Malaysia’s vision is to become a developed nation by 2020. In support of this ambition, the State has refined its national education policy to enable the private sector to become involved in the development of education. Petronas responded to the government’s invitation to set up a private university that would be a centre of creativity and innovation and a leader in technology education.

Set within the beautiful and dramatic landscape at Bandar Seri Iskander, 300 kilometres north of Kuala Lumpur, the 450-hectare campus site is characterised by tropical jungles, undulating terrain and lakes formed by flooding disused mines. Petronas University of Technology blends academic training with hands-on experience to produce graduates who will contribute to Malaysia's industrial development. The design of the campus, akin to a town-planning project, brings together several medium-scale buildings: four-storey blocks for teaching and research, cafes and communal facilities, and a drum-like building containing a library and 3'000-seat multipurpose hall. Soaring crescent-shaped canopies - protection against strong solar radiation and heavy monsoon rains - cover the winding pedestrian routes that connect all the buildings. The exteriors are clad in locally sourced ceramic tiles, the interior cladding is formed by woven silk panels.