Saturday February 9, 2008
KUALA TERENGGANU: A 405ha Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) campus will be
developed in Bukit Besi, 85km from here, under the East Coast Economic
Region’s (ECER) education and human capital development initiatives.
According to Ketengah, one of the government agencies tasked with the economic
development of Te-rengganu, Phase 1 of the UiTM campus would cover 121ha and
was in the tender process. Construction is scheduled to start in May.
UiTM Vice Chancellor Datuk Seri Professor Dr Ibrahim Abu Shah said the campus is
estimated to cost RM60mil and would be built at the edge of Tasik Puteri, near an
18-hole golf course, and would be among the state’s recreational areas.
To be built near Jerangau-Jabar, the university will be strategically located 12km
from the Dungun Interchange of the East Coast Expressway Phase 2, and 80km from
the Chemerong Forest Reserve, which has the highest waterfall in South-East Asia.
“It is perfectly located as it is next to the East Coast Expressway, which is easily
accessible, and close to Dungun and Kuantan,” said Professor Dr Ibrahim.
“The location and scenic beauty makes it an ideal place for education and tourism.
“The first phase is expected to be completed by June 2010 and the first student of
1,000 will be for sports sciences and marine architecture. By 2012, the university will
have 5,000 students,” he said.
Education has been earmarked as one of the main drivers of ECER’s economic
growth.
In addition to developing human capital, the region has also been designated as a
tourist draw.
Education in ECER will take cognisance of fast changing trends and requirements and
identify supply and demand of human capital.
It will be a key enabler in supporting the growth of sectors such as agriculture,
manufacturing and tourism in terms of human resource and capability development,
by enhancing tertiary education.
Existing UiTM branch campuses are located in Machang, Dungun and Jengka.
The campus in Machang will be developed as a centre for innovation and product
creativity while the Dungun branch will be geared towards managerial training
programmes in hospitality and tourism management and tourist guide training.
— The Star Online (South & East editions)