Sunday, August 10, 2008

Sultan: Be catalyst of growth

Monday August 11, 2008

Sultan: Be catalyst of growth

KOTA BARU: Sultan Tuanku Ismail Petra Ibni Almarhum Sultan Yahya Petra of Kelantan is confident that Universiti Malaysia Kelantan will use its expertise in entrepreneurship to spur the state’s economic growth.

He said the varsity was not only responsible in providing more educational opportunities to the people but could also become a catalyst of growth for the surrounding areas of its upcoming main campuses in Bachok and Jeli.

“I am happy that the university is the first in the country to make entrepreneurship its thrust, and being located in Kelantan is in keeping with the entrepreneur spirit of the people,” he said at his installation as chancellor yesterday.

Tuanku Ismail Petra hoped the university could use its expertise to support royal projects mooted by him and the Raja Perempuan to improve the livelihood of the poor in the rural areas.

“I hope the university can create excellent centres through research and development, in line with one of the objectives of the East Coast Economic Region development,” he said.

In his speech, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin asked the university to relive Kelantan’s past glory as a centre of knowledge.

He said Kelantan had once produced thinkers who were well known in the Malay archipelago and the tradition should be continued by the university.

The university focuses on business, entrepreneurship, natural resource science, creative technology and heritage, he said, adding that “the unique historical and cultural factors of Kelantan is also a source of strength for the university.” – Bernama

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