Sultan Idris Education University

What Sultan Idris Education University does

Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI) is a Malaysian public university specializing in teacher education and educator professional development, operating two campuses — Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah Campus (KSAJS) and Sultan Azlan Shah Campus (KSAS) — in Tanjong Malim, Perak. Tracing its origins to Sultan Idris Training College (SITC), founded on 29 November 1922, the institution evolved through successive upgrades (MPSI in 1957, IPSI in 1987) before being formally established as a full university on 1 May 1997 under the Order of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (Corporation) 1997. It serves 25,901 active students (including 1,406 international students) and maintains a worldwide alumni network exceeding 100,000 graduates, primarily educators.

The university's core technology stack is anchored on a Moodle-based Learning Management System that powers its UPSI MOOC platform offering courses across education, science, language, computing, and professional development disciplines. Its Tuanku Bainun Library operates an integrated digital ecosystem comprising EKCMS, Pustaka eSUBMIT (thesis submissions), UDRep (institutional repository), and the recently launched PTB x ChatGPT for AI-powered research support. UPSI has also internally developed and open-sourced library management software (RecentSYS, sWADAH, ScheduleUS) under its EZpustaka initiative, demonstrating in-house technical capability.

As a statutory body under the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (KPT), UPSI's revenue is derived principally from government allocations and regulated tuition fees, supplemented by ancillary library services (space rental, document delivery). It markets through direct admission portals (undergraduate and postgraduate), 8 International Centers, education fairs, and digital channels including a MOOC platform and 360 VR campus tour. The institution pursues international partnerships extensively — including with MIMOS Berhad, Cardiff Metropolitan University, and universities in Uzbekistan, Iraq, and Indonesia — positioning education as both a national mandate and an exportable service.

Name

Sultan Idris Education University

Legal name

Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris

Website

https://upsi.edu.my

Company type

Public

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI) is a Malaysian public university specializing in teacher education, serving 25,901 students across two campuses in Tanjong Malim, Perak, with a 100-year legacy and a growing international partnership footprint.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tanjong Malim

HQ country

Malaysia

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and postgraduate programme fees charged to domestic and international students.
2. Government Funding: Public university funding from Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education for teaching, research, and institutional development.
3. Library Services Revenue: Revenue from space rental, document delivery services, and specialized library services at Tuanku Bainun Library.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI) is a Malaysian public university that delivers undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing education programmes with a specialization in teacher training, alongside research, publication and community engagement services. Its offerings are supported by a Moodle-based MOOC platform, the Tuanku Bainun Library digital system, an institutional repository, and a range of internally developed open-source library software tools.

Product overview

Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI) operates as a comprehensive educational institution offering a portfolio of digital products and services centered around its main portal, learning management system, and library services. The core offerings include the UPSI Official Portal as the primary institutional gateway, the UPSI MOOC platform (built on Moodle) providing open online courses across multiple disciplines, and the Perpustakaan Tuanku Bainun as the main library system with extensive digital services. Supporting products include UDRep for institutional repository, Pustaka eSUBMIT for thesis submissions, MyUPSI for student services, and PTB x ChatGPT for AI-powered research assistance. The library also provides various specialized systems including iSYS (indexing), iPAC (information packaging), i-Media (media collections), iPTD (booking/complaints), and Pustaka i-Refer (reference services), along with internally developed tools like RecentSYS, sWADAH, and ScheduleUS from the Software Development Initiative. Together, these products form an integrated digital ecosystem supporting UPSI's educational mission through teaching, learning, research, and publication activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• UPSI Official Portal

Quantifiable outcome

• 601-800 World University Ranking
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Al Iraqi University IraqminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2026International partnership with Iraqi university for academic cooperation.
• Arkib Negara MalaysiaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026MoU for national archive preservation and historical document collaboration.
• Universitas PGRI PalembangminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025International academic partnership with Indonesian teacher training university.
• Millat Umidi University UzbekistanminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025International collaboration invitation for higher education cooperation with Uzbekistan.
• SEAMEO SENminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership with Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization for special educational needs.
• Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025UK university partnership for academic exchange and research collaboration.
• CIMB (CeBEC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic cooperation project with CIMB's community empowerment centre for EduForest environmental initiative.
• MIMOS BerhadcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 February 2024Memorandum of Understanding for technology collaboration with Malaysia's national R&D centre in microelectronics.
• Excelerate Sdn BhdminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Strategic partnership for digital transformation and technology initiatives.
• PetronasminorOthers · 1 January 2024Zakat donation from Petronas for student welfare support.
• Institut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia (IKIM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Strategic cooperation with government Islamic understanding institute for educational programmes.
• Universitas Islam Negeri Mahmud Yunus Batu SangkarminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022International academic collaboration with Indonesian Islamic university.
• Perbadanan Aset Kereta Sdn Bhd (PASB)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022MoA for Little Free Library initiative with railway asset corporation.
• Faber-CastellminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Corporate partnership for education and creative development programmes.
• UNITAR International UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Academic collaboration and credit transfer arrangements between universities.
• PKT Logistics Group Sdn BhdminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Logistics industry partnership for experiential learning and student development.
• Pucuk Emas Sdn BhdminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021MoU signed for strategic cooperation in areas of mutual interest related to education and development initiatives.
• Yayasan Pembangunan Keluarga Darul Ta'zimminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Memorandum agreement for family development programmes and educational support initiatives.
• Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor dan Jabatan Hal Ehwal Agama Islam PerlisminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021MoU for Islamic religious education collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Majlis Bandaraya Seberang PeraiminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Strategic cooperation for establishment of Padang Cempedak Green Education Centre.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Universiti Pendidikan Indonesia: Indonesia's premier education university, focused on teacher training and educational research. Direct regional counterpart to UPSI with similar mission of producing qualified educators and comparable scale of operations across Southeast Asia.
• Institut Pendidikan Guru Malaysia: Malaysian government's primary teacher training institute operating multiple campuses nationwide. Direct domestic competitor to UPSI in Malaysian teacher education market with similar focus on producing qualified educators for national schools.
• National Institute of Education: Singapore's premier teacher training institute under Nanyang Technological University. Comparable in mission to train educators for national education system, with similar focus on pedagogical research and teacher professional development.
• Srinakharinwirot University: Thailand's premier education university originated from teacher training college. Comparable regional education university serving similar mission in Southeast Asian teacher education market with comparable scale and history.

Broad incumbents

• Universiti Malaya: Malaysia's top-ranked public university (QS World Top 70) with all academic disciplines. Broader scope than UPSI's education focus but competes for top students and faculty within same Malaysian public university system.
• Universiti Sains Malaysia: Major Malaysian public university with focus on science and technology. Broader academic scope than UPSI's education specialization but competes for same Malaysian student pool within public university ecosystem.
• Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia: Malaysia's national university with comprehensive programs across all major disciplines. Broader scope than UPSI but operates within same Malaysian public university system and competes for top students.
• Universiti Putra Malaysia: Major Malaysian public university with strength in agriculture, biosciences, and engineering. Broader scope than UPSI's education specialization but competes for faculty and student talent within same ecosystem.
• Universiti Teknologi MARA: Malaysia's largest public university by enrollment with comprehensive program offerings across multiple campuses. Broader scope than UPSI's education focus but operates within same public university system competing for students.
• Beijing Normal University: One of China's top education universities with global recognition in teacher training and educational research. Comparable as a leading global education university and potential international benchmark for UPSI's evolution and partnership development.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UPSI_Malaysia
• GitHubgithub.com/bezicto/recentsys
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/pustakaupsi/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/pustakaupsi
• Instagraminstagram.com/ptbupsi
• TikToktiktok.com/@pustakaupsi

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Sultan Idris Education University