Universiti Malaysia Kelantan

Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) is a public higher education institution in Malaysia, officially recognized by the Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia [1]. Established in 2006, the university's curriculum is uniquely centered around entrepreneurship and enterprise education across all its study programs [2, 3]. This focus is promoted through taglines such as \"Entrepreneurship is Our Thrust\" and \"Entrepreneurial University.\"

UMK operates across three campuses located in Bachok (main), Pengkalan Chepa, and Jeli, in the state of Kelantan [3, 4]. The university offers a diverse range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs, aiming to produce highly skilled human capital with entrepreneurial attributes [2, 3].

The institution emphasizes practical skills and industry involvement, with bachelor's degree students having 30% industry involvement and master's degree students having 40% [2]. UMK is also an associate of the Global Consortium Entrepreneurship Education (GCEE), which helps ensure its entrepreneurship curriculum aligns with international standards [2].

The establishment of a university in Kelantan was initially proposed as a key component of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, aiming to bolster human capital development within the higher education sector [3]. The Malaysian government's approval for the university's formation was announced by the Prime Minister on March 31, 2006 [3, 5].

The Cabinet officially approved the establishment of Universiti Malaysia Kelantan on June 14, 2006, with a clear directive that its curriculum should integrate entrepreneurship education across all fields of study [3]. UMK officially commenced operations on September 1, 2006 [2], and welcomed its first cohort of 295 pioneering students on July 1, 2007, at its temporary campus in Taman Bendahara, Pengkalan Chepa [3].

Since its inception, UMK has grown to include multiple campuses, including its main campus in Bachok and the Jeli campus, which houses faculties related to agro-based industries and earth sciences [3]. The university held its first convocation ceremony in September 2011, celebrating its initial graduates from various faculties [3].

Universiti Malaysia Kelantan organizes its specialized studies into three primary fields: Entrepreneurship and Business, Creative Technology and Heritage, and Agro-Based Industry and Earth Sciences [2, 5]. These core areas reflect the university's commitment to fostering entrepreneurial skills and addressing regional development needs.

The Faculty of Agro-Based Industry, Faculty of Earth Sciences, and Faculty of Bioengineering and Technology are prominent at the Jeli campus, focusing on areas such as agricultural business, animal husbandry, natural resources, and bioengineering [3, 6]. Other key faculties include the Faculty of Entrepreneurship and Business, Faculty of Creative Technology and Heritage, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and the Faculty of Hospitality, Tourism and Wellness [6].

Beyond these, UMK also offers programs in disciplines such as Architecture and Ekistics, Data Science and Computing, and maintains a Centre for Language Studies and Generic Development, which provides university, language, and co-curriculum courses [6]. This broad range of faculties and centers supports UMK's mission to produce versatile graduates with strong entrepreneurial foundations [2, 3].