Universiti Teknologi MARA

Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM or  MARA University of Technology) is a public university in Malaysia, based primarily in Shah Alam. Established in 1956 as the RIDA (Rural & Industrial Development Authority) Training Centre, it opened to some 50 students with a focus to help the rural Malays. Since that time it has grown into the largest higher education institution in Malaysia by physical infrastructure, staff organization (academic and non-academic), and student enrollment.

The university comprises one main campus, 13 autonomous state campuses and 21 satellite campuses. With 17,488 academic and non-academic staff, UiTM offers some 515 programmes ranging from foundation to postgraduate level. It is home to some 170,514 bumiputera and international students, in full-time and part-time modes. Teaching is fully conducted in English.

The MARA University of Technology began as RIDA (Rural & Industrial Development Authority) Training Centre (Dewan Latehan RIDA), inspired by Onn Jaafar, the founder and former president of United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). The idea was conceived as a result of a study visit to Ceylon in 1951 (now Sri Lanka) to look into its rural development programme. A resulting working paper outlined the establishment of Rural and Industrial Development Authority (RIDA) and its objectives of rebuilding the rural society, as well as improving the economy of rural Malays.