[16] Ling Liong Sik, the President of the MCA, chaired a committee that drew up a framework for the establishment of the university.

[16] The second committee was led by Ng Lay Swee, the Principal of Tunku Abdul Rahman University College, a tertiary education institution also established by the MCA, and it included Lai Fatt Sian, the Head of the School of Business Studies of the University College, who became the founding Dean of the UTAR Faculty of Accountancy and Management.

Ling Liong Sik was appointed Council Chairman of UTAR and Ng Lay Swee became the first President and CEO.

[17] In June 2002, UTAR opened its doors to the pioneer batch students on its first campus located in Section 13 of Petaling Jaya, on premises previously owned by the publisher of a local daily called The Star.

An official ceremony was held to launch UTAR on 13 August 2002 at the main hall of the Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

The prime minister also officiated the university groundbreaking event at its new campus at Kampar, in the state of Perak.

[26] Various departments and programs at UTAR are also recognized by professional associations and institutes across Malaysia, other Southeast Asian countries, Australia, the Commonwealth, and the United States.

[12] The international UI GreenMetric annually ranks universities on their sustainability performance in infrastructure, energy and climate change, waste, water, transportation, and education.