Ungku Omar Polytechnic

Ungku Omar Polytechnic is a Malaysian polytechnic situated on Jalan Dairy, Ipoh which was named after the late Dr. Ungku Omar bin Ungku Ahmad. It was established by the Malaysian Ministry of Education with help from UNESCO in 1969. It also received RM24.5 million funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). UNESCO was responsible for its construction. Ungku Omar Polytechnic is the oldest polytechnic in Malaysia.

History

Ungku Omar Polytechnic was established in 1969 by the Malaysian Ministry of Education, aided by UNESCO. A total of RM24.5 million was allocated by the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP). UNESCO was assigned with the responsibility of planning and executing the polytechnic's construction on an area of 22.6 hectars at Dairy Road, Ipoh. The polytechnic was named after the late Dato' Professor Ungku Omar Ahmad, in recognition of his valuable contributions to the nation, especially in the field of medical research.

Initially, this polytechnic was housed at the Daily Training Centre (DTC), Ipoh building which came to be known later as Maktab Perguruan Kinta. For the first batch of 300 students, lectures were held beginning from 2 June 1969. At that time, the academic workforce consisted of 28 local lecturers, who were assisted by 14 volunteers from Canada, United States of America, Germany and Japan. Towards the end of 1973, the polytechnic shifted to its new campus and was officiated on 10 May 1974 by the then Minister of Education, the late Tun Abdul Razak bin Hussein.

During the early stages, the polytechnic only had four academic departments, namely the Civil Engineering Department, Electrical Engineering Department, Mechanical Engineering Department and Commerce Department, which offered various academic programmes at diploma and certificate levels. In 1972, the Marine Engineering Department was formed and this department only offered one diploma level academic programme. On 1 March 1999, two academic units were upgraded as departments. The Mathematics and Science Unit was upgraded as the Mathematics, Science and Computer Department. The Language and Religious Unit was upgraded as General Studies Department. In January 1999, the Information Technology Programme was offered for the first time under the Electrical Engineering Department. In July 1999, the coordination of Information Technology Programme was taken over by the Mathematics, Science and Computer Department. In January 2007, the Information and Communications Technology Department began to coordinate the Information Technology Programme.

Board of Administration

• Director: Dato' Hj Dr. Mohd Jayus Nasir, AMP, PMP
• Deputy Director (I): Dato' Dr. Jubaidi Razali
• Deputy Director (II): YH Mej (K) Dr. Nasir Fizal Harun
• Head of Civil Engineering Faculty: Ir. Dr. Salleh Khalidin
• Head of Electrical Engineering Faculty: Ir. Hamimah Sabar
• Head of Mechanical Engineering Faculty: Ir. Dr Tuan Haji Ab. Latif Saad
• Head of Marine Engineering Faculty: Ir. Loo Leong Peng
• Head of Commerce Faculty: Dr. Salleh Sahat
• Head of Mathematics, Science and Computer Faculty: Dr. Wong Tuck Sung

Departments

• Civil Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Geomatics Engineering (Land Survey)
  • Architecture

• Electrical Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Computer Technology

• Mechanical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Automotive
  • Air-con services
  • Mechatronics

• Marine Engineering

• Commerce
  • Business Studies
  • Financial and Banking
  • Accountancy
  • Retail management
  • Islamic Banking and Finance

• General Studies
  • Islamic Studies
  • Moral Studies
  • English Language
  • Chinese Language
  • Japanese Language

• Information Technology and Communication

• Mathematics, Science and Computer