KUCHING, 1 April – UTM School of Professional and Continuing Education (UTM SPACE) will have a permanent campus in Sarawak by 2020.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UTMSPCE, Professor Ir. Dr. Mohd Azraai Kassim said, the RM100 million campus will be developed on a land of 95 acres belonging to Zecon Berhad (ZECON) in Kota Petra.

According to Prof. Mohd Azraai, Zecon will start the construction early next year and will be handed over to UTMSPACE once completed.

“The permanent campus could provide study opportunities to more than 10,000 students interested in pursuing undergraduate programmes.

“Zecon is currently building a temporary campus at Vista Tunku in Petra Jaya for the first 100 student intake next June.”

“While waiting for the construction of the temporary campus to be completed, Zecon has provided a space at Menara Zecon in Jalan Satok for UTMSPACE to use as lecture halls and office space for free,” he said during the opening ceremony of UTMSPACE Kuching campus and the handing over of the permanent campus ground ceremony held at Menara Zecon.

The handing over of the permanent campus ground was done by the Deputy CEO of Zecon Berhad, Hj. Zainurin Hj. Ahmad.

Prof. Azraai also said that the construction of the permanent campus in Kuching will help the state government in providing professional and technical workforce for the industry.

“The establishment of the permanent campus will result in a more cost effective tuition fees for students from East Malaysia and offer better study opportunities, particularly those from the rural areas of Sarawak,” he concluded.