JOHOR BAHRU, January 22, 2017 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has outlined six major Key Focus Areas (KFAs) as its 2018 strategic planning in order to make the university stays relevant to communities and Malaysia itself.
The main focus areas are excellence in Teaching and Learning, Research and Development, Campus Sustainability, Talent Transformation, University Financial Sustainability and Global Prominence.
Commenting on the above KFAs, UTM Vice Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Ir. Dr. Wahid Omar said the essential element is UTM to achieve excellence in Research and Development as well as financial sustainability to ensure the operation of the university.
“Strategic financial management is a key strategy in ensuring the financial sustainability of the university. The real definition of strategic financial management is to ensure that each Centre of Responsibility (PTJs) implements sustainable financial management by maintaining cost effectiveness while at the same time ‘keeping’ the quality of service to staff and students,” he said.
Prof. Wahid said this at a press conference session after giving his yearly address to the UTM community at the ‘Majlis Perutusan Tahun Baru Naib Canselor 2018’ at the Sultan Iskandar Hall, Johor Bahru campus yesterday.
As one of the public universities which hold the Research University (RU) status, UTM should emphasize the element of research excellence to enable the institution to move in line with the government’s current aspirations.
“A total of RM70 million has been set as the target of the UTM research grant for 2018 from government agencies, governments, industries and international organizations.
“To increase industrial and international funding grants, UTM has a Grant Champion group that will continue to be strengthened in all faculties by intensifying the number of proposal papers to apply for international and industrial grants,” he said.
Also attending the ceremony were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Internationalization), Prof. Dr. Zainuddin Abdul Manan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof. Datuk Dr. Ahmad Fauzi Ismail, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof. Dr. Azlan Abdul Rahman and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs), Prof. Dr. Durrishah Idrus.
