Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus
The Universiti Putra Malaysia[1] Bintulu Campus (Malay: Universiti Putra Malaysia Kampus Bintulu or UPMKB) is a branch campus of Universiti Putra Malaysia located in Bintulu, Sarawak. The campus was reopened in November 2001 based on the third objective of UPM's 2001-2010 planning strategy, which is to upgrade UPM's ability as an internationally acclaimed Centre of Study, Agricultural and Biosource Services.[2]
UPMKB is situated 13 kilometers from the town of Bintulu, and is surrounded by an environment rich in flora and fauna, and this natural abundance is fully utilized to affirm UPM's mission to further explore the fields in agriculture and biosource. This campus covers an area of 715.16 hectares and will be able to accommodate up to 5000 students by the year 2010.
History
UPMKB is not a new name amongst the nation’s institutions of higher learning. In fact, it is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in Sarawak. The history of UPMKB can be traced back to August 10, 1974, when it was a temporary campus under the National Resources Training Centre in Semenggok, Kuching. The campus relocated to its permanent site in Bintulu, Sarawak in June, 1987. On 27 August 1987, Universiti Pertanian Malaysia Sarawak was officially established as a branch campus through the under 3 centres of learning – Applied Sciences, Basic Sciences and Social Sciences and Management. Three Diploma-level programs were on offer; the Diploma in Agriculture, Diploma in Forestry and Diploma in Agribusiness programs, as well as an initiation program.
Closure and reopening
During the month of September, 1994, UPMKB was closed down and brought under the wing of the Malaysia Ministry of Education to be converted into a temporary site for a teacher’s training college. However, under a directive by the Cabinet, UPMKB was reopened on November 5, 2001. The first batch of students for the November 2001/2002 semester numbered at 242 students who enrolled in the Diploma in Agriculture, Diploma in Forestry and Diploma in Engineering (Emergency and Safety) programs.
UPMKB Graduates
Approximately 600 students from this faculty have successfully completed their diploma-level program during the 2004/2005 session, with an additional 85 students from the 2005/2006 session. The first batch of UPMKB graduates received their diploma during the Convocation held in the months of July and September, 2005.