Brief History of the UTM Ingenieur Building

University Technology Malaysia (UTM), Johor, became the first higher learning institution to establish the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) secretariat in its campus which will allow students to become professional engineers. The centre is housed at one of UTM’s former hostel (the M40 building) which was renovated to meet the needs of IEM secretariat office. The centre is located within the Tun Dr. Ismail Residential Collage to be used as its southern branch office known as the Ingenieur Building. The keys to the centre was handed by Prof. Dato’ Ir. Dr. Zaini Ujang to IEM President, Ir. Professor Dato' Dr. Chuah Hean Teik. The documents  to the centre were exchanged between the Chairman of IEM Southern Branch, Ir. Mohd Khir Muhammad, and UTM's Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dr Mohd Azraii Kasim on 8th October 2010 (Friday).

UTM Vice-Chancellor, Prof Datuk Zaini Ujang, has stated that with the establishment of IEM Southern Branch secretariat in the campus, a roadway of opportunities for the staffs have been opened in order for them to become qualified professional engineers. UTM is the largest higher learning institution in the field of engineering and the university needs more teaching staff that are qualified as professional engineers to complete the engineering accreditation programme.

Moreover, many engineering students of UTM are not aware or do not know of which channels to go to in order to become professional engineers once they graduate. Thus, it is the belief of both UTM and IEM Southern institutions, that through the establishment of the IEM secretariat within the campus grounds, students are exposed to the proper channels to become professional engineers.

Furthermore, the students may also have a clearer vision for the choice of fields that are open to them through programmes conducted by IEM Southern’s office, which should increase with the facilities available to them now within the campus. The facilities at the centre are also used as an activity centre for engineering students associations, especially for IEM-UTM Student Chapter and Young Engineers Section.