Universiti Sains Malaysia

Universiti Sains Malaysia (19 October 2014)


Universiti Sains Malaysia (GPS: 5.35532, 100.29468) is the second oldest university in Malaysia. It is often known by its acronym USM. USM's main campus is located at Minden in Gelugor, Penang. It has branch campuses in Seri Ampangan in Seberang Perai, and in Kelantan. With about 30,000 students, Universiti Sains Malaysia is one of the biggest universities in the country.

Universiti Sains Malaysia was founded in 1969. This followed a resolution approved in 1962 by the Penang State Legislative Council to establish a university in the state. The foundation stone was placed by the then prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj on 7 August, 1967. At that time, the area earmarked for the university was in Sungai Ara.

USM was originally to be known as Universiti Pulau Pinang, but in tandem with the mandate for the new university to provide, promote and develop learnings in the various fields of science, its name was changed to Universiti Sains Malaysia.

The initial intake was 57 students. As the site in Sungai Ara was not yet ready, the Education Ministry loaned the university premises at the Malayan Teacher's Training College at Bukit Gelugor.

Meanwhile, the site at Sungai Ara was deem unsuitable for future expansion of the university, and after further sourcing, it was decided that the university should be located in Minden, Gelugor. It is a 500 acre (240-hectare) site which was previously part of the Gelugor military camp. The university opened there in 1971.

The military camp in Gelugor occupied part of the plantation land that belonged to the Browns, a Scottish family who established a nutmeg and clove plantation in the area.¹ The Browns built a plantation house on a hill overlooking the sea called Glugor House.

The British military took over the area in 1939, and converted Glugor House to Glugor Barracks. I am not sure whether that building is still standing. It could well be one of those British colonial buildings at the Universiti Sains Malaysia facing the playing field. When the British withdrew with the Japanese Occupation in 1941, the Japanese military occupied it through the Second World War.

After the war, the British military continued to occupy it. In July 1950, Glugor Barracks was renamed Minden Barracks to commemorate the Battle of Minden, a battle where Anglo-German forces defeated the French in the Seven Years War, happening around the town of Minden in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. That was how the name "Minden" arrived in Penang.

The housing estate of Minden Heights was originally developed to provide housing for the staff of Universiti Sains Malaysia. It is accessible through a gate on the north side of the university grounds.

Universiti Sains Malaysia is accessed through the western gate, at Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, the south gate, at Jalan Sungai Dua, and the east gate, at Jalan Bukit Gambir.

Sights at Universiti Sains Malaysia

Dewan Tuanku Syed Putra, Universiti Sains Malaysia (23 November 2019)


Institute of Post Graduate Studies, USM (8 December 2009)


Lecture Hall, USM (8 December 2009)


USM Hostels (8 December 2009)

Getting there

If you rely on public transport, you quite a distance to walk through the university campus. In any case, Rapid Penang Bus 301 and 303 pass through the main gate of USM at Jalan Sungai Dua.

School of Biological Science, USM (8 December 2009)

Universiti Sains Malaysia is on the Map of Jalan Bukit Gambir, Penang

Universiti Sains Malaysia is on the Map of Gelugor, Penang

Reference

1. Minden Barracks

List of Universities in Penang and Universities in Malaysia