The Kampar Campus is undergoing a transformation as open spaces around the campus are turned into makeshift canvases for rotating art installations created by students and faculties to beautify the surroundings. The project is all part of a larger effort in both campuses to create a sustainable, environmentally-friendly and vibrant learning hub for all.

Initiated by the late UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Assoc Prof Dr Teh Chee Seng, the first three instalments in Kampar Campus were done by the Faculty of Business and Finance (FBF), Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (FICT) and Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT).

At FBF, students are greeted with a large poster featuring three inspirational quotes from renowned entrepreneurs. They are iflix Group COO and iflix Malaysia CEO Azran Osman-Rani, AirAsia Founder and Director Tan Sri Anthony Francis “Tony” Fernandes, and Jobstreet Bhd CEO and Founder Mark Chang Mun Kee.

Inspirational quotes greeting students before they enter their classes

Located behind the bicycle parking area, the large poster was the collective idea of the Faculty Management Committee (FMC), and was carried out by FBF Deputy Dean for Student Development and Industrial Training Yew King Tak and FBF Lecturer Kuek Thiam Yong. They believed that the poster will be a source of inspiration to instil students with the “can do” spirit, as they venture into the business field after they have graduated.

FICT on their part had 20 posters placed at the ground floor of its block for the beautification project. Quotes from Information Technology (IT) visionaries feature on each poster, including those from the late Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Apple Inc. Steve Jobs, CEO of Hewlett-Packard (HP) Carly Fiorina, Founder and Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group Jack Ma, and Co-Founder of Microsoft Paul Gardner Allen. 

Some of the quotes found at the ground floor

Themed ‘A History of the Internet’, the idea was to create awareness and a sense of appreciation among students for the beauty and influence of ICT in their daily lives through these posters. “We started by collecting good quotes from faculty staff and their response was overwhelming. They were very supportive of the project and we received many ideas from the FMC. We then selected the best 20 quotes which reflected the main theme of the project to be place at specified locations,” said Project Leader FICT Head of Postgraduate Degree Programmes Dr Khor Siak Wang, who was assisted by Lecturer Lim Ean Heng, and Tutor Tan Lyk Yin. 

In addition to that, FEGT’s part of the project was themed ‘Engineering and Technology for a Better World’, and incorporated three major components, namely ‘Environmentally Friendly’ mural art, motivational posters and inspirational stickers, which impart knowledge in various disciplines, such as environmental awareness, recycling, motivational quotes and calories burned walking up stairs.

The project was carried out by Dr Khor Soo Cheen and Tan Zi Yi, lecturers from the Department of Construction Management parked under FEGT.

Dr Khor enthused, “We want to create a beautiful environment for our students, guests, staff and our community. We also aimed to spread knowledge on what is right for the environment. We believe the beauty of the campus enhances the learning experiences of our students.”

The ‘Environmentally Friendly’ mural art welcoming students and staff

Stairs labelled with the count of calories burned taking the stairs to encourage exercise

Some framed quotes found at the ground floor of FEGT