The Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (English: University of Malaysia, Terengganu) or UMT, formerly known as Kolej Universiti Sains dan Teknologi Malaysia (English: University College of Science and Technology Malaysia) or KUSTEM was officially chartered on February 1, 2007. It was formerly known as the University College of Terengganu (Kolej Universiti Terengganu, KUT) in 1999. The founding of the university can be traced back to 1979 when the Centre for Fisheries and Marine Science was founded in Mengabang Telipot, Terengganu. Over the years the Centre has moved on from its original role and diversified to become the centre for maritime and oceanography research and development. It was later renamed University Putra Malaysia Terengganu (UPMT). The Incorporation Order of KUT (Perbadanan) 1999 (PUA 292) was passed by the Parliament on July 27, 1999, enabling the inception of KUT, which was in consistent with the ever increasing need for higher education in Malaysia especially in the fields of maritime science and technology. The Malaysian government has agreed to rename KUSTEM to Universiti Malaysia Terengganu in 2007. The name change was in place because the term 'university college' (Kolej Universiti) tends to give a negative impression that the institution is of lower standard as compared to other universities. Many employers also tend to be of the opinion that university college graduates are not competent enough as they are not from a 'proper' university. This, of course, is a very narrow view by some quarters who do not understand and appreciate the roles and objectives of a university college. Some world-renowned institutions of academic and research excellence have always remained proud to be a university college e.g. University College London (UCL), University College Cork and University College Dublin. Nevertheless, the change of name was granted by the Malaysian government for the sake of the graduates.
