Photo Hairul Nizam Zahari
SINTOK, 6 July 2025: A total of 255 new students have registered at the Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) Centre for Foundation Studies in Management for the 2025/2026 academic session, marking the 12th cohort of the prestigious programme.
Designed for top-performing students in the Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM), the programme admits a limited number of high-achieving students each year. For this session, a total of 9,182 applications were submitted through the University and College Admissions System (UPU) Online, with 1,632 applicants listing UUM as their first choice.
UUM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dato’ Dr Mohd Foad Sakdan said that the 12th cohort will experience a structured study format, with the duration reduced from three semesters to two.
“This reform aims to enhance holistic education, support personality development and increase student engagement in co-curricular activities,” he said during the Meet and Greet session with the Vice-Chancellor and the new students, held at the SOIS Auditorium, UUM.
He emphasised UUM’s commitment to ensuring that each graduate is equipped with the skills and knowledge required to navigate the competitive job market.
“UUM’s graduate marketability initiatives include career carnivals, industrial training, career workshops, as well as collaborations with prominent companies. These efforts have contributed to a 96.6 percent graduate marketability (GM) rate in 2024,” he said.
Dr Mohd Foad also highlighted the university’s comprehensive facilities that support both academic and personal development. These include well-resourced library with extensive digital and physical collections, modern infrastructure and student-centred learning environment.
“UUM placed strong emphasis on student welfare. Among the facilities offered include comfortable student accommodation, mentor-mentee programmes, academic counselling sessions, mental health services, and a variety of co-curricular activities aimed at fostering the holistic development of students,” he said.
He further noted that the Foundation Studies in Management curriculum is carefully designed to align with the requirements of the undergraduate degree programme at UUM, facilitating a seamless academic transition for students to the next level.
Meanwhile, the Director of the UUM Centre for Foundation Studies in Management, Prof. Dr Mohd Fuad Othman said that UUM currently offers a total of 48 undergraduate degree programmes across various fields, including accounting and law, in accordance with the established admission requirements.
Also present at the ceremony were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), Prof. Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani, and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof. Dr Ram Al Jaffri Saad.
