Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin

Emblem of Kolej Ugama Sultan Zainal Abidin (1980–2005)

The university was first established as an Islamic educational college known as Kolej Ugama Sultan Zainal Abidin (abbreviation KUSZA; Jawi: كوليج أڬام سلطان زين العابدين; English: Sultan Zainal Abidin Islamic College) on 27 January 1980, under the administration of the Terengganu Religious Affairs Department. KUSZA was made a statutory body with the passing of the Enactment 31/1981 by the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly. A permanent campus was built on a 350-acre (1.4 km²) site in Gong Badak, Kuala Nerus, Kuala Terengganu and KUSZA began operating in the campus from January 1983.[8] The first program to be offered was a Diploma in Islamic Studies (Syariah). This has expanded to 23 Diploma programs and three Advanced Diploma programs.[9]

Establishment of the university

Emblem of Universiti Darul Iman Malaysia (2005–2010)

On 26 March 2005, KUSZA was upgraded into a full-fledged university known as Universiti Darul Iman Malaysia (abbreviation UDM; Jawi: اونيۏرسيتي دارالايمان مليسيا‎; English: Darul Iman University Malaysia) and the number of programs and disciplines were extended. It began when Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi announced the formation of a new university to be established in the state of Terengganu, Malaysia. This was followed by the appointment of the first Vice-Chancellor, Alias bin Daud, on 1 January 2006.

Present form

First Emblem of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (2010–2013)

With the approval from Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin on 13 April 2010, the Universiti Darul Iman Malaysia is now known as Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin effective on 14 May 2010 after the government gazette of Universiti Darul Iman Malaysia (Incorporation) (Amendment) Order 2010[10] came into force on 13 May 2010.[11] The Higher Education Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said in the press statement that the change of name was made after taking into account the historical background of the institution.[12]

Chancellor Her Majesty Sultanah Terengganu Tuanku Nur Zahirah

The administration building at Gong Badak campus

The university operates with two campuses in the city of Kuala Terengganu which are the Medical Campus and the Gong Badak Campus and another campus in Besut (Besut Campus).The Gong Badak Campus focuses on the teaching and research of Islamic knowledge and its harmonisation with other professional courses such as Accountancy, Law, Language, Design and Technology, Social Sciences, and Health Sciences. While the Medical Campus offers Medical and Nursing programs. The Besut Campus was developed with a niche in Biotechnology, Bioresources, Food Industry, IT and Computering. These campuses will have their own specialised field of studies, each with a separate and identifiable niche.

Faculty of Languages and Communications

Shared laboratory facilities for Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences

As a full public university, its financial resources originate mostly from the federal government. Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan[13] (Malay: Rancangan Malaysia ke-9), the university has been granted RM 417 million (US$137 million) to be spent from 2006 to 2010. While under the Tenth Malaysia Plan[14] (Malay: Rancangan Malaysia ke-10), the university has received RM 420 million (US$138 million) to be spent between 2011 and 2015.[15]

An additional RM 2.2 million (US$721 000) in form of research grant was granted by Terengganu state government to the university in April 2009 to be used for researching the Asiatic bitter yam or Intoxicating yam (Botanical name: Dioscorea hispida Dennst). This toxic plant is an important source of secondary food for the local people, especially in times of food scarcity. It is also used in local pharmaceutical industry and medicine.

In 2011, the university has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the McGill University, Canada and agreed on the planning and development of an advanced modern teaching hospital[16][17] and telemedicine facilities in Malaysia.[15]

The annual convocation ceremony

In 2011, the team of two students from Faculty of Innovative Design and Technology, UniSZA won the main prize in the NST-Peugeot Car Design Competition 2011. This winning has earned them an all expenses paid five-day-four-night trip to Paris and visit to Peugeot's research and design centre in Velinzy, France.[18][19]

In August 2011, the team of three students from Faculty of Law and International Relations, UniSZA won the 'Outstanding Achievement Memorial Award'[20] in the Asia Cup International Law Moot Court Competition 2011 held in Tokyo, Japan. UniSZA was the first university in Malaysia to have received the prestigious award since 1999, the year when the competition was founded.[21]

• List of universities in Malaysia

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  Entrance boulevard at Gong Badak campus
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  Main lecture hall at Gong Badak campus
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  Information Technology Centre at Gong Badak campus
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  Department of student affairs and alumni building
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  Residential building at Gong Badak campus
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  Health centre at Gong Badak campus
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  Moot Court at Faculty of Law and International Relations

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• Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin official website

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