Multimedia University (MMU), earlier the Institute of Telecommunication and Information Technology (IITM), is a tertiary education institution set up through Universiti Telekom Sdn Bhd (UTSB), a wholly owned subsidiary of Telekom Malaysia Berhad, one of the largest telecommunication companies in Malaysia. MMU serves as a catalyst for the development of the high tech ICT industry of the nation, parallel to the Silicon Valley-Stanford model in the United States. Started in 1994 as an experimental two-year telecommunication engineering diploma programme with 42 students enrolled, it was given private university status in 1996.
The university has established itself as one of the major players in R&D and developed sustainable ties through research partnerships and collaborations. Focussing on key areas of nanotechnology, biometrics, microwave and telecommunications, photonics, business, microsystems, virtual reality, advanced robotics and engineering, at present, MMU plays host to about 13 Research Centres.
Its concerted efforts at excellence have won MMU immense recognition. The Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education SETARA Rating has given it 5 (Excellent) tier rating.
In 2004, it was awarded by the ministry for Excellence in R&D, Overall Achievement, the Highest Enrolment of Local Students and the Highest Number of Courses Accredited.
MMU operates out of two campuses in Cyberjaya and Melaka with more than 20,000 students enrolled. It offers Bachelor of business administration in international business, human resource management, banking & finance and entrepreneurship. Other courses include Bachelor of accounting (Hons), Doctor of Philosophy (management), Bachelor of business and knowledge management (Hons) and Master of philosophy (management). It has recently established a faculty of law. MMS has an impressive pool of 4,200 international students from 77 countries. It boasts of a Multimedia Super Corridor, a centre dedicated to research and learning.
MMU has also hosted a string of international debating events like the All-Asian Intervarsity Debating Championships in 2000, the Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships in 2003 and the World Universities Debating Championship in 2005. These events were organised and managed by students.
Having broken ground for the establishment of private universities in Malaysia, MMU over the years has earned a name for it.
