Chancellor of Birmingham University was invited by the British Malaya Government to continue the review of setting up a University for Malaya. Unfortunately, the Priestly Commission too shared the same opinion as the McLean Commission, which was to form a University College first.
Despite few attempts by the alumnus of the former two Colleges to impress those Commissions, their efforts were mean to futile. In 1947, the Secretary of State for the Colonies appointed Sir Alexander Carr-Saunders to chair a commission to study the development of tertiary education in Malaya. Initially, the Carr-Saunders Commission shared the same opinion as the McLean Commission. However, after the report was completed (but not yet summited to the Secretary of State), Sir Alexander spent some time to hear the thought from the Alumni Association of the King Edward VII College and also the Medical College Students Union. He was impressed with the idea of the President of the Students Union, Dr K. Shamugaratnam. In 1948, the Carr-Saunders Commission supported the establishment of a University for the Malayans of all walk of lives, regardless race or religion.
As a result, a University named the University of Malaya was chartered under Carr-Saunders Commission in 1949. The formation of University of Malaya on 8 October 1949 in Singapore was under the merger of King Edward VII College of Medicine and Raffles College, where the latters were established in 1905 and 1929, respectively.
In Carr-Saunders Commission’s report in 1949, it was stated that the University shall act as a single medium of mingle for enhancing the understanding among the multi-ethnics and religions in the back than Malaya. The University too should be modelled after the tertiary educations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain in term of academic system and administration structure.
The Carr-Saunders Commission postulates “the principle that all children who show the necessary capacity should enjoy an equal chance of reaching the University; and, in particular, that no able child should be handicapped in climbing the educational ladder by race, religion, rural domicile, or lack of means.”
In 1959, the University was divided into two autonomous campuses, one in Singapore and the other in Kuala Lumpur. In 1961, the governments of Malaysia and Singapore passed the legislation to make the University as a national university of their own. As a result of such desire, on 1 January 1962 the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur was permanently located on a 309 hectare land and remained with the name. However, the campus in Singapore became the University of Singapore (today National University of Singapore).
On June 16, 1962, the university celebrated the installation of its first Chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
, Tunku Abdul Rahman
Tunku Abdul Rahman
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, AC, CH was Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya from 1955, and the country's first Prime Minister from independence in 1957. He remained as the Prime Minister after Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore joined the...
, Malaysia's first Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Malaysia
The Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives , the...
. The first Vice-Chancellor was former Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
, Sir Alexander Oppenheim
Alexander Oppenheim
Sir Alexander Oppenheim, OBE FRSE Knight Bachelor PMN was a British mathematician and philanthropist. In mathematics, his most notable contribution is his Oppenheim conjecture...
, the world renowned mathematician who formulated the Oppenheim conjecture
Oppenheim conjecture
In Diophantine approximation, the Oppenheim conjecture concerns representations of numbers by real quadratic forms in several variables. It was formulated in 1929 by Alexander Oppenheim and later the conjectured property was further strengthened by Davenport and Oppenheim...
in 1929. When Oppenheim left in 1965 with no successor in sight, Rayson Huang
Rayson Huang
Rayson Huang, CBE , a chemist, expertise at Chemistry on radicals. He was the first Chinese Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong from 1972 to 1986.-Early years:...
who later went on to become the first Asian Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, was asked to take over as the Acting Vice Chancellor. He served in that capacity for 12 months but declined reappointment in order to return to academic pursuits.
Chin Fung Kee
Chin Fung Kee
Chin Fung Kee was a respected and outstanding Malaysian civil engineer in engineering practice, as well as engineering research and education. He is known for his excellence in geotechnical, structural and hydraulic engineering. He was a local pioneer engineer who played a key role in the...
, an authority in geotechnical engineering
Geotechnical engineering
Geotechnical engineering is the branch of civil engineering concerned with the engineering behavior of earth materials. Geotechnical engineering is important in civil engineering, but is also used by military, mining, petroleum, or any other engineering concerned with construction on or in the ground...
, replaced Huang as Acting Vice-Chancellor until the university succeeded in filling the position in 1967 by the appointment of James H.E. Griffiths. A distinguished physicist and a fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
, Griffiths was also the former head of Clarendon Laboratory
Clarendon Laboratory
The Clarendon Laboratory, located on Parks Road with the Science Area in Oxford, England , is part of the Physics Department at Oxford University...
of Oxford University
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and one of the discoverers of ferromagnetic resonance
Ferromagnetic resonance
Ferromagnetic resonance, or FMR, is a spectroscopic technique to probe the magnetization of ferromagnetic materials. It is a standard tool for probing spin waves and spin dynamics...
.
Coat of Arms
The University of Malaya’s Coat of Arms was designed under a Council established in 1961, Chaired by Tan Sri Y.C. Foo. The committees involved in the design were the Chairman of the Council, Y.C. Foo, Professor A. Oppenheim (the Vice-Chancellor) and Professor Ungku Aziz (later Regius Professor). The Coat of Arms was officially chartered in April 1962 by Tunku Abdul Rahman, the University’s first Chancellor.The Coat of Arms is divided into two parts, namely the Chief (upper part) and the Base (remaining parts other than the upper part). The Chief consists of a bundle of seventeen strips of Borassur Flabellifer or Palmrya Palm. These strips were used as printed material for ancient books by the Malays, long before paper was invented. On the centre of these seventeen strips, is printed with the University’s motto ‘Ilmu Puncha Kemajuan’. The University’s motto bears a significant meaning, with the word ‘Ilmu’ derived from Arabic and ‘Puncha’ from Sanskrit, as for ‘Kemajuan’ is from Malay itself. Combined altogether, these words meaning knowledge is the source of progress.
In the centre of the emblem, is a hibiscus of Rosa-Sinensis species encircled by three Malayan tigers. The tigers symbolise the three main races in Malaysia (Malays, Chinese and Indians), who work hand-in-hand to protect the nation and uphold the duty to serve the country.
Malaysianization
In 1968, economist Ungku Abdul AzizUngku Abdul Aziz
Ungku Abdul Aziz bin Ungku Abdul Hamid was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Malaya from 1968 to 1988. He was awarded the title of Professor Diraja in 1978...
succeeded Griffiths as Vice-Chancellor, making him the second Malaysian after Chin to be elevated to the highest executive office in UM and the first Malaysian to be appointed as full Vice-Chancellor. This development was a precursor to the introduction of ethnic quotas into public universities with the introduction of the New Economic Policy
Malaysian New Economic Policy
The Malaysian New Economic Policy , was an ambitious and controversial socio-economic restructuring affirmative action program launched by the Malaysian government in 1971 under the then Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak. The NEP ended in 1990, and was succeeded by the National Development Policy in...
in 1971.
On May 1, 2006, the first woman Vice-Chancellor when former Dean of the Faculty of Law, Universiti Malaya and later assistant governor of Bank Negara Malaysia
Bank Negara Malaysia
Bank Negara Malaysia is the Malaysian central bank. Established on January 26, 1959 as the Bank Negara Malaya, its main purpose was to issue currency, act as banker and adviser to the Government of Malaysia and regulate the country's credit situation...
, Rafiah Salim
Rafiah Salim
Datuk Rafiah Salim was the first female Vice-Chancellor in Malaysia, posted to Universiti Malaya since 1 May 2006....
, was appointed to the position.
Rankings
| Year | Rank | Valuer |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 89 | Times Higher Education World University Rankings Times Higher Education World University Rankings The Times Higher Education World University Rankings is an international ranking of universities published by the British magazine Times Higher Education in partnership with Thomson Reuters, which provided citation database information... - QS World University Rankings QS World University Rankings The QS World University Rankings is a ranking of the world’s top 500 universities by Quacquarelli Symonds using a method that has published annually since 2004.... |
| 2005 | 169 | Times Higher Education World University Rankings Times Higher Education World University Rankings The Times Higher Education World University Rankings is an international ranking of universities published by the British magazine Times Higher Education in partnership with Thomson Reuters, which provided citation database information... - QS World University Rankings QS World University Rankings The QS World University Rankings is a ranking of the world’s top 500 universities by Quacquarelli Symonds using a method that has published annually since 2004.... |
| 2006 | 192 | Times Higher Education World University Rankings Times Higher Education World University Rankings The Times Higher Education World University Rankings is an international ranking of universities published by the British magazine Times Higher Education in partnership with Thomson Reuters, which provided citation database information... - QS World University Rankings QS World University Rankings The QS World University Rankings is a ranking of the world’s top 500 universities by Quacquarelli Symonds using a method that has published annually since 2004.... |
| 2007 | 246 | Times Higher Education World University Rankings Times Higher Education World University Rankings The Times Higher Education World University Rankings is an international ranking of universities published by the British magazine Times Higher Education in partnership with Thomson Reuters, which provided citation database information... - QS World University Rankings QS World University Rankings The QS World University Rankings is a ranking of the world’s top 500 universities by Quacquarelli Symonds using a method that has published annually since 2004.... |
| 2008 | 230 | Times Higher Education World University Rankings Times Higher Education World University Rankings The Times Higher Education World University Rankings is an international ranking of universities published by the British magazine Times Higher Education in partnership with Thomson Reuters, which provided citation database information... - QS World University Rankings QS World University Rankings The QS World University Rankings is a ranking of the world’s top 500 universities by Quacquarelli Symonds using a method that has published annually since 2004.... |
| 2009 | 180 | Times Higher Education World University Rankings Times Higher Education World University Rankings The Times Higher Education World University Rankings is an international ranking of universities published by the British magazine Times Higher Education in partnership with Thomson Reuters, which provided citation database information... - QS World University Rankings QS World University Rankings The QS World University Rankings is a ranking of the world’s top 500 universities by Quacquarelli Symonds using a method that has published annually since 2004.... |
| 2010 | 207 | QS World University Rankings QS World University Rankings The QS World University Rankings is a ranking of the world’s top 500 universities by Quacquarelli Symonds using a method that has published annually since 2004.... |
| 2011 | 167 | QS World University Rankings QS World University Rankings The QS World University Rankings is a ranking of the world’s top 500 universities by Quacquarelli Symonds using a method that has published annually since 2004.... |
Faculties, Academies, Institutes & Centre
- Medical Centres
- Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- Administration and Social Justice
- Anthropology and Sociology
- Chinese Studies
- East Asian Studies
- English
- Environmental Studies
- Gender Studies
- Geography
- History
- Indian Studies
- International and Strategic Studies
- Mathematics
- Media Studies
- Population Studies
- South East Asia Studies
- Township and Urban Planning Studies
- Faculty of Built Environment
- Architecture
- Building Surveying
- Estate Management
- Quantity Surveying
- Urban and Regional Planning
- Faculty of Economics & Administration
- Economics
- Development Studies
- Administrative and Politics
- Applied Statistic
- Faculty of Business and Accountancy
- Accounting
- Business Administration
- Faculty of Computer Science & Information Technology
- Computer Science
- Artificial Intelligence
- Computer Networking and System
- Management Information System
- Software Engineering
- Information Technology
- Information Science
- Management
- Multimedia
- Computer Science
- Faculty of Dentistry
- Dental Surgery
- Faculty of Education
- Counselling
- Early Childhood Education
- Teaching English as Second Language
- Faculty of Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biomedical (Prosthetic and Orthopedic) Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Design and Manufacturing Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Material Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Telecommunication Engineering
- Faculty of Languages and Linguistics
- Arabic
- Chinese
- English
- French
- German
- Italian
- Japanese
- Spanish
- Tamil
- Faculty of Law
- Jurisprudence
- Laws
- Faculty of Medicine
- Biomedical Science
- Medicine and Surgery
- Nursing
- Pharmacy
- Medical Imaging
- Faculty of Science
- Actuarial and Financial Mathematics
- Applied Geology
- Biochemistry
- Biohealth Science
- Bioinformatics
- Biotechnology
- Chemistry
- Applied Chemistry
- Ecology and Biodiversity
- Environmental Science and Management
- Genetics and Molecular Biology
- Geology
- History and Philosophy of Science
- Mathematics, Statistics, Industrial and Computational Mathematics
- Microbiology
- Physics
- Sports Center (Sports Science Faculty)
- Sports Management
- Science of Coaching
- Exercise Physiology
- Cultural Center
- Centre of Foundation Studies
- Foundation in Life Science
- Foundation in Physical Science
- Foundation in Built Environment
- Academy of Islamic Studies with Science
- Centre for Civilisational Dialogue
- Academic Development Centre
- Academy of Islamic Studies
- Academy of Malay Studies
- Institute of Research Management and Monitoring
- Institute of Graduate Studies
- Asia-Europe Institute
- Institute of Principalship Studies
- International Institute of Public Policy & Management (INPUMA)
- Institute of China Studies
Residential Colleges
- First Residential College (Tuanku Abdul Rahman)
- Second Residential College (Tuanku Bahiyah)
- Third Residential College (Tunku Kurshiah)
- Fourth Residential College (Bestari)
- Fifth Residential College (Dayasari)
- Sixth Residential College (Ibnu Sina)
- Seventh Residential College (Za'ba)
- Eighth Residential College (Kinabalu)
- Ninth Residential College
- Tenth Residential College
- Eleventh Residential College (Ungku Aziz)
- Twelfth Residential College (Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah)
Organization and administration
UM is incorporated by an Act of ParliamentAct of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
with the passage of the University of Malaya Act 1961 which established the former Kuala Lumpur division of the University of Malaya incorporated by the University of Malaya Ordinance 1949 as an independent public university. Additional legislation such as the Degrees and Diplomas Act 1962 granted retrospective recognition and equivalency of degrees and diploma granted by predecessor institutions.
Vice-Chancellors
The Office of the Vice-Chancellor is under a government contract system, that runs 2-year per term. The first Vice-Chancellor for University of Malaya (Singapore) was Sir George V. Allen and for Malaya was Sir Alexander Oppenheim. The current Vice-Chancellor is Tan Sri Datuk Ghauth JasmonNotable alumni
King Edward VII College of Medicine/Raffles College era (pre 1949)- Tun Abdul Razak - 2nd Prime Minister of MalaysiaPrime Minister of MalaysiaThe Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives , the...
- Tun Mahathir Mohamad - 4th Prime Minister of MalaysiaPrime Minister of MalaysiaThe Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives , the...
- Ismail Abdul RahmanIsmail Abdul RahmanTun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman was a Malaysian politician from the United Malays National Organisation . He held several Malaysian ministerial posts and was appointed as the second Deputy Prime Minister in 1970 by then Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak. Three years later, Tun Dr Ismail died in office due...
- former Deputy Prime Minister of MalaysiaDeputy Prime Minister of MalaysiaDeputy Prime Minister of Malaysia is the second highest political office in Malaysia. There has been ten deputy prime ministers since the office was created in 1957. Although there has always been a Deputy Prime Minister since independence, there is nothing preventing a Prime Minister from not... - Benjamin Sheares - 2nd President of SingaporePresident of SingaporeThe President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...
- Lee Kuan YewLee Kuan YewLee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH is a Singaporean statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, governing for three decades...
- former Prime Minister of SingaporePrime Minister of SingaporeThe Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore is the head of the government of the Republic of Singapore. The President of Singapore appoints as Prime Minister a Member of Parliament who, in his opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of a majority of MPs.The office of Prime Minister... - Goh Keng SweeGoh Keng SweeGoh Keng Swee was the second Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore between 1973 and 1984, and a Member of Parliament for the Kreta Ayer constituency for a quarter of a century. Born in Malacca in the Straits Settlements into a Peranakan family, he came to Singapore at the age of two years...
- former Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore - Toh Chin ChyeToh Chin ChyeToh Chin Chye is a prominent first generation political leader in Singapore. He completed his Secondary education in St. George's Institution and continued his studies at Raffles College and the University of London. Subsequently, Toh received his PhD at the National Institute for Medical...
- former Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore
University of Malaya era (1949–present)
- Mohd Khalil Yaakob - Malacca state Governor
- Abdul Rahman AbbasAbdul Rahman AbbasTun Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Abbas is the current Yang di-Pertua Negeri of the state of Penang, Malaysia. He is a former politician from the United Malays National Organisation...
- Penang state Governor - Abdullah Ahmad BadawiAbdullah Ahmad BadawiTun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi is a Malaysian politician who served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2009. He was also the President of the United Malays National Organisation , the largest political party in Malaysia, and led the governing Barisan Nasional parliamentary coalition...
- the fifth Prime Minister of MalaysiaPrime Minister of MalaysiaThe Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives , the...
. - Muhyiddin YassinMuhyiddin YassinTan Sri Muhyiddin bin Yassin is a Malaysian politician and the current Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Education. He is also the Deputy President of the United Malays National Organisation , the main component party of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.Muhyiddin grew up in the state...
- Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister - Anwar FazalAnwar FazalAnwar Fazal is a grassroots environmental activist. He was trained at the University of Malaya in Economics and Education...
- Consumer and Civil Society Advocate. Anwar was President of the University of Malaya Students Union (UMSU) and the National Union of Malaysian Students. In 1964, he was awarded the best All Round Student Gold Medal by the University. - Musa HitamMusa HitamTun Musa bin Hitam , is a Malaysian politician and a former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, serving under Mahathir bin Mohamad. He was born in Johor Bahru, Johor in 1934...
- Former Deputy Prime MinisterDeputy Prime MinisterA deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some counties, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, but is significantly different, though both... - Anwar IbrahimAnwar IbrahimAnwar bin Ibrahim is a Malaysian politician who served as Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister from 1993 to 1998. Early in his career, Anwar was a close ally of Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad but subsequently emerged as the most prominent critic of Mahathir's government.In 1999, he was sentenced...
- Former Deputy Prime Minister of MalaysiaDeputy Prime Minister of MalaysiaDeputy Prime Minister of Malaysia is the second highest political office in Malaysia. There has been ten deputy prime ministers since the office was created in 1957. Although there has always been a Deputy Prime Minister since independence, there is nothing preventing a Prime Minister from not...
, Malaysian Opposition Leader - K. PathmanabanK. PathmanabanDatuk Roto K. Pathmanaban is a former Malaysian deputy minister, vice-president of Malaysian Indian Congress and founder of Melaka Manipal Medical College.-Early life:...
- Former Deputy Minister - Charles HectorCharles HectorCharles Hector on 4 July 1961, is a Malaysian Human Rights advocate and activist.His primary schooling was in Sekolah Rendah Jalan Bahagia, Temerloh. His lower secondary educadion was in Sekolah Menengah Rendah Jalan Bahagia , and thereafter Sekolah Menengah Abu Bakar...
Fernandez - human rights advocate and activist, former member of the Malaysian Bar Council, former Coordinator of the Malaysian Action Front(MAF) - Chuah Hean Teik - President/CEO of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, award-winning engineering researcher, and former Senior Professor, Vice President (R&D and Academic Development) and Dean of Faculty of Engineering at the Multimedia UniversityMultimedia UniversityMultimedia University is Malaysia's first private university. It has two campuses with one in Cyberjaya and another in Melaka. The distance between the two campuses are approximately 150 kilometers, via the North South Expressway.-History:...
, CyberjayaCyberjayaCyberjaya is a town with a science park as the core that forms a key part of the Multimedia Super Corridor in Malaysia. It is located in the district of Sepang, Selangor and is situated about 50 km south of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia... - Kok Suh Sim, Teresa - Democratic Action PartyDemocratic Action PartyThe Democratic Action Party, or DAP is a secular, multi-racial, social democratic Malaysian political party.The DAP is one of the three major opposition parties in Malaysia, along with the PKR and PAS, that are seen as electable alternatives to the Barisan Nasional coalition of parties...
Member of ParliamentMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Seputeh - Sellapan Ramanathan - President of SingaporePresident of SingaporeThe President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...
and Chancellor of the National University of SingaporeNational University of SingaporeThe National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered.... - Sha'ari TadinSha'ari TadinSha'ari Tadin was a former Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Culture, and Member of Parliament in the Singapore Government...
- former Senior Parliamentary SecretaryParliamentary SecretaryA Parliamentary Secretary is a member of a Parliament in the Westminster system who assists a more senior minister with his or her duties.In the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to...
and first Malay graduate PAPPeople's Action PartyThe People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
Member of ParliamentMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, Singapore - Sim Kee BoonSim Kee BoonSim Kee Boon was one of Singapore's pioneer civil servants - men who worked closely with the Old Guard political leaders and played a key role in the success of Changi Airport and turned the fortunes of Keppel Shipyard around....
- Former Head of Civil Service, Singapore. - Joshua RajJoshua RajDr. Joshua Raj is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and an ordained minister, who authored A Biblical Approach to Indian Traditions and Beliefs, and A Guide to the Prevention and Treatment of Back Pain that is grounded in evidence-based research. Dr. Raj is a graduate of Seminary Theology Malaysia...
- physician, surgeon, and author. - Zeti Akhtar AzizZeti Akhtar AzizTan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz is the 7th and current governor of Bank Negara Malaysia, Malaysia's central bank. She has been governor since May 2000, and was the first woman in the position.-Early life:...
- current governor of Bank Negara Malaysia, Malaysia's central bank. - Karpal SinghKarpal SinghKarpal Singh is a Malaysian lawyer and politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for the neighbourhood of Bukit Gelugor in the state of Penang since 2004...
- prominent and renowned lawyer and politician in Malaysia. - Lim Yee ChungLim Yee ChungRynn Lim Yee Chung is a Chinese singer from Malaysia. He acted once in a first collaboration drama of Malaysia Media Prima Berhad and Singapore MediaCorp Studios Pte Ltd.-Album:*2005 - 个人首张专辑 Ge Ren Shou Zhang Zhuan Ji...
- Malaysian singer. - Dr Roland Abeysekera - prominent educationist and philosopher.
- Mohamed Khaled NordinMohamed Khaled NordinDatuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin is a Malaysian politician who has been the Minister of Higher Education in the Cabinet of Malaysia since 2008. He formerly held the post of Minister of Entrepreneur & Cooperative Development from 2004 until the 2008 general election...
- Higher Education Minister - Muhammad Muhammad TaibMuhammad Muhammad TaibTan Sri Muhammad bin Haji Muhammad Taib is the former Rural and Regional Development Minister. He is also the United Malays National Organisation information chief and former Menteri Besar of Selangor...
- Former Menteri Besar of Selangor - Khir Toyo - Former Menteri Besar of Selangor
- Aznil NawawiAznil NawawiAznil bin Haji Nawawi or better known as Aznil Nawawi, Aznil Haji Nawawi, Aznil or Pak Nil, is a TV host in Malaysia. He is said to be the man who revolutionized hosting on Malaysian TV; turning it from rigid and monotonous to witty, fun and lively.He won the Best Talk Show Award at the Asian...
- Malaysian celebrity - Abdul Khalid IbrahimAbdul Khalid IbrahimTan Sri Dato' Seri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim is the 14th and current chief minister of the state of Selangor, in Malaysia. He is a former corporate figure of Malay descent and the current Treasurer-General of Parti Keadilan Rakyat . He was born in the village of Kampung Jalan Raja Abdullah in Kuala...
- Menteri Besar of Selangor - G. Palanivel - Malaysian Minister, MIC President
- Abdul Gani PatailAbdul Gani PatailTan Sri Abdul Gani bin Patail is a Malaysian prosecutor. He is the current Attorney General of Malaysia.Abdul Gani was the lead prosecutor in former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial of 1998.-Background:...
- Malaysian Attorney-General - Ong Ka TingOng Ka TingTan Sri Ong Ka Ting is a Malaysian politician and a former Minister of Housing and Local Government in the Malaysian cabinet. He is also the former President of the Malaysian Chinese Association and is the Member of Parliament for Kulai.-Early life:...
- Former Malaysian Minister - Ong Ka ChuanOng Ka ChuanDato' Seri Ong Ka Chuan is a Malaysian politician and the Member of Parliament for Tanjung Malim, Perak. He is a former Minister of Housing and Local Government and former secretary-general of the Malaysian Chinese Association , a component party of the Barisan Nasional coalition.Ong is the older...
- Former Malaysian Minister - Jamil Khir BaharomJamil Khir BaharomDato' Seri Jamil Khir bin Baharom is a retired major general in the Military Religious Corps of Malaysia who is currently a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Islamic Affairs...
- Malaysian Minister - Azalina Othman SaidAzalina Othman SaidDato' Seri Azalina binti Othman Said was the Tourism Minister in the previous Cabinet of Malaysia. Before that, she was the Youth and Sports Minister. She is a member of the United Malays National Organisation , the main component party of the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional.Azalina is the Member...
- Former Malaysian Minister - Ng Yen YenNg Yen YenDato' Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen is a Malaysian politician and the current Minister of Tourism in the Malaysian Cabinet. She is the current Vice-President of Malaysian Chinese Association . She was the chief of the Women's wing of the Malaysian Chinese Association till 2008...
- Malaysian Minister - Ngeh Koo HamNgeh Koo HamYang Berhormat Dato' Ngeh Koo Ham , born in 1961, is a native of Ayer Tawar, Perak, Malaysia. He is a member of the Democratic Action Party in Malaysia, which is a member of Socialist International...
- Malaysian MP, Former Perak State Senior EXCO - Nga Kor MingNga Kor MingNga Kor Ming , is a Malaysian politician and is the current Member of Parliament for the seat of Taiping, Perak. He is a member of the Democratic Action Party in the Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition, and serves as the party's Assistant National Treasurer.-Education and professional career:Nga...
- Malaysian MP, Former Perak State EXCO - Sivarasa RasiahSivarasa RasiahSivarasa Rasiah ,or also known as R.Sivarasa is a prominent Malaysian politician, lawyer and human rights activist. He is co-founder of Suara Rakyat Malaysia or Suaram and vice-president of the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat...
- Malaysian MP, PKR Vice President, prominent lawyer - Ahmad Husni HanadzlahAhmad Husni HanadzlahDato' Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah is the current Second Minister of Finance of Malaysia. He was appointed on 10 April 2009 when Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak became Prime Minister. He is also the Member of Parliament for Tambun....
- Malaysian Minister - P. Ramasamy - Ph.D from University Malaya, Deputy Chief Minister 2 of Penang
- Shahrir Abdul SamadShahrir Abdul SamadDatuk Seri Utama Shahrir Abdul Samad is the former Malaysian Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, a member of Parliament, and the former chairman of the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club . He is a member of the United Malays National Organisation, the largest political party in the...
- Former Malaysian Minister, Malaysian MP - Mohamad HassanMohamad Hassan (Menteri Besar)Datuk Seri Utama Haji Mohamad Haji Hassan is the current Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan. He was born on May 2, 1956 in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan. He received his primary education at SK Datuk Akhir Zaman at Rantau and furthered his studies at SMK Rantau and SMK Tuanku Ampuan Durah at Seremban. He...
- Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan - Husam MusaHusam MusaDato' Paduka Haji Husam Musa is one of the current three PAS Vice Presidents. He was born at Kampung Kota, Kota Bharu, in the state of Kelantan, Malaysia. Husam is a state assemblyman for electorate of N.17 Salor...
- Kelantan State EXCO - Hassan Mohamed Ali - Selangor State EXCO
- Hanifa Ahmad - Kelantan State Assembly Member
- Isa Abdul Samad - Former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar
- Sharizat Abdul Jalil - Malaysian Minister
- Tan Lian HoeTan Lian HoeDato Seri' Tan Lian Hoe is a Malaysian politician and is currently the Member of the Parliament of Malaysia for the Gerik constituency in Perak...
- Malaysian Deputy Minister - Rafidah AzizRafidah AzizTan Sri Rafidah binti Abdul Aziz is a Malaysian politician and the current Member of Parliament for the Kuala Kangsar constituency since 1986....
- Former Malaysian Minister - Khoo Kay KimKhoo Kay KimTan Sri Khoo Kay Kim is a Malaysian Chinese historian and academic. He is currently an emeritus professor in the History Department of the University of Malaya.-Biography:...
- Historian - Hishamuddin Rais - Social activist
- Shahrir Abdul Samad - Former Malaysian Minister
- Hou Kok Chung - Deputy Minister
- Tan Sri Krishnan Tan Boon Seng - Malaysian business tycoon
- Annuar RapaeeAnnuar RapaeeYang Berhormat Dr. Annuar Rapaee, MBBS ,MRCP ,Adv.MCardiol is a Member of Sarawak State Legislative Assembly for Nangka,and also a cardiologist by profession.-Personal Life:...
- Cardiologist,Member of Sarawak State Legislative Assembly
Notable faculty members
- Dr J.R. Kay-Mouat, Chair of Physiology (1921 – 1936)
- Dr J.A. Campbell, Chair of Physiology (1919 – 1921), Professor of Physiology (1912 – 1921)
- Sir George Hugh MacAlister, Principal of King Edward VII Medicine School (1918 – 1929), Professor of Clinical Medicine and Lecturer of Therapeutics (1918 – 1929)
- J.G. Harrower, Professor of Anatomy (1922 – 1935)
- Dr R. Brunel Hawes, Professor of Medicine (1927 – 1941)
- Dr W.A. Young, Professor of Bacteriology (1927 – 1941)
- Sir James W. BlackJames W. BlackSir James Whyte Black, OM, FRS, FRSE, FRCP was a Scottish doctor and pharmacologist. He spent his career both as researcher and as an academic at several universities. Black established the physiology department at the University of Glasgow, where he became interested in the effects of adrenaline...
, former lecturer of medicine (1947 - 1950), Nobel Laurette for Medicine in 1988 - Cyril Northcote Parkinson, a former professor of history at the University (1950 to 1960)
- Tan Seri T.J.Danaraj, founding dean of the university's Medical Faculty
- Royal Professor Ungku Abdul Aziz Ungku Abdul HamidUngku Abdul AzizUngku Abdul Aziz bin Ungku Abdul Hamid was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Malaya from 1968 to 1988. He was awarded the title of Professor Diraja in 1978...
, who once served as the university's vice chancellor - Wang GungwuWang GungwuWang Gungwu, CBE is an academic who has studied and written about the Chinese diaspora, although he has objected to the use of the word diaspora to describe the migration of Chinese from China, because it is inaccurate and has been used to perpetuate fears of a "Chinese threat". He was born in...
, a former Professor of History at the Department of History (left UM in 1968). Prof. Wang is the Director of East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore. - Khairuddin Mohamed YusofKhairuddin Mohamed YusofKhairuddin bin Mohamed Yusof is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Malaya. He receives the Emeritus from the university in year 2004 and Darjah Dato` Paduka Cura Simanja Kini which brings the title of "Dato’ Paduka" from Malaysia's state King of Perak in 1998.-Career with University of...
, a former Professor of University Malaya and also a former Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the University Hospital. Retired in 1997 and was honored with the title of EmeritusEmeritusEmeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
by the University. Professor Emeritus Dato Paduka Dr. Khairuddin bin Mohamed Yusof is the Director of TelemedicineTelemedicineTelemedicine is the use of telecommunication and information technologies in order to provide clinical health care at a distance. It helps eliminate distance barriers and can improve access to medical services that would often not be consistently available in distant rural communities...
Malaysia (World Care Inc) - Khoo Kay KimKhoo Kay KimTan Sri Khoo Kay Kim is a Malaysian Chinese historian and academic. He is currently an emeritus professor in the History Department of the University of Malaya.-Biography:...
, a former Professor of Malaysian History at the Department of History. Retired in 2001, a Professor Emeritus at the University. - Jomo Kwame SundaramJomo Kwame SundaramJomo Kwame Sundaram , known as Jomo, is a prominent Malaysian economist, who has served as the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs since 2005...
, a former Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Administration (left UM in 2004). Prof. Jomo is the Assistant Secretary General for Economic Development in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. - Ho Peng Yoke, a former Professor of Chinese at the Department of Chinese Studies. Prof. Ho is the Director Emeritus of Needham Research Institute, Cambridge.
- C S Lim (aka Lim Chee Seng or Chee Seng Lim), a former Professor in the Department of English at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. He is a specialist in Shakespeare studies and a member of the Executive Committee of the International Shakespeare Association.http://www.shakespeare.org.uk. From 1997 to 2000 he was the International Chair of ACLALS (Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies). http://www.aclals.ulg.ac.be/branches.html
- Terence Edmund Gomez, an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economics and administration. He is one of the six research coordinators at the United Nations Research Institute for Social DevelopmentUnited Nations Research Institute For Social DevelopmentThe United Nations Research Institute for Social Development is "an autonomous United Nations agency that carries out research on the social dimensions of contemporary problems affecting development"...
UNRISD. - The late Tan Sri Datuk Professor Ir. Chin Fung KeeChin Fung KeeChin Fung Kee was a respected and outstanding Malaysian civil engineer in engineering practice, as well as engineering research and education. He is known for his excellence in geotechnical, structural and hydraulic engineering. He was a local pioneer engineer who played a key role in the...
, a well known authority in geotechnical engineering. Born in Nibong Tebal, he was the man who designed the Penang BridgePenang BridgePenang Bridge is a dual carriageway toll bridge connects Gelugor on the island of Penang and Seberang Prai on the mainland of Malaysia on the Malay Peninsula. The bridge is also linked to the North-South Expressway in Prai and Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway in Penang. It was officially opened to...
. He was the former acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Malaya. - Datuk Sri Tony FernandesTony FernandesTan Sri Anthony Francis Fernandes CBE is a Malaysian entrepreneur and the founder of Tune Air Sdn. Bhd., who introduced the first budget no-frills airline, AirAsia, to Malaysians with the tagline "Now everyone can fly"...
, an Adjunct Professor of Business. Director & Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Asia Bhd. - Professor Niyaz AhmedNiyaz AhmedNiyaz Ahmed is an Indian professor of microbial sciences, a veterinarian by training, science blogger, and an Open Access advocate based in Hyderabad, India.-Training and career:...
, an Adjunct Professor of Molecular Biosciences at the Institute of Biological Sciences, UM. He is a Section Editor of PLoS ONEPLoS ONEPLoS ONE is an open access peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the Public Library of Science since 2006. It covers primary research from any discipline within science and medicine. All submissions go through an internal and external pre-publication peer review but are not excluded on the...
and an accomplished Indian microbiologist.
See also
- University of Malaya Botanical Gardens Rimba Ilmu
- University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC)